Page 84 of Icing the Play

“N-no?” Myles’s hand shook as he brought his glass to his lips and drank some whiskey.

Allen set his glass on the coffee table and knelt on the floor in front of Myles, planting his hands on the edge of the sectional. “Son, I’m angry and I’m feeling a little betrayed right now. But I still love you.” His gaze searched Myles’s face. “Will you come out publicly if you make it to the NHL?”

“I was going to.” As he swallowed, Myles’s throat bobbed. “Idon’t want to hide what I have with Cooper.” His gaze softened as it landed on me. “I love him. We want to make a life together.”

Allen peered at me. “And you’re expecting to be drafted to the NFL this year?”

“I am. My dad played for The Bears. He has connections. If Myles signs with Seattle, we’ll tell the Seahawks I prefer to play for them.” As my eyes stung, I said, “I’ll follow him anywhere.”

With his eyes widening, Allen rose and blinked a few times. “All a parent wants is for their child to be happy, to live to their true potential and find love.” He squeezed Myles’s shoulder. “Your friends are changing the NHL for queer players. I suppose you’ll be doing the same.” A soft grin worked over his mouth. “You have my support. I’ll do whatever I can to help you both.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Myles patted his father’s hand, his eyes glistening. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Yes, well, the game tickets will go to waste with your leg injury.” Allen picked up his glass and downed the whiskey.

“How many tickets do you have?” Myles studied his father.

“Two.” He strode to the kitchen and set his glass down in the sink. “I need to fly home tonight, but I thought you’d want to take a friend with you.” He sighed.

“Maybe Zoma will want to go with Nova?” Zoma’s boyfriendwasthe goalie. I adjusted the ice pack on Myles’s leg. “How’s the knee?”

“Fine.” He twisted his lips. “Maybe Leo would go with Zoma.”

“These are friends of yours?” Dad strolled to the couch and sat down.

“Yeah, Zoma is Ace McAdam’s boyfriend, and Leo is Archer Carlson’s boyfriend.” Myles twisted his glass in his hand. “All my friends are queer, Dad, not just Tyler.”

Allen rocked once. “I knew about Mason Hopkins, with what went down with him and Jett Jarvis.” He huffed. “It’s funny. Thesigns were all there. Your friends were queer, and you never brought girls around. I guess parents don’t always see what’s right in front of us.” He fished his phone out of the breast pocket of his suit jacket. “Let’s FaceTime your mother. She’s worried sick about you, and I promised you’d talk to her.” He tapped on the screen, handed the phone to me, and I passed it to Myles.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

MYLES

The phone picked up after one ring and Mom’s face came into view, her blonde hair cut in a new bob, her brown eyes wrinkling in the corners. “Myles? Honey? How are you?”

I glanced at Dad, following Cooper into the kitchen for a refill on their whiskeys. They seemed to get along.

“I’ve had better days, but I’m okay.” I sipped my drink, letting the buzz of the alcohol calm my frazzled nerves.

“You know I love you, right?” She shifted and the back of our family room couch came into view. “I don’t care if you’re gay or bisexual or whatever you identify with.”

She was diving right in. “I’m gay, Mom.” I pushed the ice pack off my knee. At this point, the joint was completely frozen.

“Oh.” She furrowed her brows. “Where is the nice young man your father told me about?”

“He’s here.” I waved Cooper to me. I was pretty sure they’d met, but it had been a few years.

“Yeah?” Cooper jogged to the couch behind me and ducked down, putting his face behind mine. “Hi, Mrs. Cummings. I’m Cooper Hayes and I love your son.” He waved into the camera and kissed my cheek.

“Jesus…” I freed a sharp laugh and rubbed my eyes. Cooper was so overboard sometimes, but I loved him for it. “I love him too, Mom.” I glanced at him. “And her name is Theresa.”

“Oh, nice to see you again, Theresa. I think I met you in high school.” He tilted his head.

“You look familiar.” She worried her lower lip. “I hear you’re a football player?”

“I am and I’ll make sure Myles rests and gets back on the ice as soon as possible. I’ve injured my knee before. I know what he needs.” He patted my shoulder and stood. “I’m going to have a chat with Allen on the patio.” He held up his fresh glass of whiskey to Mom. “It was nice seeing you again.”

“Nice to see you, Cooper.” Mom waved.

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