Page 47 of Offside

“Stop it,” he groaned frustratedly. “You’re doing that thing again where you praise me while also telling me no, and it’s very confusing for my little guy here.”

“Little?” I gasped dramatically, making him snicker. “How dare you disrespect one of my favorite parts of you?”

“One of your favorites? Isn’t that a bit shallow?”

“What? You don’t show many parts,” I huffed, forcing myself out of bed to get cleaned up. “The ranking is your heart, brain, abs, and then dick, so yeah, don’t be disrespectful.”

Metal snickered again, whining again, but this time I knew it was just from him trying to get dressed. He was always a little whiny at that part anyway, but especially when he’d just abused that very pretty cock for me too recently.

Things weren’t fixed with us overnight–it actually took us about a week to get back to doing this stuff. I wanted to, and I knew he did, too, but I needed the relationship stuff more, which was both new and strange.

I’d never held emotional intimacy over physical before, but I'd also never thought I’d ever feel either, so go me.

We’d been great for the last month now, and I was feeling good again, but still couldn't play. The brace was off, and I could walk around with minimal limping, but trainers were still keeping me off the ice till next week.

I would only be back for no-contact practice.

Upside: I would be back for the playoffs.

Downside: it came with a lot of hoops to jump through first.

“I’ll keep that in mind–shit,” Metal grumbled, groaning to himself. “I’m late–”

“Well, whose fault was that?” I teased, pulling back on my sweatpants and T–shirt–I was actually a little late, too.

But luckily, Sam seemed to be running late since he wasn’t knocking on my door yet.

“Mine,” he groaned loudly, ending with a laugh. “I love you–I have to go.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I joked, playfully rolling my eyes at the phone as he could see it. “Just called me to get you off before leaving me again.”

“You're just so good at it, baby,” he fake-cooed, making me snicker. “Now tell me you love me so I can go–you have somewhere to be, too.”

“Yeah, uh-huh–love you, too.”

“Knight,” he dragged out.

“I love you, too,” I said slowly, smiling at the phone uncontrollably.

One more month.

Sometime in the next month, I was meeting him, and this time next month, I’d know what that face looked like. I’d know what face he made when I did that bit–withholding my I love you. I’d know all the faces he made and match them with all the sounds I already knew and adored.

One more month and…fuck–I still had to figure out what coming out looked like.

Metal never said that was directly part of it, but I got that impression. I wouldn't want to be kept like a secret either, so if that was what he wanted from me, I would do it–no problem.

Well…slight problem.

I'd never come out to anyone but my parents before.

Once Metal hung up, I quickly made my bed and headed out to my living room, ready to call Sam. It was really unlike him to be late, so even though I was grateful for it today, I was a little worried.

I’d told Metal about Sam, just not by name. He seemed happy for me that I was making a friend, and not at all concerned about a new, strange man in my life. I even told him about how Sam was apparently bisexual or something, and still, he was just happy for me.

For a man who got a little snippy with me for calling Adam Driver hot once, he was being awfully cool about my new friend.

Just as I was going to call him, a knock at my door told me Sam was here–perfect timing. I threw the door open, and there was my buddy.