Chapter 40 #2
August was running on fewer brain cells after Quinn had fucked most of them out of him, so he needed a minute before he realized what he was saying.
“The guy who invented the thing that lets two guys and two girls—or anyone have biological kids, is your uncle?”
Quinn smiled. “The thing, yes. The man was a billionaire when he died seven years ago, and he wasn’t around to meet Alara and Emira, but they wouldn’t be here without him.
Esme couldn’t have kids because she was intersex, but she didn’t learn that she was missing a uterus until she was older.
But that’s why my uncle’s discovery was so great, because you don’t need eggs and sperm to make a baby, you just need DNA.
Surrogacy is legal in Canada now for that reason. ”
This was an intense conversation to have after sex, but August was paying very close attention. He wasn’t about to pass on the opportunity to learn more about Quinn when he was opening up without prompting.
“To bring us back to the point of this conversation, I wasn’t lying about having money.
My uncle’s fortune was left to my sister and me, which is why my parents don’t talk to me anymore.
” Quinn rolled his eyes, which told August all he needed to know about their relationship.
“My nieces have a fund that Eren doesn’t know about yet, so they’ll never have to worry about money after they graduate from university.
But since Esme isn’t here anymore, I’m the sole inheritor of my uncle’s will, his legacy, and his memory. ”
August placed his hands on Quinn’s hips. He wanted to ask, but he also didn’t want to pry. It was hard to tell where the line was sometimes.
“Are you…” August hesitated on the word, and Quinn’s eyes widened.
“Intersex? No.” Quinn looked down at the mess of cum drying on August’s chest and chuckled. “Esme and I are genetically identical, but instead of being born male, she skipped a step.”
He had no idea how biology worked, but August wouldn’t have cared either way. Quinn’s personality had drawn him before he stopped to think about what his gender was during high school, and he would have been on board regardless.
“So yeah, you bet your ass you’re signing a prenup,” said Quinn. “Not that I’ll let you leave me this time, but I hear the illusion of freedom is healthy.”
August’s jaw dropped. “You won’t even agree to be my boyfriend, and you’re talking about marriage?”
Quinn’s nonchalant shrug was too much for August to handle for his current spiral. He would end up with another fucking nosebleed if he wasn’t careful.
“My one hard rule, and this will be written into our marriage contract—”
“You and your goddamn contracts—”
“Is that our first child will be named after my uncle,” Quinn finished, his green eyes practically shimmering with mischief. “And yes, children are non-negotiable, but we’re waiting until the girls reach an age where they can be left alone without destroying the house.”
August sighed and dropped his head onto the edge of the tub for the third time.
“Tell me the name so we can get out of the jizz water, please. Apparently, I have a cup to win for my billionaire sugar Dom, who won’t agree to be my boyfriend, but has no problem threatening me with confinement if I attempt to leave him. ”
Quinn’s laughter bounced off the walls of the room, and because August was trying to be grumpy, he tried not to smile, but he probably looked constipated.
Quinn pulled the plug out of the bathtub to drain the water, and then he returned to kiss August’s frowning mouth until it turned into a smile.
“Our first child will be named Charlie,” said Quinn. “You can pick the next one.”
The next one? August was still reeling over the potential first.
“Let’s wash the cum off, and I’ll take you to the store so you can pick out a pretty ribbon to wear,” Quinn said in a tone that didn’t set off August’s danger alarms in the slightest. “Do you want to drop in and say hi to Eren and the girls after that? We’ll have enough time for a short visit before you need to be at the arena. ”
August wasn’t sure if he truly had a say in the decision, but he did want to see Eren before the game and check on Alara and Emira.
So, instead of panicking over his symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome, August got out of the tub and followed Quinn into the shower. It wasn’t like he wanted to be anywhere else, so he surrendered to Quinn like he always did and let him take the lead.
“You know I’m teasing you about not letting you leave, right?” Quinn asked. “And the money doesn’t change anything. I’m not like my parents.”
