Page 64 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

Bellamy and Aries dive into shop talk about football. I listen in, catching things that might be useful to know later. Hockey is my chosen sport, so it’s what I know best. Everything else has been background noise.

With how this new friendship has been building between me and the other Daddies, it’s best I learn at least some of the details of what they do. I may never be able to understand it all, but I’ll give it my best shot.

As the show starts to wrap up, Thea turns to me again. “Any last words for the viewers, Andry? You’ve been a quiet guy this whole time.”

I shrug. “Nothing much to say. I’m the type that enjoys quality time with good people. Being here is enough for me.”

“Awwww. That’s so sweet. We’re so happy you could come.” Thea turns to face the camera head-on. “And you heard it here first, people. There’s more love blooming in Bellport. We’ve got a great season ahead of us. I can’t wait to see the Bears, Bulldogs, and the Bellport U hockey team in action. Until next time — be safe, be smart, be yourself.”

She blows the camera a kiss, holding a wide smile until the guy tells us we’re done. Her expression changes, dropping into a relaxed vibe.

“You guys are awesome for coming by. Sorry if I railroaded the conversation by making it all about football.”

“If you think I’m bothered, I’m not. It was good for me to learn some things,” I tell her before the others can speak. “Hockey is my life. This is all new.”

“You don’t know football stuff? Hold up! We gotta fix this pronto.” Aries falls back in his chair, his hand to his forehead as if he’s fainting.

Bellamy pushes his shoulder while laughing. “Enough from you. We’ve got to get to the next stage of the plan.”

“The next stage?”

At my question, Bellamy shoots Aries a look. The other man nods, though he doesn’t explain anything. We tell Thea goodbye and strip off the microphones we’d been told to wear.

Once we’re in Bellamy’s car and driving away from the small studio set in Thea’s apartment downtown, Aries tells me, “We got you some ice time with some of the guys from the Bears. We’re going to film it and use the clips for social media promos. They can’t be made to look like you’re being recruited since that’s a big no-no, hence why Bellamy and I will be there too. We’re making it like a family and friends’ day on the ice.”

My jaw drops. Holy shit. This is awesome.

I can’t seem to get the words out. I think I’m in shock.

Sure, I met Leon and Maddox before when I came to the stadium. But to be on the ice with them and Brutal Bishop? It’s as if my dreams are already coming true, and I’m not even drafted.

“You alive back there?” Aries asks when I remain quiet. He glances over his shoulder, a smirk in place.

I nod. “Yes. Alive. Amazed, but alive.”

“Amazed is good. This is going to be fun. Don’t get too in your head about it. We’re trying to keep the assholes off your boy’s back, right? What better way than to show them you’ve got a team full of supporters?”

“It’s smart, honestly,” Bellamy adds.

Stupidly, I just nod along again. I feel as if it’s all I can do since my brain has decided to go offline.

What are words?

How does one speak?

This whole thing might end in disaster if I can’t break this. Luckily for me, Aries leaves out one important detail.

“Little genius?” I ask as I climb out of the car.

My boyfriend is standing there with a young man I recognize from the background of Bellamy’s phone. He’s checked it no less than a hundred times in the hours we’ve been together.

“Hey,” he says slowly, “I hope it’s ok that we came. Finn said it would be fine for us both to be here.”

“It’s fine with me.”

Aries pouts as Bellamy drapes himself over the small, blushing guy. “Where’s my Raymond? I want him here, dammit.”

“Ray is running late. He overslept because someone turned off his alarm.” At the look Finn gives Aries, the other man laughs.

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