Page 115 of Scoring Position

“RYAN! HURRYup, we’re going to be late.”

Ryan gave up struggling with the bow tie and opened the bathroom door with a mock scowl. “And whose fault would that be?” he asked as Nico batted his hands away from his neck and took over, because of course his German boyfriend knew how to tie a bow tie.

Nico managed to raise one eyebrow while finishing off the knot. God, he gave such good judgy face. “If I remember,someonedidn’t want to shower alone this afternoon.”

“Yeah, becausesomeonedecided to spend an extra week in Berlin with his parents, depriving me of his company,” Ryan pointed out as Nico straightened his lapels and brushed imaginary lint from the shoulders of Ryan’s tux.

For ten days after Worlds, Nico had played European tour guide, though at some point all the cities ran together and it just became one pleasant buzz of Nico, Nico, Nico. With both of them still needing to sign contracts—and agreeing that the responsible thing to do would be to not intentionally expose their relationship beforehand—the pictures had stayed on their phones and off Instagram. But Diane would make sure teams interested in Ryan knew he wouldn’t be hiding the whole summer.

Free agency would open at midnight. After that, all bets were off.

“You could’ve stayed.” Nico smirked. “I’m sure my parents would’ve loved to have you.”

Spending a week with him in Berlin, one of the few places in Europe Nico would actually be recognized, and exposing himself to an entire week of his boyfriend’s parents at one time… no, thanks. “You’re a menace.” Ryan gave him a gentle shove. “Where are your keys? Since you’re so worried about timeliness.”

Nico pulled them out of his pocket and gestured toward the door.

Despite his worrying, they arrived at the venue in plenty of time. “Nice place,” Ryan observed, taking in the carefully maintained gardens and the pristine white tent. “I thought it would be churchier.”

“They did the church thing earlier, remember?” None of their teammates had gotten an invite to the potentially hours-long ceremony either, and Ryan couldn’t say he minded skipping it. He’d have had to bug Nico for a translation anyway. “This is just the reception.”

“Right.” He shook himself, then admonished, “Remember to be cool.”

“You realize the fact that we showed up together is going to give us away.” Nico got out of the car while Ryan stayed seated just a moment longer so he could watch Nico’s ass in his tuxedo pants. Very nice. “Also, did you forget Grange was at Worlds?”

Ryan got out and made a face. “Do you think he told?” This day was definitely not about them.

“I guess we’ll find out.” He reached out for Ryan’s hand, then seemed to catch himself. “Let’s go.”

If any of the other hockey players in attendance thought their arrival together was strange, they didn’t mention it as Nico and Ryan found their names on the seating chart and settled at their table.

“Boys,” Jenna Yorkshire greeted warmly as they sat down. “Congratulations on the medals.”

Ryan grinned. “Thanks.”

On her other side, Dante Baltierra made a mock sour face. “We’ll get you next year.”

Nico blinked at him, guileless. “‘We’ meaning Sweden?”

Fuck, Ryan loved him so much.

Gabriel Martin acted as though he’d heard none of the exchange and simply said to Ryan, “Nice goal.” But he definitely had his hand on his husband’s leg under the table, and it wasn’t getting bitten off, so it was probably only a minor bone of contention.

Still, best to change the subject. “Where’s Puddin’?” Ryan asked Jenna. “And did you see who’s—”

He didn’t have a chance to finish asking the question, since Chenner arrived along with Greenie and his wife.

“Oh God,” Chenner said dramatically, flopping into the seat next to Nico. “They stuck me at the couples table.”

So much for keeping that on the down-low. Ryan covered his eyes with one hand. “Hey, Chenner. No date?”

“Don’t start with me, man.” He sighed, lolled to the side, and then straightened up and asked seriously, “Do you think Katja has bridesmaids?”

While Jenna and Sara Green exchanged speaking looks, Greenie glanced at Ryan and Nico, his expression filled with shock. “Wait, for real?”

Dante stage-whispered to Martin, “We should have brought popcorn.”

Any further comment was preempted by the arrival of the bride and groom to what sounded like traditional Eastern European fanfare. If Katja had bridesmaids, they didn’t enter with her. She came in holding Kitty’s hand, both of them beaming widely.

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