August lifted Quinn onto his hips and pinned him to the wall. “I’m not worried about anything, my sexy puppet master. Now, shut up and kiss me.”
“Oh, you must have gotten laid,” Arlo Killinger said as he knocked shoulders with August for the puck drop. “Look at you—you’re glowing, Gusty.”
The ref shot Arlo a warning glare and bent low for the drop, which wasn’t surprising because the officials all seemed to dislike Arlo.
Because he was a shithead.
Niko, who was now wearing the new C on his jersey, met the captain of the Montreal Basiliques at center ice. The two men had identical serious expressions as they faced off: étienne’s frown and Niko’s scar-tugging scowl.
“Let’s have a good game, guys,” the ref said, and then he dropped the puck.
Montreal and Vancouver weren’t rival teams, but that wasn’t to say they didn’t play hard when they went up against each other.
Both teams used technique and finesse over hard hits and aggressive forechecks, but with August back on the line, Montreal would have to bring out some muscle to make sure they didn’t get run over.
That’s where Arlo came in.
While he wasn’t as big as his cousin, Harrison Killinger, he had the same play style as him, which was speed, amazing puck handling, great defensive plays, and grit.
He didn’t care how big August was when he slammed him into the boards and manhandled the puck away, just to pass it to étienne, who had arguably one of the best backhand shots in the league.
Nollan got a tap on the puck, but it still went into the net, and Dax let out a growl of frustration as the crowd booed.
“Went through all that trouble to sign the cowboy for pennies, and turns out he’s shit at his job,” Arlo chirped, grinning widely at Dax Merlin, who was their freshly traded defenceman.
Dax skated over, and the officials circled just in case there was a fight, but August placed himself between the two players before anything could happen.
“What a fucking punk,” Dax growled behind him.
August didn’t disagree, but he was used to Arlo’s taunts, and Dax apparently wasn’t.
“Ignore him, or you’ll get dragged in,” August said as the whistle blew, herding them back to center ice.
“What’s the A on your sweater stand for, Bradshaw?” Arlo shot at Logan, who was already scowling. “Is it Absolutely Mid Player?”
“Killinger, shut your mouth,” said the ref, and Arlo’s smile brightened.
“We can’t all be star players, Killinger,” Logan grumbled. “I know you’re mad because you’ll never be as good as your cousin, but don’t take it out on me.”
Dax’s barking laughter was cut off by the puck hitting the ice, and then it was on again. He’d had such a short shift that August, Niko and Logan stayed out to set up a solid play for the next line before switching to the bench.
August smiled at Quinn’s worried face to let him know he was okay, and then sat and grabbed his water bottle.
He was okay, even if it felt unnatural to play without Eren.
The team dynamic had shifted now that Niko was the captain, but it wasn’t a bad shift—just different.
To say August had been shocked during the pre-game meeting when Fedorov announced Niko’s new position was an understatement, but it was the right choice.
Niko was new to the team, but he had made a huge impact in his short time as a Bigfoot. The kid pulled off moves that stunned onlookers and opponents alike, and he wasn’t on the same level as Jett Fraser/Killinger yet, but he was nineteen.
He was nineteen and the captain of the Vancouver Bigfoots.
Most guys would be crushed under the weight of that huge responsibility, especially since they were at the top of their division and undoubtedly heading to the playoffs, but Niko thrived on it.
Eren had left big skates to fill. He was a leader, and he had a hockey brain that could create quick strategies on the fly, but August believed in Niko.
“It’s so fun playing with you guys,” Dax said, leaning over Logan so he could catch Niko and August’s attention. “I fucked up because I forgot how fast Leroux is, but I won’t let it happen again.”
Logan shoved him down onto the bench and slapped the back of his helmet. “It’s all good, magic man. Just cling tight to the crease when Leroux goes to the left of it, and you’ll be able to block him.”
