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“Perhaps not.” Uncle Callahan clears his throat. “He’s special to you though, yes?”
“I–” It’s on the tip of my tongue to downplay my feelings since they still terrify me, but I can’t get the lie out.
Somewhere in the midst of helping Noah sort his shit, he helped me sort mine. Not that either of us realized I was the bigger mess when we made our little arrangement, but he’s taking it in stride, and while I still have my moments of panic, deep down I know he’ll be there to help me get through it. That my man will do anything for me, because he loves me.
He loves me.
And I totally, completely, unequivocally, love him.
“Yes. He’s special to me.”
Uncle Callahan gives me a warm smile. “I’m happy to hear that, son. You deserve it.”
“It doesn’t bother you that I’m with a man?”
Now, he seems to turn a little pink in the cheeks. “There’s a reason I never married, son.”
“You… You’re gay?” When he doesn’t say anything I continue. “And you’re still in the closet.”
“You’re a lot braver than I ever was. Than I am.” Uncle Callahan looks at me like… Wow, this is… Is he proud of me? It sort of feels like he is. I…
“I’m ready, Mr. Tripp.” Rose pokes her head into the office right before I can spiral into unfamiliar emotional territory. Good timing.
Uncle Callahan stands when I do, stepping around the desk to give me a hug. I know we did this at my parent’s party, but it still feels weird. Not bad, just different. I don’t hate it though, so I return the embrace.
“I’ll uh… I’ll call you. About dinner?”
“Please do.”
He escorts us out and helps us get Rose’s bags into the car. There are only a few since it seems my parents kept her on a pretty tight leash the last few years, but if the smile on her face is any indication, she’s not concerned about the lack of personal items. She’s just happy to be out of their house.
I’m not sure we’ll ever talk about them–I get the sense we’d both rather move on–but I’ll listen if she ever needs me to. I do have one question though.
“What are you going to do with all your free time?” Between the condo I’m giving her and the cash Uncle Callahan got her in exchange for not pressing charges, at Rose’s request, she doesn’t need to work anymore.
“Nothing, Mr. Tripp. Absolutely nothing.”
“I think that sounds perfect. Can I ask you one favor though?”
She looks at me curiously, but like any mother would, she says. “Of course.”
“Teach me how to cook your ramen? I want to introduce Noah to the comfort food I had growing up.”
Rose bobs her head slightly. “I’d be honored.”
Chapter twenty-five
Noah
It’s been heaven to be back on the ice.
Honestly, just walking is paradise after not being able to for several weeks. You never realize how much you move throughout the day until you suddenly can’t. Everything from cooking to going to the bathroom, to just trying to find the damn TV remote, becomes a whole production when you have to do it on one leg. Don’t even get me started on how hard it is to actually stand up off the couch with one leg and a set of crutches.
Finally putting my skates on and taking the goal, even just for practice, was like having this oppressive weight lifted off my chest. It didn’t just make me feel independent again the way walking did, it was the difference between a wheezing breath and filling your lungs full of air. Feeling whole. If I’m being honest, the void I felt from not getting on the ice was considerably smaller than it would’ve been if I didn’t have Tripp. So much so, a part of me is kind of dreading this road trip we’re about to go on.
I’m excited to play again, but for the first time in my professional career, I’m not amped about the travel part of playing hockey. After years of staying in hotels, I prefer my own bed, but hotels aside, I usually look forward to seeing new places. It can be grueling, yet it can also be a great way to bond with my teammates. That was when I had no one to say goodbye to, no one waiting for me at home. Now, I do.
Between getting back on the ice and having Tripp move in, I’m privileged to say there’s nothing I could want that I don’t have, which makes it difficult to admit I’m a little sad about leaving for this road trip.
