Page 160 of The Stud

As soon as we were allowed to become public, we did.

Like day of surgery, in the waiting room of the hospital, we posted a photo of us together showing off my ring, type of did.

My parents were, of course, first in person to confront us about it that night when they brought over dinner.

Dad knew it was coming since Tanner actually asked for his blessing, knowing how close we are.

Mom was excitedly blindsided to the point I was thankful my ear was in recovery meaning she had to keep her girlish squeals primarilyinsideso as not to hinder the healing process.

I ignored calls along with the scathing texts for the split egg.

We video conferenced his parents who too were not at all surprised.

Day two of engagement?

Tanner was on his own.

Post op hit me harder then and simply getting out of bed to piss was a nightmare.

Bear and Tanner both hovered and cuddled all day, bonding while I mostly slept. During those sessions, he also told the boys – although Becks and Pecks already knew it was happening – told the bosses – Hennington fussed about paperwork – told his agent – who mentioned the word prenup – and then the media who were at that point all vying to be the first to report about the situation.

Some things noticeably shifted after that point.

Some didn’t.

For instance, Tanner was still invited out for shenaniganskies, but so was I.

Whether they were going to the ballet or just to swing golf clubs, I was given a pass to tag along, like I was one of the boys, proving that despite our change in status Iamstill one of the boys.

No one holds their tongue – or their farts – around me.

They still talk tit sizes and testicle smells.

They’ve even upped their pranks, although when I figured out they workedwiththe Slayers to cover my jeep in pink silly string and diamond ring balloons my first day back, I only punishedthem.

Swapping out rego pracky sweaters so they all had to play in hot pink bride squad crop tops was something that had Hot Rocket laughing until she cried, commanding I take footage of it for soc’.

While they didn’tlovethe very expensive prank, fans did.

And seeing the consanguinity during the playoff run seemed to add to our momentum along with our ticket sales.

The only major differences that occurred were that Tanner didn’t have to feel guilty for stayinginrather than going out when they were on the roadskies – especially during the stretch I couldn’t travel because of my ear – and that I couldopenlydo the cutesy things Slayers get to do.

Likewearing my jersey.

Hoodie.

Our custom designed player kicks.

And of course, the standard kiss for luckskies that never fails to trend during battle season of The Cup.

The Cup which we lost.

Again.

Losing one player to LITR because of a blood clot in his shoulder and two more to IR because of a puck to the eye nearly blinding one and a body check dislocating the other’s hip, we knew early on we weren’t going to make it to the finish line.

But it didn’t stop the boys from showing up.

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