Niko tore his eyes away from the game, even though one of their forwards on the second line, Neil Daniels, was gunning for the Montreal net with the puck.
“We lost our captain for the season, and we got August back. It’s going to take us more than one practice game to find our chemistry, so don’t shut down when you fuck up.
Fight to get the puck, make smart passes, and if you see Logan or me pushing into the Montreal zone with open space in front of us, give us the puck. We’ll put it into the net.”
August was playing center tonight because Niko and Logan were their best wingers, and August was versatile. Their second line center, Aiden Wesley, was a skilled player, but he couldn’t read Niko like August and Eren could.
It was fair to say that management would have to trade for a new center to help fill the gap Callahan had left, but for now, August was the man for the job.
The goal light flared, and the horn sounded when Neil slapped the puck into the net. All the guys on the bench jumped to their feet, sticks thumping the wall in celebration, and hands went up for fist bumps when Neil zipped past them with a, “Fuck yeah, boys!”
The lines switched, and August turned and blew Quinn a kiss before he hit the ice, and the few fans who saw the exchange cheered loud enough for him to hear over the rest of the noise.
August grinned and flexed his hand, just so he could feel the silk tightening around his forearm; a reminder that Quinn was with him.
“Hey, Bradshaw,” Arlo said as they returned to center ice. “Wanna have a tussle and see if it will make your girl hot enough that she’ll put the divorce papers away for another time?”
August groaned once the puck hit the ice and the gloves came off.
He stood back and bumped shoulders with Niko while the crowd went berserk in the stands.
Logan was a good fighter, but Arlo was young, strong, and having a blast—unlike Logan, who was so pissed off that he barely landed a hit before Arlo took him to the ice.
August tapped his stick on the ground, shaking his head as Dax came out and Logan went to the bin to serve his five minutes. The energy in the building had shifted, and even though he was exasperated by Arlo’s behaviour, August felt fired up.
The moment the puck hit the ice, August caught the awkward pass and drove toward the Montreal zone. He sent it to Niko once there was an opening, who made a back pass to Dax when the defence crowded him against the boards.
They were pushed back to the neutral zone, but August stopped étienne at the redline and turned the play around again, laughing when the captain spewed a series of French curses at him.
He had to pass the puck to the defence so he could push closer to the net, and while Niko and the other guys on the ice played a game of keep away, August pushed into his favourite spot—a sharp angle in line with the Montreal net.
Niko had an opening, and he could have taken the shot and scored them another goal, but he didn’t. August knew what was coming when Dax caught the puck and looked in his direction. They had practiced this shot early that morning, so Dax knew what August was asking for when he dropped to his knee.
The puck shot across the open space, and August slapped it toward the net so hard he felt his hands vibrate from the force. It hit the top corner of the net, and the goal light flashed.
August stood and threw his arms open as his teammates tackled him and knocked him against the boards. The goal wasn’t special, but it was the start of something for August, and everyone on the team understood its importance.
“You are so back, Gusty!” Dax tugged him down and kissed August’s sweaty cheek, adding gross slobber in the mix.
“I fucking love you, man,” Niko said as he clapped August on the back and pushed him toward the bench to celebrate with the rest of the guys.
August skated over to them and bumped gloves down the line, not missing the smile Coach Fedorov gave him as he left to quickly tap fists with Nollan in the net.
When he was back on the bench, August turned around and locked eyes with Quinn while he took a drink, raising an eyebrow at him expectantly. There was too much chaos, noise and thick glass separating them to hear what Quinn was saying, but August could read lips just fine.
“Good boy.”
Fuck, who needed smelling salts or encouragement when praise like that could take him all the way to the cup?
And August would bring the cup home this year. He would do it for Eren. He would do it for his team. And most importantly, he would do it for himself because he felt like he had something to prove now that he knew who he was.
“Let’s get another one next shift,” said Niko.
August took a swig from his bottle and slammed it back into the cup holder. “You got it, Cap.”