Page 66 of Find Me in the Rain
Alec chuckles and takes Jack’s hand. “Let’s go get those little feet some skates.”
Alec and Jack lead the way, and we get in line behind the other players and parents. When we finally reach the front of the line, I have a sense of excitement in me—for Jack, for Alec, and for myself. Our own little hockey fam.
But there is one thing I can’t get out of my mind. At some point, this is going to go public, and the coach recognizing him will just be the beginning of hundreds of thousands. And I’m naive to think that the craziness of Alec’s life will begin and end with him.
One of the workers waves us over. “Hey, guys, I’m Jared.” He squats down to Jack and lifts his foot up, mumbling to himself. “All right, let’s try these.”
Jack pushes his foot down into the skate, and Jared quickly laces it up. Satisfied with the fit, he slips the other skate onto Jack’s foot.
Suddenly, Jack takes off running past us in his skates. I guess Alec’s genes really did get passed down.
I turn just in time to see him and Erick slam together in a hug meant for long-lost friends. Although I know for a fact that they saw each other today at school.
My chest warms when I see the two boys wrapped in each other’s arms, and when they pull out of the hug, their hands stay connected.
Alec leans down to my ear. “Is-is that Jack’s friend or boyfriend?” he asks genuinely.
I lean into his touch. “To be honest, I don’t know, but I’m guessing boyfriend more than friend.”
Alec smiles against my ear. “All righty then. I can’t wait to meet him.”
My mom tingles kick in, and I quickly scan the crowd, searching for the reason my hair is standing up.
And I soon spot it.
A couple is standing there, scowling at Jack and Erick. A look of pure disgust twists into the ugly death stare that is shooting toward my five-year-old, who is lost in conversation.
The couple has to be in their low- to mid-twenties. The man leans down to his wife, and as he finishes speaking what I imagine is nothing short of absolute idiocy, his eyes meet mine.
And I let my fury shine through them.
Holding nothing back in my burning gaze, I stand a little taller. One word out of his mouth, and I will become unglued.
Alec must sense my stare, and he reaches out and places a strong, supportive hand on my back.
I feel his lips brush my ear before he says, “What’s going on?”
He doesn’t ask if something’s wrong or if I am okay. Alec knows me. He’s known me almost my whole life. He doesn’t have to ask if something is wrong—he just knows.
“This bigoted man is clearly not okay with Jack and Erick being, well, whatever they are. And I am currently locked in a staredown with him, waiting for him to back off.”
I blink, and the next thing I see, Alec is already five feet ahead of me, walking toward the couple.
My body reacts before I realize it, stepping out toward him. I whisper, “Alec! Get back here!”
He ignores me and treks on.
I take long steps in hopes of grabbing him before he goes off on this couple. Not that they don’t deserve it, but I’ve never been one to start a confrontation. But I’m too late.
When Alec walks up to them, a look of instant recognition sets into their features. I’m not surprised. Anyone in and around the hockey world knows who Alec is—the star center in the league right now.
The man, who five seconds ago clearly didn’t approve of our son’s relationship, is now stretching his hand out. “Holy shit. You’re Alec Kostelecky of the Nighthawks.”
Alec takes his hand and shakes it but doesn’t let go. I take a step toward Alec and rest my hand on his shoulder, which is rippling with anger.
I might not be a fan of confrontation, but there’s a reason Alec sees the penalty box far too often. He doesn’t start fights for no reason. But the second there’s any kind of threat on a person he cares about, all bets are off.
Alec’s steel grip is holding the man’s hand in place as he tugs him forward, bringing him inches from Alec’s face. Alec towers over the man’s much smaller stature.
