Chapter 7
August
He was inside Jett Fraser and Harrison Killinger’s house for no more than five seconds before a pretty Korean man with powder pink hair rushed him like he was going to tackle him.
“Snow! I can’t believe you showed up!”
August quickly kicked his shoes off, ignoring the laughter coming from Niko while he watched him face-off against the rambunctious entity that was Su-jin Park.
Park had always been a pain in his ass on the ice, and it didn’t seem like their dynamic would change off the ice either. The guy had a vendetta against August because he dyed his hair white, which was stupid. After all, if he stopped using the dye, the colour change wouldn’t be drastic.
“Bend down for a second,” Park ordered, gripping August’s arm like he could force him to comply. “I need to try something.”
August already had an idea of what was about to happen, but for the sake of getting along, he did as he was asked. The second he was kneeling, Park jumped on like he was getting a piggyback ride, and August stood.
“Oh shit, Harrison never lets me do this,” Park said, uncomfortably close to his ear. “Is this really what the world looks like from up here? Aren’t you worried you’ll hit your head?”
August glanced at the ceiling, but they were nice and high, vaulted with fancy wooden beams. “For the most part, yes, but this place seems size appropriate.”
“Get the fuck down,” said Fraser, smacking Park on the arm like he was a misbehaving child, which wasn’t far off. “Leave Snow alone before—”
Jett didn’t have to finish his sentence because Killinger appeared beside him and plucked Park from his back like he was picking an apple off a tree.
“Sorry ‘bout him,” Killinger said, smiling apologetically at August as he walked past, still carrying a squirming Park.
“Fraser! Tell your man—”
“It’s fucking Killinger,” Jett snapped, flipping the Ottawa player off. “Stop calling me Fraser, jackass.”
Oh shit. Had Fraser taken his husband’s last name? How many Killingers were there now?
“No need for last names around here,” said Robert, patting August on the arm like he was trying to console him. “I know you guys are weird about that stuff, but seriously, let’s all use first names and enjoy each other’s company.”
The thought of calling any guy who wasn’t on his team by their first name was weird, but once Arlo Killinger showed up, things would get complicated.
“Come on,” said Niko, taking his hand again to lead him toward a hall. “Harrison added a second level to the house over the summer, so the guys have a place to stay until they get their homes built. Mine won’t be done until the end of next season, so you’ll be bunking with me here.”
August paused before the stairs, just so he could coordinate his feet properly before taking his first step. “You guys have property?”
“Yeah, Harrison sold us pieces of land around the lake so we can come during the off-season and hang out.” Niko brought them to a nicely decorated room with two beds. There was even a bathroom attached, so all the upstairs guests wouldn’t have to share one shower over the next few days.
“There’s a full-sized rink out back with a gym, so we have tons of privacy while we keep in shape,” Niko continued.
“Harrison even hires security to keep nosy people out, and trainers to help us if we need them. I’ll have to remind him to offer you a plot, but until then, you can stay with me from this point on. ”
August let go of Niko’s hand and rolled his suitcase over to the nearest bed. “Why?”
There was a pause.
“Why what?”
Sighing, August dropped onto the bed, taking a second to appreciate the fact that it was big enough to fit him. “Why are you offering to bring me again? And why ask Harrison about plots of land for me?”
Niko hadn’t moved from the entrance of the room, so when he frowned and shut the door, trapping them inside, anxiety crept from August’s chest to his limbs.
“Dude, I’m trying to understand, but help me out,” said Niko. He kept his posture relaxed and non-confrontational, but August knew he had upset him. “You’re very hot and cold with me. I can’t tell if you want to be friends, or if you want me to go away.”
Both. Neither.
Fuck, August didn’t know the answer himself.
“I know hanging out with a bunch of guys who are into other guys must be awkward for you, and if it is, that’s cool; you don’t have to come again. But something tells me you want to be here, but you keep backtracking.”
“I do.” August dropped his head into his hands so he didn’t have to see the disappointment in Niko’s eyes anymore.
“I just don’t see the fucking point. It’s not like you’ll want to be my friend forever, especially if you get traded or meet someone new who shares your interests.
And trust me, finding someone better than me isn’t hard. ”
Footsteps approached, and August looked up, flinching when Niko dropped into a sitting position on the floor in front of him.
