Page 68 of Our Hearts to Break

“Your dad is an old friend. I’m banking on you being even better than Ryan.” He winks. “Welcome to the team, rookie.”

* * *

After practice,I drive to my new house and park in my driveway. Until now, I have never had a place to call my own. I went from living with my parents to a boarding school dorm and the on-campus house.

This is not just my home.

It’s Nate’s.

My mother’s Bentley is parked by the five-car garage. She texted earlier to say the furniture company was coming earlier than expected.

I enter the Colonial-style home with a massive foyer, high ceilings, and dozens of windows. Sunlight streams into the living room, casting a glow over the space.

My mom sits on the sectional couch, feet kicked up on the chaise, cell phone in hand. She perks up when she hears my feet on the hardwood floor. A smile lights up her beautiful face.

“Rivie,” she says, rising from the couch. “How was your first practice with the team?”

“Good.” I lean forward and kiss her cheek. “Thanks for doing this, Momma.”

“Your dad helped.” She shrugs. “He just left to pick up an early dinner for the three of us.”

“Cool, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

She slips her fingers between mine and tugs me toward the kitchen. “Let me give you the tour of your new house. The delivery men assembled the furniture. And your dad helped me move things around. But you can do whatever you want.”

“I’m sure it’s fine,” I tell her as we enter the kitchen.

I grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator and down half of it. My gaze drifts to the windows overlooking the bay. The impressive water view is worth every penny.

Only the outline of Kingston University is visible from this distance. But knowing Nate is across the water brings me comfort. I bought this house to feel closer to him.

“I need to call Nate,” I tell my mom, removing the phone from my pocket. “Do you mind if I do that before we tour the house?”

She nods. “Go ahead. I’m sure he’s having a fit without you. That boy is so in love it’s adorable.”

I pause and turn to look at her. “Did you see it?”

“Yeah, I did. I saw how you both looked at each other. So did your dad, which is why he was so hard on you. I wish he hadn’t reacted the way he did… But he’s coming around. He even bought a Pride jersey with your number to support you.”

My eyes widen in shock. “Seriously?”

“He feels terrible about what he said, Rivie.” Mom props her hip against the marble island and tucks blonde strands behind her ears. “Guys like your dad grow up thinking men must be tough and macho. That being gay makes you soft. It’s just how he was raised. You know what your grandfather was like.”

I bob my head to agree.

“But it doesn’t excuse his behavior.” She slides her arm across my shoulders. “He’s trying to make up for being a jerk. You should see what he did for you upstairs. It’s really special.”

“Show me.”

We race up the staircase to the second floor. The house has two floors and a finished basement. All the bedrooms are on the top floor. I walk past the master, two guest rooms, and a home gym and halt at the last door on my right.

Mom pushes it open, smiling as she steps inside. “What do you think?”

I had told her I wanted a game room decorated with hockey memorabilia. But I hadn’t expected my dad to help or finish it in one day.

Every jersey I have ever worn is displayed in glass cases on the walls. I’m shocked to see all my peewee hockey jerseys at the top of the wall. Then, Remington Academy, Kingston University, and the New York Islanders are spaced around the Pride jersey with my last name and number.

There’s an oversized couch facing a massive flat-screen TV. Of course, I needed an air hockey table. Nate and I used to play all the time at boarding school. I thought it would be a nice touch to have something that brought us together in our home.

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