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ALEXEI

Out on the street, I slip my hand into Stef’s and we walk side by side, laughing and talking, like we’ve been doing this for years. Inside, we pretended we were on a first date, getting to know each other, talking about books. But now we’re outside, I feel like it’s time to say what I really brought him here to say.

“I wish I hadn’t screwed up last time.”

“Don’t do that. It was obviously meant to be like this. Think about it. What are the odds of us ending up as roommates? It was fate.”

“I guess.”

He squeezes my hand. “It was.”

I have to stop him on the corner to put the hand I’m allowed to move out of a sling on his face and kiss him.

When I pull away, he looks up at me with those big eyes.

“Fuck me Bambi, I fucking love you.”

“Bambi?” he laughs, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. “I thought I was horror boy?”

“You’re both. You’re like a million and one things and I can’t wait to figure them all out.”

He drops his eyes. “Did you talk to your dad?”

“Not yet. But I will. I’m gonna wait until after graduation. But you were right. It’s not my job to take care of everyone. As soon as I get settled in a job and I’m making proper money, I’m gonna send some to him and my babushka, because I have to help them in some way, it’s just what I believe.”

“I know, I get it.”

“But anything else, he’ll just have to accept. They’ll always be my family, but I’m not gonna be around him if he tries to make me ashamed of this. Because this is the opposite of something we should be ashamed of.”

He smiles, burying his face in my jacket. I put my good arm around him, soaking up his coconutty scent. My little ball of sunshine. My scary little prince.

“By the way,” I speak into his hair. “How do you feel about Nashville?”

“The TV show?”

“No.” I laugh. “The place.”

His head pops up from my jacket. “Why?”

“I got both NHL internships - Vancouver and Nashville.” I got a couple of the bank ones too. Including one at J.P Morgan, but I’m not gonna take it.

“Why Nashville? I thought you really wanted the one in Vancouver? Isn’t Canada the home of hockey?”

I shrug, unable to keep the grin off my face. “Well I hear Nashville’s the undisputed home of country music, and I happen to know a very talented musician who could probably have a lot of fun there. Maybe even find a job playing music in a laid-back bar or something? And don’t go around telling people in Nashville thatCanada’sthe home of hockey okay?”

His face drops. “You’re doing this for me?”

“If I am,” I say, putting my hand on his cheek. “Then you deserve it.”

“Alexei-”

I shush him with a kiss. “It’s the Nashville-motherfucking-Predators Stef! This is a big deal for me, and I want it. I really want it. And I’m asking you to come with me. I think it’ll be good, for the both of us.”

He still isn’t smiling.Fuck, maybe he wants to stay here with his family?

“If you wanna stay in Queens, we can make that work too.”

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