I’m not too big for him.
I won’t accidentally crush him at night, and if I take the covers at night, I have every confidence he’ll be able to take them back.
I knew he was special a decade ago. And now we’re together. He came for me.
I’m so lucky.
I snuggle against him, until everything dissolves into warmth and happiness.
The next thing I know it’s morning. Light drifts in from the expensive blinds, and my alarm sounds. I turn it off.
“I’m sorry. It’s noisy,” I say.
“I, uh, woke up already.” His cheeks redden, and I grin.
“I like you a lot. Even if you did confess to watching me sleep.”
“Maybe I didn’t want to wake you up.”
“That’s sweet too.” I lead him to my kitchen and make us breakfast.
“I should go,” Cal says finally. “I need to get to work.”
“I’ll miss you.”
“Same.” He hesitates, shifting his weight from leg to leg. Finally, he says, “I want you to know I won’t tell anyone.”
Tension shoots through my body.
But we’re together, right? I didn’t imagine that. My mind wouldn’t have done that.
“But you liked last night,” I blurt.
“Of course,” Cal says. “You’re amazing, Jason. I don’t want you to worry.”
I swallow away the bile that’s entered my throat. “Okay. That’s nice.”
He nods. I’ve landed in an English-for-Foreign-Language-Students textbook: all stilted, polite phrases.
Cal helps me load the dishwasher, then he goes back to his place to shower. I want to tell him he would save time if he showered here and that I have plenty of soap and shampoo, but he probably needs a change of clothes. Probably journalists can’t go around the city in sweats and sweatshirts, even though they totally should.
I kiss him goodbye at the door, then stare at my empty apartment.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Jason
I float into the Blizzards Arena. I played last night. I played well. And Cal and I are together.
“Jason Larvik.” A Japanese accented voice booms behind me, and I turn.
I wasn’t sure Mr. Tanaka knew my name, since owning a hockey team is one of many, many things he does.
“Hi,” I say, and cringe because it’s pretty lame.
“Glad you’re back, Larvik,” Tanaka says. “I read about it in the paper. Sounded like quite an ordeal.”
“I don’t recommend it.”
