Page 166 of The Home Game

“I didn’t hurt him!” She protested. “I was just—”

“Don’t say him,” Alexis shouted. “It’s they and you know it. You’re being mean.”

“I refuse to call any child they and them,” she snapped. “For one, it’s grammatically incorrect and—”

Antoni laughed. “Really? That’s your argument? Well if you want to go that route, you’re the one who is incorrect, ma’am. A singular they has been documented in literature as far back as 1375.”

Her lips thinned. “According to whom?”

“Well, the Oxford English Dictionary for one, and written language usually reflects what’s already present in spoken language so I think it’s probably safe to say it’s been in common usage for well over six or seven hundred years.”

Robin sniffed. “Are you really going to lecture me on grammar?”

“For a start,” Antoni snapped. “But mostly I’m going to lecture you on being an unsupportive asshole to your grandchildren.”

“Oh, that language! And how dare you lecture me on how to treat my own flesh and blood!”

“How dare I?” Antoni asked with a little laugh. “Oh, you have to be kidding me. I have done nothing but love and support all four kids—”

“Yes, where are River and Reese?” Bill interrupted. “I assume they’re with a babysitter.”

“They’re home with my father,” Antoni said calmly. “Who has been there day in and day out helping me with them. As has my mother. And my brother and his wife. And Matty, of course.”

Antoni glanced over at Matty, his smile soft, like for a moment, they were totally alone.

“Yes.” Bill sneered. “Your so-called ‘husband’.”

“Oh no, he is definitely my husband,” Antoni said, still smiling as he turned back to face the Swansons. “Legally and in all other ways, if you’re curious.”

Bills sputtered, his face turning an unhealthy shade of red. “I don’t need to hear about your depravity and all of the ways you’ve warped my grandchildren. I suppose I’m glad to see Eli doing a masculine sport like hockey but—”

“Excuse me?” Matty said, no longer able to keep quiet. “What did you say?”

“Well.” Bill looked him up and down. “Carlson, I’d think you of anyone would know what a masculine sport hockey is. Always liked you as a player but I can’t say I think much of the choices you’ve been making lately.”

“The choices?” Matty asked in disbelief. Because yeah, he knew there were shitty people out there but damn this dude was an asshole.

“Pretending to date and marry Bianchi here. How’d he get you to agree to it anyway? We all know you’re straight and—”

“Yeah, that’s the thing,” Matty said, jaw tight, anger rising. “I’m not. I’m not straight and I guess I never have been. Probably bi but whatever you want to call it, I am married to a man because I care about him. Because he’s the kind of partner I want. Because we want to raise the kids together. Because we’re building a family together and it’s the kind of family you can’t even imagine. It’s loving and supportive and –”

Bill recoiled. “You don’t really believe this disgusting shit, do you?”

“I sure as hell do,” Matty snarled. “And let me clear one thing up for you. Hockey is for everyone. Guys like me. Girls like Alexis. And non-binary people like Eli. And if you think for one second you get to show up and tell any of us how to live our lives, you’ve got another thing coming, man.”

“I don’t believe this. You really are a fucking fa—”

Matty grabbed Bill by the front of his jacket and lifted until his heels left the ground.

The older man made a choked sputtering sound, his hands flailing at Matty’s forearm.

Matty glared. “Don’t you dare use that slur. Not in front of me or my husband or our kids. Do. You. Hear. Me?” He shook a little, enough to make Bill’s teeth rattle.

He squeaked, “You’re so sensitive—”

Matty shook him again and Bill let out another choking noise.

“Fine, fine! I won’t say it.”

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