Nick immediately thinks of the pain in his chest that night, alone in his bed in the Perezes’ guest room, wishing Matt was there with him. The way that pain has gnawed itself deeper and deeper with every passing hour apart from the other man.
“I think I know what you mean.”
Connor smiles, dipping his head to press his chin to Nick’s temple, just for a moment. “You’ll be okay. You’ve already had one shining example in your life of what happens when you get scared and don’t communicate,” he adds ruefully, and an incredulous snort slips from Nick’s nostrils.
“Oh, we can joke about that now?” He grins when Connor rolls his eyes, before sobering. “Thanks, Conn. I don’t know if I believe you, but… I’ll try.”
He’s heard so many different opinions about his abilities from so many different people that he can’t even tell which way is up anymore. But if there’s one person who knows what hockey talent looks like, it’s Connor. And if he says Nick still has it, then… Nick’s career might not be over just yet.
Chapter Twenty-Three
[Image Description: Two pictures side-by-side. In the first, Connor LaPorte and Nick Tiernan stand outside a hotel, embracing. There’s snow on the ground, and LaPorte’s truck is parked next to them. In the second picture, Tiernan is climbing into the truck, while LaPorte walks around towards the driver’s seat.]
@TopTier_Girl: INTERESTING #TierPorteReunion
@OrignauxOlivie: @TopTier_Girl Ooh secret pre-game rendezvous? ;) ;)
@IceFighter: @OrignauxOlivie Do your friends not hug you? That would explain a lot
[This tweet has been hidden due to inappropriate content.]
@TierPorte4Life: @TopTier_Girl OMG! I can hear the sound of a thousand fanfics being written!
@KellsBells35: @TopTier_Girl Don’t you people have better things to do than take creepshots of strangers?? It’s been years leave the poor dudes alone.
[This tweet has been hidden due to inappropriate content.]
@Puck_erUp: @TopTier_Girl Pro hockey strat: dick down your opponent so hard he can’t walk by puck drop
[This tweet has been hidden due to inappropriate content.]
—Twitter, March 7th, 2023
The picture is all over Twitter by the time Nick lands in San Jose. While his teammates are all laughing over some of the more lewd comments, Nick feels like he’s going to be sick. His phone is in his hands before he really knows what he’s doing.
Nick
Nothing happened with me and Connor in Quebec.
He doesn’t expect a reply, so it’s a surprise when a few moments later, the phone buzzes.
Matt
It’s not any of my business if it did.
Ouch. Okay.
Nick
Still, nothing happened. I had dinner with his folks. I met Théo. That was it. The internet doesn’t know shit.
Matt
When do they ever?
Nick thinks that’s the end of it, until there’s another buzz in his pocket while he’s walking to the team bus.
Matt