“Shit, man. I’m sensing some trauma here.
” Niko wasn’t touching him; he was sitting casually, like they weren’t having the most awkward conversation in the history of mankind.
“I’m going to say this because you need to hear it.
Whoever taught you to think so little of yourself is an asshole. End of story.”
August should have stayed home. He would take the stalker over having conversations that involved feelings any day.
“We’re friends,” said Niko. “I’ve decided, and you can’t make me change my mind.”
“And if you leave?” August said. “Long-distance anything is bullshit.”
“I won’t get traded.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Then I’ll fly to Vancouver and visit you every day.”
“That’s impossible. You want to play hockey or hold my hand?”
Niko laughed, and hearing it made August smile.
“The guys in the group chat,” Niko began, watching to make sure August was paying attention.
“We have something else in common other than liking men. We don’t have anyone else, so we’re trying to be each other’s family.
Sure, Jetty has his dad, but most of us are dealing with our own shit, and it’s nice to have a place where we can be ourselves during downtime. ”
It sounded like a fairy tale to August, but he knew if he said that, Niko might actually fight him.
“I lied when I said the group is only for gay guys. The reason I was hesitant to add you is because we had just met, and things can get vulgar. It’s mostly just Park running his mouth, but I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.
” Niko took his phone from his pocket and held it up for August to see once he retrieved the list of names in the group.
“Ryan Bracken, Jason Powers and Detlef Wolf are in the group, so if you want, I can…add you?”
Did August want to be added to a group of guys who sometimes talked about sucking dick? His younger self would have passed out at the thought, but August was feeling more rebellious in his older age.
They couldn’t say anything worse than the nasty shit he heard in the locker room.
“Sure,” said August. “Add me.”
Niko hesitated, staring at August like he needed double confirmation.
“I don’t care if you guys talk about fucking each other,” August assured him. “I draw the line at orgy invitations, but I won’t even complain if there’s a dick pic.”
Niko made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “Don’t encourage Blanchard or Park. They will DM you that shit if you’re not careful. Ryan learned the hard way.”
If that happened, August had every intention of fucking with them right back.
Niko tapped on his screen for a few seconds, and then August’s phone buzzed in his pocket. “There, you’re added. I’ll remind them that you’re straight so they don’t pester you.”
August pulled his phone out just as a message from the group popped up.
Jin: Does the carpet match the drapes?
Niko: Reminder that Gusty is straight. Leave him alone.
Niko: Park, shut the fuck up.
Jin: Aw, he’s protective of his new friend.
Harrison: Su-jin. Enough.
Jett: Are you guys unpacked? Dad is breaking out the eggnog.
Ryan: Fuck, you guys are having way more fun than I am. I’m stuck doing last-minute Christmas shopping.
Harrison: Then don’t leave it until last minute.
Ryan: Yes, Coach!
Arlo: We’re five minutes out. étienne almost hit a deer, so I’ll have to change my pants when I get there.
Harrison: Tell him to slow the fuck down.
Arlo: We are literally turning into your driveway. Chill out, cuz.
Sébastien: Do you know how many jokes I can use now that we have a guy with the last name Snow?
“Sorry about them.”
August flinched. He had completely forgotten he was still sitting on his bed with Niko looking up at him. His face was aching, and it took him a second to realize it was because he’d been smiling for more than a minute.
“They’re fine,” said August. “They’re chaotic, but it’s entertaining.”
Grumbling a response, Niko stood and stretched. “That’s a word for it, but we should change and get down there before Harrison comes looking for us. I don’t like it when he uses the stairs; his leg gets really sore in the cold weather.”
Yes, getting out of his airplane clothes and into something more comfortable was a necessity. August was worried about dressing too casually, but when Niko whipped out his pyjama pants with Christmas trees on them and a grey t-shirt, he figured his hoodie and sweatpants were fine.
When they rejoined the crowd downstairs, the smell of cookies baking and a strong aroma of turkey stuffing hit him like a punch to the gut. Since they left Vancouver in such a rush, August hadn’t had time to eat his pizza, and now he was starving.
He followed Niko to the kitchen and picked out multiple baked goods, and holy shit, there was homemade pizza there too. Once he had enough food piled and a huge glass of eggnog, he went to the living room and chose the spot on the sectional that was furthest away from everyone else.