Page 123 of Two for Roughing

Kilian: I’m really happy for them. Still want to beat them next time. [He grins] Or in the playoffs.

Top comments:

firecrackers_spark: GO FIRECRACKERS GO! Playoffs here we come!

denny_sovt_hands: Howie’s point streak going strong at twelve games, Denny on a five-game goal streak, so what if we dropped one game against the hottest team in the league. The Firecrackers are finally entering their post-rebuild era. Our window starts NOW!

seelionssaylions: We miss you Howie! But if we meet Chicago in the playoffs your team is toast

(From postgame media, Chicago @ San Francisco, 12/31/2024)

Kilian resisted the urge to touch his face as he led the Firecrackers through the door into the bar the Sea Lions had picked for the evening. It was the kind of place Lissy would never have chosen, with an exposed brick wall, low, warm lighting, and climbing plants placed strategically between the liquor shelves. Not a strobe or a subwoofer in sight.

He caught sight of himself in the distorted reflection on a large beaten-brass section of wall near the entrance and leaned in close to examine.

“You look good,” Damir said near his ear.

Kilian glared at him.

Damir grinned, unapologetic, and pinched his side.

It was entirely Damir’s fault Kilian had an awful breakout. Falling asleep without cleaning his face would do that. Come was not a moisturizer. Kilian hadn’t intended to wear makeup tonight; he’d only picked up a few cosmetics at a drugstore yesterday because he was so nervous about going on a date with Damir and thought it would help him feel confident.

In that situation, it had. Today, hanging out with both NHL teams Kilian had played for, he hadn’t intended on wearing anything gender nonconforming. Unfortunately, faced with pimples in the crevice between his nose and cheek, he’d had to change his plan despite not having time to watch more than one video on how to properly apply concealer.

But Kilian couldn’t do anything about his face now. He’d have to take Damir’s word and hope it looked fine. He peered around the bar, searching for the Sea Lions with Matheson and Fulls crowding in through the open door behind him.

“Howie!” Breezy caught sight of him and waved wildly.

Kilian smiled despite himself. He made his way over, skirting around crowded tables and harried waitstaff. He’d barely made it to the Sea Lions before he was enveloped in a massive bear hug so tight it lifted him clean off his feet. More greetings followed—a short, awkward embrace from Tom, a fist bump from Mooney, a backslap from Hayes, an upnod from Vanderbilt, a greeting in Russian from Dmitriyev, and a surprisingly heartfelt hug from Luca.

When he emerged from the pileup of ex-teammates, Kilian found Firecrackers taking seats all around the table. Matheson congratulated Mooney on his game-winner while Rocky approached Luca awkwardly to ask what drills he did to get so quick on his edges. The Scandinavians flocked together as a matter of course, already well-acquainted from youth hockey and international games.

Kilian let out a breath of relief. This would go fine. If anyone saw them, it wouldn’t be a big gay reunion, implicating Damir before he was ready and generating even more headlines about Kilian. Two teams celebrating the new year together might be fodder for social media, but harmless, fun fodder.

“Sorry we kicked your asses today,” Breezy said.

“No, you aren’t.”

“Well, no, but I want to be.”

Kilian rolled his eyes. “It’s cool, dude. Your job is to win. You guys are doing great.”

“Yeah, we are.” Breezy threw an arm over his shoulders. “But so are you. You’re killing out there, bro.”

“Thanks.” Kilian had no interest in false modesty. They may have lost tonight, but his point streak was still going strong. His game had never been better.

“And not only at hockey.” Breezy squeezed him a little tighter, making his ribs creak. “I know I said it before, but what you did…it was so brave.”

Kilian shrugged. From his point of view, he’d been out of options. If people hadn’t known about him, he might never have written what he did and posted it publicly. “You’re the one who chose this. You and Jax and Tom did. You didn’t have to say anything after I did.”

“Please.” Luca, ever-present at Breezy’s elbow, scoffed. “It is killing Jax that he didn’t go first.”

“No, it’s not!” Jax called.

“He lies. Can I get you anything to drink?”

Blinking back surprise at Luca offering to do anything for anyone else, Kilian said, “Vodka soda.”