Chapter 19 Packy
packy
Sunday Morning
“Goddammit. Look at this shit.” Nico’s face was almost as red as it had been when we’d jerked each other off half an hour earlier.
“What?” I asked.
He held his phone so I could see a picture of us on Instagram. “Look at the fucking thing. The caption says:
When rivals start adjusting each other’s ties, it’s time for a stronger word than chemistry. #NotJustRivals #Packo.
“Shit.” I grabbed the phone to get a better look. “You are adjusting my tie. Did you really do that?”
“I guess, but what’s the big deal?”
“For fuck’s sake. Listen to these comments.” I started reading.
@stickrabbit149: That look!!!! I’ve seen rom-coms with a lot less tension. #RivalryThatKissesBack #PackoForever
@QuebecQueenieboy: I was there. Hope the HFNA isn’t paying for 2 rooms. #PackoNation
“Bullshit.” Nix looked scandalized. “Where do they get this stuff?”
I gave him my best smirk. “Well, it isn’t like we actually used two rooms.”
“But they don’t know that.” He took the phone from me, scrolled down the screen, and practically shrieked.
“What now?” I asked.
“Goddamn these people. This must be the one from last night.” He turned the phone so I could see.
I gasped. Nico had his hand so low on my back it looked like he was squeezing my ass. “Is that a trick?” I asked. “Did he mess with that?”
“I don’t know.” Nix looked at me, then back at the screen. A few seconds later, he groaned. “Brace yourself, Pack. Some of our teammates commented.”
Heads together, we read the comments, cursing louder at each one.
@mad_dog93: Bro that’s not a back, it’s an ass. #GoForItBoys #PackoPowerPlay
@thompson71: So THIS is what “hands-on leadership” means? The eggplant can’t be far behind. #PackoCheeks #HockeyForAdults
@Riles_32: I’d call that a penalty for holding, but who am I to C-block true love? #PackoForever
@holky_warriors: Hand placement, boys? Didn’t know the outreach program came with benefits. #PackoConfirmed #LowerBackGoals
@Foote_Condors: Yeah dude, now you know what a hockey butt feels like. #SendHelp #HandsWhereWeCanSeeEm
@Logan_Grayson: At least buy him dinner first, Nico. Wait, this was after dinner? Never mind. #PenaltyBoxBliss #PackoForever
“No more,” I said, flopping onto my pillow. “I can’t take it.”
Nico went back to scrolling, and his soft groans made me nervous as hell.
“Remind me to never stand within five feet of you again,” I said.
He looked over, wearing a crooked smile. “Too late. The internet’s already written our wedding hashtag.”
“Don’t tell me what it is.”
“#StickToEachOther.” He held up the phone, and I saw endless heart, eggplant, and hot-dog emojis. One had two guys in tuxes at a wedding chapel.
“I’m so glad the reception was the only thing we have to do this weekend,” I said. When he put a hand on my arm, I added, “I’m moving to Sweden.”
“I’ll find you.”
I jerked my arm away. “Are you fucking serious? After all this?”
He laughed, the same smooth, smug sound that had always made me smile. That morning, I wondered if I’d rather punch him or kiss him. Probably both.
“Nix, this is crazy.”
He tossed his phone aside, lay down, and rested a hand on my chest. “You have to admit, it’s kind of funny.”
“It’s a nightmare.” I didn’t sound convincing, which only proved how horrifying it really was.
“It’s free publicity.” He leaned up and kissed my cheek. “Do you think the league’s angry? Gasser probably bought them all champagne.”
“But our buddies are—”
“Having a lot of fun at our expense, exactly like we’d be doing to them if things were reversed.”
“Jesus Christ. The game.” On Tuesday night, the Condors would play the Warriors in Buffalo. “They won’t give us a minute’s peace.”
“Come on.” He kissed my neck, sending goose bumps down my chest and back. “The teams won’t even see each other except on the ice. And hello, we’ll be busy playing hockey. Will we take some chirping? Probably. But it won’t be more than that.”
“The fans will see us on the ice together. How do you think that’ll go?”
