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Zee got up on one elbow, smirking at him. “Does that make you my little baby?”
Ishir rolled his eyes, but he could feel himself flush. He grabbed his phone, hiding his face behind it.
They rested there, each staring at their own screen, Ishir somehow deep into an article about gherkins when Zee broke the silence.
“You ever think of getting a partner?”
Ishir blinked, lowering his phone. “Huh?”
“Like, you know. Having a relationship for real.” Zee straightened, sitting with his legs crossed.
“I mean…sometimes. But I’m in my early twenties, I try not to worry about it too much.”
“I guess.”
Ishir ran a hand down his face. Was this Zee’s weird way of talking about what had happened a few days ago? “I don’t think about it much.”
Zee let out a neutral hum.
“I mean, maybe one day? It’s too complicated now. And things are good. I don’t need anything to change.”
There was a strange look in Zee’s eyes, but it dissipated quickly. “Right, sure. Anyway—I’ve been talking to Olive. I still can’t believe you haven’t hung out with him yet.”
Ishir reeled a little from the sudden change in topic but managed to catch up. “We weren’t really close in Juniors, dude. That was you two.”
“Still. Youwereteammates. But whatever. We’re going to the Vietnamese festival on Thursday, you should come. He’s bringing his boyfriend along—you know Levy.”
“I mean, I’ve played against him. And sure, sounds good.” It wasn’t like he disliked Olive or anything, and now that the guy was the second out Omega in the league after Orion, he definitely had a lot of respect for him.
Being an Omega was probably a bigger secret than being a gay Alpha, but keeping parts of yourself hidden from view was difficult, no matter what it was.
“Have you been talking to him?” Ishir asked.
“A little. I sent him a message when he did that press conference about being an Omega.”
Guilt bubbled in Ishir’s stomach—he should have done the same. “How was he?”
“I mean…he didn’t open up to me or anything. He seems to have a good group over there. And he has Levy, obviously.”
“Yeah. Must be a lot easier to come out if you have someone by your side like that,” Ishir murmured.
Truth was, it hurt to imagine a scenario where he had to admit he was gay. Sure, maybe it would make some things easier, but it would make hockey a whole lot harder. It wasn’t like hockey fans were the most liberal type, after all.
Maybe when he retired and could pursue a relationship for real. Until then, he was alone with the reality of not being completely accepted for who he was.
“Hey,” Zee said softly, bringing Ishir back to the present. “You know you’d have me by your side if you ever decided to do the same. I’d be sitting beside you in the press conference, holding your hand.”
Ishir tried to take a breath, but it caught in his throat, in his lungs. “Yeah.” He managed to choke out. “I know.”
Maybe not alone, then. Yes, he was the one who was gay. Who had to hide. But he ought to know by now—Zee would be there through every single part of it.
**********
Ishir felt awkward that he hadn’t reached out to Olive when he’d been called up from the farm team to the Gotham Hounds. Sure, they hadn’t spent any one-on-one time in Juniors, but the least he could have done was text.
Still, Ishir was happy to see him at the Vietnamese Festival.
Despite not having known Olive very well, Ishir could instantly tell he’d changeda lot.He was more filled out, skin glowing instead of ashen. His eyes were bright, smile wide as they all greeted each other.
