Page 101 of Trade Deadline

“It’s easier said than done, but I ignore it. I trust Adam with my life. I’m honest with him when I need reassurance because sometimes the negative gremlins in my brain get too loud, but even then, it’s not because I’m doubting him as a person or as my partner. We’re still human at the end of the day, but knowing that Adam’s in my corner? Knowing he loves me no matter what the trolls say, and is always faithful to me?” She smiles, and it’s filled with love. “It’s what keeps me strong.”

“Some of the things they’ve said…” I trail off, shaking my head. I rub my chest, trying to ease the ache that’s been present since I saw the worry fill Blaine’s eyes at Ethan’s apartment. “It’s been awful. I thought it’d stop. I thought that these people would get bored of harassing me, but little did I know it was only the beginning.”

“People can be assholes. They can say the cruelest things, but most of the time it’s coming from a place of bitter jealousy.” Maria leans in and places a warm hand on top of mine. “What you should be feeling is empathy, because that person’s life must be so freakin’ dull that they feel the need to rain on someone else's parade. Blaine adores you. I’ve never seen him so in awe of someone before, and I can tell that he’s falling pretty hard for you.”

I roll my lips, squeezing my eyes closed to stop them from filling up. I’m falling hard for him too, and what worries me is that I’m going to do exactly what they are saying and hinder his career.

“Do you trust him?”

“Yeah, I do.” I nod.

“Do you believe him when he says he’s not using you for his image?”

I nod again.

“Do you love him?”

“Yeah, I love him so fucking much.”

She smiles wide, and her dark brown eyes begin to glisten with her own unshed tears. “I’m here for you, for when you struggle with the trolls, but Blaine? Blaine would set the world on fire for you. He loves you more than hockey. Heck, he was ready to fight those trolls himself because he was so angry that they tried to take you away from him.”

I let out a croaked laugh.

Pulling the sleeves of my hoodie over my hands, I wipe my eyes and sniff. “Sorry.”

She shakes her head, patting her palm against my arm. “Don’t apologize, sweetie, and don’t worry about Blaine. These boys get so amped up on their emotions sometimes that the best outlet for them is on the ice.” She leans in again, lowering her voice, “I think it’s good for him, to be honest. It’s about time he finally fell head over heels for someone.” She winks.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, honey. Us better-half hockey partners have to stick together because it can get really lonely. People think being with a professional athlete is this incredible lifestyle where you can have everything you could ever want, but what they don’t see is the time you spend on your own because they’re traveling. How you have to pack up your life and move when they get traded or sign with another team, leaving behind friends and connections you’ve made. But you know what makes it all worthwhile?”

“What’s that?” I ask.

She smiles wistfully, like she’s remembering a happy memory. “Seeing their faces when they win games, when they win their division or conference, or when they lift the Stanley Cup. Watching them achieve their hopes and dreams from when they first picked up a hockey stick. They share all of that with you. Their love is unconditional, and they make up for that lost time by loving you, every fiber of you, so wholly and fervently.”

“Thank you,” I croak, “for welcoming me into your home and for helping me shut down those nuggets of doubt.”

She leans over, bringing me in for a warm hug. “Anytime, honey. I can tell Blaine worships the ground you walk on. He looks at you like you’ve hung the moon and every star in the sky, and I know that he’ll love you in such a way that you’ll never have an inkling of doubt.”

The ache in my chest eases.

Maybe I can do this.

Maybe I can be the man Blaine loves and needs without allowing the trolls to beat me down.

Thirty-Two

Blaine

“Please rememberwe will be filming, so use respectful language at all times.” Colleen gives us a pointed stare.

I hold up my hand in a Vulcan salute. “I promise.”

“I don’t think that means that.” Zach chuckles.

“I dunno, dude. I’ve never watched Star Trek.”

Ethan gives me a disgusted look. “What planet have you been living on that you’ve never seen Star Trek?”

---