His lips twitched into a cute grin. “We could beat the shit out of each other again. Use our… um… sticks.”
“This is serious, Nico.”
He slung a leg over mine. “Relax, babe. We’ll ride it out. Tomorrow’s feed will have something new for everyone to freak out over.”
Babe? Now he’s calling me babe? Fuck all.
“What if it doesn’t?” I asked. I didn’t have the strength to ask him why he’d called me babe.
His eyes shone with a look that made my dick twitch. Winding a finger through my chest hair, he said, “Then I guess we’ll have to stop at the airport long enough to give them another picture.”
I groaned, then scooted down until I was looking straight into his eyes.
He smiled. “Want something?”
“Fuck,” I said as my heart took off. “We’re doomed.”
“Probably.” He shifted, and his dick brushed my belly. “So we may as well have some fun.”
I got wicked hard while he sucked at the hollow of my throat. “We have to leave for the airport in a few hours.”
“More time than I thought,” he said. “We can get in at least two rounds, a nap, and a shower. Together.”
The flight from Quebec to Buffalo felt longer than it was.
When I finally stepped into my house, everything was still.
The quiet made me realize how important Nix had already become in my life.
I wanted to hear his voice, enjoy his laugh.
When I told myself I was glad to be home, I almost believed it.
Monday was cold and snowy. The Warriors had spent the weekend on a short road trip, and Criswell gave the team today off. While I sipped my coffee, I sent him a mental thank-you. No morning skate, no locker room jokes, no chirp-fest. There was only me and my thoughts.
I spent the morning rotating between lifting, cardio, and eating everything in sight. I also made up my mind not to check my phone. Of course, I looked at it constantly.
There were more posts than ever. TikToks, stories, reels, and photos were everywhere.
Slow-motion edits of shared smiles and shoulder bumps were always captioned with variations of look how in love they are and a mountain of hashtags.
Every time Nico and I exchanged a look in public, someone turned it into foreplay.
After watching too many heavily manipulated edits, I swore I’d never touch him in front of a camera again.
And in private?
There was no denying we’d had a lot of fun. Strike that. It had been the best sex of my life. But what did it all mean?
The “straight” thoughts wouldn’t leave me alone, as in, “I’ve always been straight.” Like every other man on the planet, I’d wondered what sex with a guy would be like, but a sex-filled weekend with Nico didn’t magically rewrite my identity.
We’d been closer than brothers in college, and seven years of hating each other had kept us orbiting the same emotional space. The math was easy: mix one gay guy with one horny straight guy, add years of history, and throw in forced proximity. Hell, it’d be a miracle if sex hadn’t broken out.
The solution was obvious. I’d call what happened weird but okay, and then make sure it never happened again.
Nix and I could be friends. No more complications, and zero confusion.
I’d start dating again. Before “Packo,” my teammates had tried to set me up with women, and I’d take them up on it next time.
That afternoon, I made tea and looked out the kitchen window while it brewed. Snow was piled high, but the landscaping crew had cleared a path around the garden. I considered building a snowman. Nico and I had built some massive ones in college, so—
Nope. No thinking about him.
I carried my mug of Earl Grey to the TV room but hadn’t taken a sip when my phone buzzed. I glanced down and… Fuck!
NICO: How’s it going today? Miss you bad. Jerked off looking at pics of us. big time.
PACKY: Miss you too. That’s hot.
What the hell? I started typing what I meant to say: “That’s cool. I’ve got to run, late for an appointment.” But somehow that isn’t what I sent.
PACKY: I jerked off this morning thinking about my cock in your mouth. So fucking hot.
I stared at the screen in horror. What the hell? That was not what I’d typed, was it?
Another message came in before I could fix it.
NICO: Want to get on FaceTime? We can do it together. Want to hear you moan.
PACKY: Don’t know. Brody sent me a clip of us whispering at a presser. It looked like I was nibbling your ear. He also sent a GIF of a slow clap.
NICO: Could be worse. Thompson texted me a blushing emoji, a peach, and a hand. Nothing else.
While I was translating those emojis, my phone buzzed again. FaceTime request. I stared at it and decided one more time wouldn’t hurt.