Chapter Nine #2
“I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying living here, even if your start was less than pleasant with the crash. If you’re going to be in town and not with your family, you’ll have to come over for dinner Christmas Day. It’s very informal—a big buffet, lots of friends and neighbors dropping by.”
“I have no family, so I’d like that.” At my words, Laura’s face creased with distress. “It’s okay. I’m an only child of only children, so I’m used to it.”
“Well, no longer. We’re very big on traditions. Big dinners for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Plus, New Year’s Day is, of course, college football.” Her eyes twinkled. “I think you might have an inside track on that now. Where you are is where my guys will want to be.”
Laura’s staunch statement of inclusion made my throat swell and my eyes burn. I was almost afraid that things seemed to be working out well. It hadn’t happened for me in a very long time. Maybe a little Christmas magic had spread its fairy dust on me for once.
“Thank you. I’d love to come. But I also have to start thinking about the holiday. I haven’t got anything ready.”
“We were gonna go get trees today, remember?” Jet pointed out.
Laura chuckled. “We’ve had ours up since right after Thanksgiving. Connor loves to count the presents every night to see if there’s more than the last time.”
“Is he a football fan?” I asked. I had to figure out what to get a six-year-old boy.
“Does Santa have a white beard?” Laura joked. “Shane has him in peewee league, and they watch all the games together. It’s cute.”
I laughed. “Start them young.”
“Is that how it was for you?”
“Yeah. My father was a sports fan but not a player. I grew up in Minnesota, where hockey rules. I had no talent on skates, but I could throw a ball harder and faster than anyone in my high school, so I was pointed in that direction. We’d toss around footballs in the backyard, and he took me to my first Vikings game when I was a boy. ”
“Jet told me you were the quarterback in college but you two didn’t know each other then.”
“No. I was a senior, and he was a freshman. Plus, I had a girlfriend, and we got married right after graduation.” And it all felt like a lifetime ago.
Something that almost felt like it happened to a different person.
Every day there was less and less of that man who was married to Maya.
That old Harte who was afraid to voice an opinion or make a demand, content to allow her and everyone else to take control of his life.
“And now you’re with Jet.”
My smile was uncertain. “I always knew I was attracted to men as well as women, but coming from a small town and playing football meant I had to bury those feelings. The short version of my story is, I believed my marriage would last forever, but my wife left me and we’re divorced.
In the years afterward, I found myself drawn to men, but I wasn’t brave enough to act on it due to my active playing status.
When I met Jet…I dunno. It was as if a gray fog had lifted in my world, and everything is now in bright color and high definition.
For once I see who I am clearly. And that vision is with Jet. ”
“So it’s not just a phase.”
“Laura—” Jet protested, but I held up a hand.
“It’s okay. She’s allowed to be protective of her brother. And no. It’s not a phase. I honestly don’t understand how sexuality could be considered one. It’s who you are.”
“But that doesn’t mean we have to start explaining ourselves to everyone,” Jet pointed out to Laura. “I never asked you when you began dating or went away to college if you were ever with a woman, and I wouldn’t think of asking now. I hope you can respect me and my personal life.”
Laura’s cheeks burned. “I can, and I will. I love you, Jet. I hope you know that. And Shane will feel the same.” Her expression turned mischievous. “Especially once he knows you’re dating an NFL star. That’ll be way more important to him.”
Seeing Jet and his sister laughing together, all my misgivings melted away, and after she left, with hugs and kisses and a reassurance of Christmas dinner attendance, I held on to Jet.
“I don’t want to hide this…us…anymore. If you’re ready to take it to the next level and go public, so am I.”
His answer was a searing kiss.
**
I hadn’t visited the Kings’ offices in several years. Not that I hadn’t been invited to their Super Bowl parties and team get-togethers, but once I wasn’t re-signed, I’d figured no one needed me around, so I’d stepped away.
Josh, the receptionist, greeted me with a big hello. “Wow, Harte. Good to see you again. You’re looking great. Merry Christmas.”
“Same to you. Been a while. I have an appointment with Coach Jackson.”
He nodded and picked up the phone. “I’ll let him know.”
The offices were decorated for the holidays, with a tree, a menorah, and a kinara. Jet and I had bought our trees, and later tonight when I got home, he was coming to my place to decorate. He’d offered to go to the store to buy everything I needed, since he already had his collection of ornaments.
“Harte, how the hell are you?” With a big grin, Coach approached me, and I met him halfway.
“Great to see you. Thanks for agreeing to the meeting.”
“Of course. Let’s go this way. They’re waiting for us.”
I matched his steps. “Who else is coming?” I wasn’t certain who remained from when I was on the team.
He opened the first conference room door, and my stomach flipped over. Armi Winters, the owner, was present, as well as the entire coaching staff. I swallowed.
“Oh, uh, hi, everyone. I-I didn’t expect such a large group.”
