Page 45 of Stick By Me

“No, I haven’t. He’s probably still pissed off at me.” He scoffed. “If he knew about Mr. Dupont coming to visit me…well, he’d probably try and tell me it’s a pipe dream and the only reason he’s giving me a chance at all is because he knew my mom.”

The waitress set down our pitcher of beer and two frosty glasses.

“It’s not a pipe dream, Archer. You can do this and I’m sure he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble if he didn’t see something in you.” I poured the beer into our glasses and slid one toward him, then held up my glass. “Here’s to you joining the NHL next year.”

His lips quirked and he tapped his glass on mine, then sipped it. “God, could you imagine? Me. In the NHL.” With a shake of his head, he said, “I wouldn’t be a star player, not at first anyways.” He hooked a brow. “But I’d get some ice time as third or fourth line.” His smile widened. “I’d fucking eat that up.”

“And you’d be a Coyote, so you’d still be in Arizona.” Wagging my brow, I sipped my beer, then almost choked on it. What the fuck was I hinting at? That we’d still be together next year and maybe the year after that? We weren’t even technically boyfriends yet. Yet? Fuck my head.

“Exactly. I’d be right here…with you.” He grabbed my cheek and pressed a long, deep kiss on my mouth, then freed me. “I’d have it all.”

I cleared my throat. I’d have to figure out how to come out of my fucking closet first.

The waitress set down our pizza and a few plates. “Enjoy.” She strolled off.

I pulled a slice onto my plate. Come to think of it, Thanksgiving was coming up fast, like in this week. Do I dare ask him to have it with my family? “You uh, you said you and the guys cook a big turkey for Thanksgiving, right?”

“Yeah, I think Ace already bought a bird.” He bit into a pizza slice, then licked sauce off his finger.

My gaze chased his tongue and heat burned in my belly. We needed to find time to betogetherbefore this day ended. Ithought back on Archer’s discussion with the Coyotes’ coach. “Hey, what was this coach’s name again?”

“His name is Richard Dupont.” He gulped down some beer.

I picked up my phone from the table and ran a search on his name, then clicked on the images tab. I stared at a photo of Richard when he was younger. “Um, Archer, this guy sort of looks like you.” I held my phone out to him.

“Huh?” He peered at the phone, then took it from me. “No way, dude, his nose is way bigger than mine.” He set the phone on the table.

“Has the same eyes though and the same…body, shit. Look at those muscles.” I bit into my pizza and scrolled with my free hand. “Looks like he played minor league hockey and was a…” Did I read that right? “Was a road cycler in the Olympics?”

“What?” With the hint of a smile playing over his lips, Archer flicked the phone back under his face, sliding it across the table. “Would you look at that. I’m sure there’s a story there. He said he went to the Olympics with Mom.”

“Is that where they met?” I washed down pizza with my beer. Shit, I’d totally forgotten about Thanksgiving after getting turned on by his tongue.

“Don’t know where they met. Mom never said. She didn’t really talk about him to me.” He ate a bite of pizza and swiped the screen of his phone.

“Okay, so…” I grabbed his hand, stopping him from scrolling on his phone. “Archer, I have a question for you.” My pulse beat a little faster. I didn’t know if I could promise him much, but I could at least invite him over. “Would you want to come to Thanksgiving at my family’s house this week?” Or maybe it was tradition that he spend it with the squad?

With his eyes widening, he said, “Leo, does that mean you’re um…” He flicked his tongue over his lower lip. “You’re um, thinking of coming out to them?”

With a heavy sigh, I hung my head. Shit, I should have known he’d go there. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.” Irubbed my thumb over the back of his hand. “I guess I thought it would be nice to spend the day with you since you’ll be in town and won’t have a game.” I should have thought this through better. I snuck a peek at him, frowning. “I mean, I’d have to find the time to come out to everyone by Wednesday and then introduce you to my parents right after and?—”

“Naw, I get it. It’s too much, too soon.” He clenched his jaw for a beat, the muscle bulging. Inside a chuckle, he said, “We’re not even boyfriends.” He slipped his hand out of mine and drank his beer, then set it down. “You know, you could come to my place and feast with us. You can make the gravy.” He gave me a forced smile.

I looked him over. His response sounded like ano. Like a,I’m not meeting your parents unless you come outresponse. I couldn’t blame him. “Let me think about it, okay?” I tugged a new slice of pizza onto my plate. What excuse would I give to my parents? To Axel and Remy? “It might sound weird if I tried to tell my family that I’m spending Thanksgiving with my new friend and not them. Sorry.”

“Shit, Leo,I’msorry. I’ll come over. I’ll meet your parents as a friend, okay?” He squeezed my hand over the table, studying me.

“Are you sure?” My gaze searched his face. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he was right. This thing we had was too new for me to be coming out and dragging him to meet my parents.

“I want to spend the day with you. That’s what’s important. We have time for us to be solid so you can be ready to come out. I seriously don’t want to pressure you.” He kissed my cheek. “Maybe we can all watch football together, you and me and Remy and your dad? I assume he watches football?”

“He does. You were right to leave Axel out of that lineup.” With a sharp laugh, I shook my head. “He’s going to be all whiny about it. You watch.”

“Well, I’m looking forward to meeting your parents.” With asoft grin, he lifted his chin. “Tell me about them.” He ate more pizza.

I shifted in my seat. What could I say about them? “So, like I said, Mom is a fifth-grade teacher and Dad owns a tax business. Dad is a numbers guy. Maybe that’s where I got it from.” As my body relaxed, I wrapped my arm around his shoulders.

“Ah, because your job involves lots of numbers.” He nodded. “I get it.”

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