“Good.” I dropped my hand back to the hockey pad and found the puck right before someone sank it into Seattle’s net. The crowd erupted, and the horn blared, and I gritted my teeth until it was over. “Anyway, to save you the trouble, yes, I have a stalker. Hefucked with my house and Vanya’s. And yes, Vanya and I are a…thing. I guess.”
“A thing. A boyfriend thing, a sex thing? Is he going to be a notch on your belt, or?—”
I flinched. I hadn’t meant to, and unfortunately, it was bright enough for Tiago to see me do it because he sucked in a breath.
“Shit, Micah. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a dick.”
Clearly, that part of the gossip hadn’t gotten to him yet. Maybe Jonah did care enough about me to keep that one to himself.
“It’s fine. Uh…I’m not really like that, you know? I mean, I know what people think, and it’s easier not to correct them. But that—ah. That’s not me. And it’s definitely not me and Vanya. I like him.”
He was quiet for a long, long time. Then he grabbed my wrist and squeezed. “I’m really happy for you. It’s been obvious to the whole fucking universe that guy is obsessed with you. I’m glad you’re obsessed back.”
It was a little bit of obsession and a lot of love, but Tiago didn’t need those gory details.
“So, about this stalker…” Tiago started.
“I will pay you one million dollars if you never bring that up to me again,” I begged. “I really don’t want to think about him right now.” It had been well past the forty-eight hours Vanya’s brother had asked for, but we were trying to be patient. Hunter didn’t know where we were as far as either of us knew, andBen had arranged to beef up security at both our practice arenas and our game ones.
I still didn’t feel safe, but it was something.
“People know though, right?” His voice was softer this time. Concerned. “Ben knows?”
I sighed, but I knew he was just looking out for me as a friend. “Ben knows. And apparently so does Vanya’s very scary older brother, who works in Vegas and, like, knows people.”
“What kind of people? Murder people?”
I shuddered and put my hands back on the game. “Trust me, it’s probably better if we don’t ask.”
The Glaciers won, which meant it was going to be a hundred years before Vanya was going to be able to get out of the arena. There would be press and lingering fans, and considering their new coach had started today, they’d probably be having a long post-game meeting with him.
Me: I’m tired. I’m going to catch a ride back to the house. Sea you when you get their. And don’t panic, I’m with Tiago.
I knew he wasn’t going to get the text immediately, but that was fine. He’d find it before he went looking for me, and I knew he’d understand why.
“Who’s picking you up?” I asked Tiago as wemade our way toward the player tunnels to take the quick way out that avoided most people.
“Will, Bolanos,” he added. “From Bodie’s team. He lives down the street from me and runs me to the store on Thursdays.”
“Ah. Shit. Okay, well, let me make a quick call before you abandon me, and?—”
“No, bud. He’ll drive you. I basically pay his kid’s college tuition with how much cash I throw at him to drive me around town.”
I froze as we reached the end of the hall and turned to face him. “Are you two?—”
“No. Tabarnak,” he said with a laugh. “He’s married, and I don’t fuck married guys.”
“Most hockey players wouldn’t boast about that,” came a voice from behind us that I didn’t recognize.
Tiago stiffened, and I felt him turn, his grip on my arm going tighter. “Can I fuckin’ help you?”
“Actually, you can. I recognize you both. Jonah Adams and Tiago Nadeau?”
“Why can’t sighted people ever tell the difference between me and my brother?” I complained. “Pro tip, he’s got eyes. I don’t.”
There was a slightly uncomfortable silence, and then the guy said, “Noted. Can I steal a moment of your time…Micah, yes? With the Fury. Goalie, would be team captain if they got rid of that arbitrary rule that goalies can’t be captains?”
I had no fucking idea what to say to that. “Who are you?”