“Great to see you again, Harte,” Armi greeted me with his sweet smile.
“When Dev told me he spoke with you and you were interested in joining the Kings on the business side, I wanted to make sure we had a chance to talk. You’ve made yourself scarce these past two years.
I hope everything’s okay?” Concern etched a line in his brow.
I rushed to reassure him. “Yeah, everything’s great. I just figured…you know, out with the old and in with the new.” My attempt at humor fell flat, and Armi frowned.
“I don’t want you to think we don’t appreciate your years with the Kings.
I understand what it’s like to be in the shadow of a big personality, but I hope you understand how much you contributed to the overall success of the Kings.
Patrick Sloane has mentioned on numerous occasions how helpful you were to him his first years here.
You’ve always stepped up when we needed you, and that’s not forgotten. ”
It was a struggle not to get emotional. Having the owner take time out to speak to me and compliment me—someone who was never their superstar—meant more than I could say.
And I wished Patrick nothing but the best. He truly was a trailblazer, and I was happy for him.
He and Fallon were as in love as Dev and Brody.
I could only hope for a relationship like theirs.
“Thank you. The Kings are a special organization, for sure.”
“I’ll leave you with Coach Jackson and the rest of his staff, but just so you know”—his blue eyes twinkled—“I’m fully on board with your proposal. It’s good to have you home in the Kingdom, where you belong.” He shook my hand, leaving me a little stunned.
“What did Armi mean?”
Coach chuckled. “I think he said it all. We had a pre-meeting where I gave everyone a rundown of what you and I discussed. They all agreed your idea was a good one.” He stuck out a hand, and the rest of the group gathered around to congratulate me.
“Welcome aboard, Harte. Or should I say, welcome back. I want you to meet the coaches who’ve come on since you left, as well as the rest of the scouting team. ”
The next few hours were spent in a whirlwind of HR forms. I left the Kings’ offices with a company laptop and phone. I had the long train ride home to study the upcoming season’s prospects. First and most importantly, though, as the train hurtled toward home, I called Jet.
“Well?” he asked before even saying hello. “How did it go?”
“Say hello to the new North Atlantic scout.” Yeah, I was excited, and the words tumbled out. “They didn’t even interview me. Armi was there and welcomed me on the spot. They had the whole coaching staff and scouts in the board room waiting.”
“I knew it. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“Thanks. Knowing you and Dev and Brody were in my corner gave me the courage to go for it. I have to call and thank them.”
“I’m sure they’re gonna be thrilled for you.”
Knowing those two, I had a feeling they already knew. I was so thankful for their friendship.
“Did you get the decorations? Are we set for tonight?”
“Yeah. We’re still on for yours first?”
“Is that okay? I’d like you to feel comfortable there and get used to it.”
“ ’Course. Just text me when your train gets in. I’m getting off tour in about an hour, and that should give me enough time to shower and change. I’ll pick you up, and we’ll drive to your house together.”
I huffed out an annoyed breath. “This is getting ridiculous. Are the dealerships open late? Maybe we can swing by and I can pick up a car.”
He chuckled. “You say ‘pick up a car’ like it’s going to the store and getting a container of milk.”
I winced. I might never have had the huge contracts that the big names were lucky to get, but I was a millionaire many times over and had carefully invested my money.
I didn’t have to worry about working or making ends meet.
But Jet’s words made me realize I should watch what I say.
I was living in a small town with people who lived paycheck to paycheck and worried about paying their bills.
“Sorry. I’m not planning on getting anything flashy. Just a good four-wheel drive.”
His tone softened. “I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad. I know we come from different worlds.”
“No, we actually don’t. That’s the thing—I grew up working class and still have those values. I may have money in the bank, but that doesn’t make me different from you. Please don’t put up that wall between us.”
“I won’t. It’ll just take some getting used to, that’s all.”
“Okay. Good. I should be there in about an hour and a half.”
“See you soon.”
I spent the rest of the ride filling my brain with stats and schedules.
I made notes to call the football program for every university within a hundred miles.
When I finished, I had about fifteen minutes left of my trip and sent a thank-you text to Dev and Brody.
Brody answered me first with exclamation points and congratulations, with a promise to celebrate.
We texted back and forth until with a squeal of brakes, the train lurched to a halt.
In the parking lot, under a lamppost, I spotted Jet leaning on his SUV.
Happiness warmed my chest, and I waved and hurried over to him.
Damn, I was a lucky man. Maybe I was silly because whether in a small-town parking lot or a stadium filled with fans, I knew, no matter where Jet was, I’d be able to find him.
“Hi.” Without being able to kiss him hello or give him a hug, I hoped my eyes conveyed how fucking much I missed him.
How much I loved him.
Tonight. I’d tell him tonight. Under the Christmas tree with all the lights. It would be perfect.