Page 51 of The Poster Boy
“I noticed.” Leave it to Jay to find a way to make me smile even when I didn’t want to.
“I might be an asshole, but I’m not the kind of asshole that’s okay with someone I know spending Christmas on the couch, alone.”
“It’s fine.”
“I swear to God, Marek, if you say that one more time, I’m going to shove your hockey stick up your ass sideways.”
“That’s quite the mental image.”
“I think you should come with Boone and me to see his family. They live outside of the city, so it’s a bit of a drive, but at least you won't have to worry about last-minute flights.”
“You can’t just invite me to someone else’s house for Christmas, Jay.”
“That’s odd, because I just did. Look, Boone’s mom and dad are like parents to me. His siblings are pains in my ass, just like I’d always imagined siblings would be if I had any. They’d murder me in my sleep if they found out that I let you be alone on Christmas.”
My legs no longer wanted to support my weight so I put the lid down on the toilet and sat there. “Jay, think about this for a second. When we’re around the team, I have a hard enough time not giving it away that I can’t wait to throw you down and fuck you through the floor. We won’t have the buffer of the game, or practice, or the guys.”
“And?”
“And what if Boone figures it out? Does he even know you’re gay?”
“Boone knows I’m gay.”
“And what if he figures out that we’ve been sneaking around?”
He let out a soft laugh. “Marek, I’m not worried about Boone or what he might think. Do I want the whole team to know? No, but only because I don’t want the whole league to know. But I can handle Boone. Say yes, Marek.”
“You’re bossy today.” I let out a sigh. “I still have to tell Kelsey about all this. She’s going to be so mad.”
“She’ll understand. And she wouldn’t want you to be alone either.”
“If you can promise me that Boone and his family won’t mind, then I’ll go.”
“I swear on my skates, it’ll be okay.”
I let out a breath and the pressure in my chest eased. Truthfully, I hadn’t been looking forward to spending the holiday alone in my apartment. “Okay, Jay. You win.”
“It’ll be fine. You’ll see,” Jay promised.
Chapter 24
Jay
Imight have cleared it with Boone’s mom, Diane, ahead of our departure, but I didn’t let Boone know about our extra passenger until we were getting ready to leave. I checked my phone to make sure Marek would be here on time, and then the three of us would make the trip to Boone’s house.
His mom was more than happy to add another stocking to the mantel and set another place at the table. When her kids were teenagers, she was probably the cool mom. Boone’s house seemed like the kind of place that would gather people. Every member of the Weimer family had a kind of magnetism about them. It wasn’t a wonder why Boone had become captain.
“Are we ready to go?” he asked, dropping his bag by the door. He patted his pockets for his keys and his wallet. After last Christmas, when we’d driven halfway to his parents’ house to realize he’d forgotten his wallet and had to turn around to get it, he always double-checked that he had it now.
“I’ve got everything. I think. Did I forget something?” Boone patted his pockets again.
It was the moment of truth now. I had to come clean with Boone about inviting Marek. I’d lied to Marek a bit when I’d invited him. I said I hadn’t cared what Boone would think, but my lack of transparency with him about Marek proved that to be a lie. I didn’t need Boone’s approval, but I found myself wanting it regardless. By cutting it down to the wire before I told him, it gave Boone less time to talk. He’d have a stew about it on the way out of town, and by the time we could talk about it again, he’d be used to the idea.
“Not quite.” I looked at my phone again. Marek was five minutes out.
“Jay?” Boone scrunched his face in concern.
“I invited Marek to come with us. Your mom knows. It’s fine.” I resisted the urge to squirm away from Boone’s scrutinizing gaze. It would only give away the anxiety bubbling under the surface.
