Beak Performance (Fangs on Ice #3)

22. Twenty-two

Twenty-two

Max

“ Y ou’ll spend Christmas with whom?” Marie’s shrill voice made me almost drop my phone. I’d called her as soon as I knew for sure our Christmas in Denmark would work out.

“Shit, keep it down a bit, will you? Ouch, that hurt my ear.”

“Sorry, Max, but you are doing what for Christmas this year?” she asked again.

“I’m going to a friend’s place in Denmark.” The lie stung, but she’d never been great at keeping secrets from our parents. “His family owns a beach house there.”

“Ugh, I’m jealous. I bet he’s hot. Is he single?” My sister giggled.

“Nah, he’s seeing someone,” I said evasively.

“Mum and Dad will hate that you won’t be home for the holidays. And your birthday!”

“I know, but this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’ve heard Jul in Denmark is pretty fantastic.”

And it’s our first Christmas as a couple. Okay, secret couple, but who cares?

“You’ve got to send me pictures! Also of the hunk.”

“Not going to happen.” I snorted. “Go on the website and look at his official pictures. I’m not taking photos of him on holiday.”

Well, I might… but those are only for me.

“Okay, okay.” She laughed. “I’ll check him out. Oh hang on, is this your hot captain we’re talking about? The Viking? He’s Danish, isn’t he?”

“Yeah, that’s him. How are things at home?” I asked to steer the conversation away from Arne. I had no problem bending the truth a bit. Flat out lying to Marie wasn’t something I wanted to do.

“Oh, same old. Our parents are working. I’m spending all my time in the lab. I met Tobias the other day. He said he tried calling you, but you didn’t pick up the phone. He was pretty upset.”

I rolled my eyes, anger rising in my chest.

“For the last time, I broke up with him because he fucked some other guy and then lied to me about it for weeks!” I was beyond sugar coating anything. “I found out through ArgoS, if you want to know. Why the fuck would I pick up? So he can cry and when that doesn’t soften me up, insult me? I want nothing to do with that asshole.”

“Holy shit. That’s what he did?” Marie whispered.

“Yeah.” I sniffed. I wasn’t upset about it anymore, just so freaking angry. I wanted to be with Arne in peace, without worrying if Tobias might call me again while we had dinner or were in bed together.

“Shit, Max. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“I bet he didn’t tell you that, did he?”

“Nope. He came to our house and cried. Said you had split up with him because he didn’t fit into your successful life in Germany anymore.”

“What the actual fuck? The audacity!”

“We all felt sorry for him, of course. I told them you would have had your reasons.”

I huffed. “Yeah, I did.”

“What an asshole. I’m glad you’re rid of him. You deserve better.”

My thoughts strayed back to my princess.

“Yeah, I do. I’ll call Mum later. Gotta get ready for work now.”

“You go hit some pucks. I need to be in the lab, anyway.”

My sister was in the last leg of her psychology studies.

“Love you, little sis.”

“Love you, big bro.”

After our morning training session and yoga class, I called my mother.

She, too, brought up Tobias, but quickly changed the subject when I told her the same thing I had told Marie.

It hurt that she didn’t want to hear me, but it made me feel less guilty about what I told her next.

“You won’t be coming home for the holidays? And your birthday? Maximilian, you cannot be serious!”

“I am, Mum.” I wouldn’t say I was sorry. I wasn’t.

“And you’re spending Christmas in Denmark with a colleague ?”

“A friend.” The love of my life. Perhaps she heard I wasn’t going to let her challenge that.

“All right.” She sighed like a woman who had lived a thousand years of misery.

Well, parenting two neurodivergent children—one obsessed with hockey and the other with a special interest in serial killers—and running a business probably came close enough in her mind. “Have a good time with your friend in Denmark. We’ll miss you, Max.”

“I’ll miss you, too, Mum. Have a great Christmas, yeah? And give my love to Dad.”

“I will. We’ll be sending your presents to Veitsreuth. Perhaps we can come see you in March for your Dad’s birthday?”

“Yeah, that would be nice.”

“Good. Let’s do that. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mum.”

I hung up, feeling only a bit guilty but giddy with excitement.

I’d go to a beach house with Arne. Ten days of great food, not having to hide, and all the sex. Fuck yes.