Page 113 of Two for Roughing

“Fine,” Kilian huffed. “Okay. So we play it cool for now, but we can still hang out in public. Awesome. You wanna come to the Sea Lions’ New Year’s party tomorrow with me, then?”

Damir blinked. Attending a party with Kilian’s former team did not sound like playing it cool and being circumspect. It sounded like being at a public event with every queer player in the league.

“I know, I know,” Kilian said hurriedly. “But Breezy said I should bring the whole team, so it would be for everyone. Do you think the Firecrackers would be down?”

“Oh. Yes, why not? I’m sure no one on the team has planned anything for New Year’s.” Lissy definitely wanted there to be a team party of some sort, never mind they had all gone clubbing only last night. But he wouldn’t have bothered arranging something in advance. He relied on being a known athlete to get into every club he’d ever been to.

Kilian beamed. “Great! I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone. You’re going to love Breezy.”

Damir couldn’t help the doubt rising on his expression.

“Well, maybe not,” Kilian admitted. “But you’ll get along with Luca.”

“I get along with you.”

Kilian surged forward and kissed him, morning breath and all, and Damir sank into it for a long moment.

“What are you doing later today?” Damir asked when they pulled apart.

“Um, practice?”

“No, I mean…” Damir sighed. “Do you have plans with the Sea Lions tonight?”

“No.”

“Good. Let’s go out to eat.”

“Okay.” Kilian’s stomach growled “Speaking of…”

“You should get breakfast,” Damir told him.

“So should you.”

“I’ll be down soon. I need to make a phone call.”

Kilian slipped down the hall to his own room to get dressed, and Damir took a seat on one of the chairs by the window. He picked up his phone, turned it over in his hands a few times, and then he opened his contacts and made the call.

“It’s not Thursday today either,” his mother said by way of greeting.

“Yes,” Damir agreed.

“Did you know Sofiya down the hall cleans at your agent’s office?”

Damir hadn’t.

“It might be a good idea to find an agent in America,” his mother told him. “If you’re staying.”

“I’m sure American agents gossip as well,” Damir said in lieu of a response to the question she hadn’t asked.

“So you are staying, then,” his mother said. It still wasn’t a question except in all the ways it was.

“I think it’s better I do,” Damir told her. “I wish… I should have come home once more, first, but things change so fast.”

A rusty laugh left her throat, robust and sad all at once. “Try having children sometime and tell me how you feel then.”

Damir laughed as well and didn’t think about children, the possibility of them suddenly existent in a way it never had been before. “Yes, well.”

“Well.”