Blake
Iwalk out of the rink and see my parents standing outside with Briar.
My dad claps my shoulder. “Incredible game tonight, son. You played great.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You were amazing, honey.”
“Thanks, Mom. Glad we pulled off a win for you guys and the rest of the parents watching us play tonight.”
“We’re so proud of you,” she says.
Briar beams at me. “You were on fire tonight.”
I grin. “Thanks.”
I think back to seeing her cheering for me in the stands when I scored the first goal of the game.
That was the fastest goal I’ve ever scored while playing college hockey.
When I locked eyes with her, my brain did something weird. Something it’s never done before.
It pictured Briar wearing my jersey.
I imagined my name and my number on her body.
Morrissey. Number 8.
An energy I’ve never felt before shot through me. It was wild, restless, and exciting all at once.
Briar’s never worn my jersey before. In high school, our team didn’t make jerseys for anyone other than the players to wear. She’d come to my games wearing a shirt with our school’s name on it, just like everyone else.
And when we went away to different colleges, she wasn’t able to come to very many games, only a couple, and she would just wear her regular clothes. I never thought about her wearing my jersey.
But things are different now between us. I get to do endless filthy things to her. I get to kiss her and touch her. I get to hear her make all those cute and sexy noises when she’s turned on.
I know what she tastes like when she comes.
We’re more than best friends. We’re…
I don’t know what we are. And that’s okay.
I think about how nervous she was to tell me that she wants to take things slow between us. How she isn’t ready for anything serious. How she doesn’t want to move too fast and ruin our friendship.
My stomach churns just thinking about losing her.
If it were up to me, I’d make her mine right now. I wouldn’t hesitate to call her my girlfriend. She’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted.
But I understand why she’s so skittish about being in a relationship again. Her ex was awful to her. She felt that things between them moved too fast, so she’s trying to do the opposite now.
And that’s fine. I’ll go as slow as she wants. I just want to be with her, in whatever way she wants me.
“How about some food, champ? You must be starving.” My dad claps a hand on my back, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I clear my throat, tearing my gaze from Briar. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
* * *
The server picks up our empty plates from our table at the Mile High Diner. I reach for my wallet as quietly as I can. When she walks by again, I hand my credit card to her before my dad can even dig into his pocket.
He frowns at me. “Blake, I was going to pay.”
“It’s okay, I’ve got it.”
He sighs and shakes his head. “You really shouldn’t be spending your money like this, son. You don’t have a job during the school year.”
“I have enough money saved to buy dinner for you and Mom every now and then. It’s all okay, I promise.”
He pins me with a serious look. “You sure?”
“Positive. I worked in Uncle Ronnie’s sporting goods store most of last summer, remember? And I taught those hockey lessons for those kids a few times a week too.”
That’s all true, but that’s not where this money came from.
He nods. “I suppose you’re right.”
Mom pats his hand before looking at me. “You know your dad. He likes to treat.”
“Yeah, but I wanna be able to sometimes too.”
“You will when you’re done with college. You’ll be playing professionally after that. You can take us out to dinner then.” Mom smiles.
When I’m finally able to make decent money on my own playing professional hockey, I’m going to treat them all the time. I’m going to buy them new cars and take care of all their bills. I don’t want them to have to worry about money anymore.
She turns to my dad. “Don’t put up such a fuss when Blake pays for us. Be grateful that our son isn’t a leech sucking us dry,” she jokes. My dad cracks a smile.
I chuckle, despite the uneasy feeling gnawing in my stomach. I wonder what my parents would think if they knew how I really earn my money—from the brand deals that I get through my secret account.
They’re good people to the core. They’re not judgmental. They don’t care how people live their lives as long as they’re kind and don’t hurt others.
But I bet they’d be at least a little upset if they knew their son was making money by posting half-naked photos and videos online.
I clear my throat and try not to think about that. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. It’s not like I’m ever going to tell about it. And I’m going to use the money for good—to pay off their house once I save enough.
The server drops off my card. I thank her and sign the receipt.
“I’ll give you money for what I ordered,” Briar says to me.
I look at her and shake my head. “Nope.”
“Blake, come on. You don’t need to pay for me when you’re already paying for your parents.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to.” I wink at her. Her cheeks flush that pretty shade of pink as she fights a smile.
We slide out of the booth and walk out of the diner to the parking lot. We stop at my parents’ car and tell them goodnight.
“Let Blake treat you to dinner, okay?” my mom says as she hugs Briar. “I can tell it makes him happy.”
Briar flashes a small smile. “Okay. I just want to pay for stuff too sometimes. He’s already doing so much by letting me stay with him while I find a new apartment.”
“Oh, I’m sure Blake doesn’t mind at all that you’re staying with him.” Her smile turns hopeful as she looks between Briar and me. I try not to laugh at how obvious she’s being.
Ever since Briar and I have known each other, my mom has always made comments about us getting together. I always told her that we’re just friends, nothing more. But I could tell that she wished we’d date.
Mom pulls Briar into another hug.
“Easy, Mom,” I say.
Briar just laughs and hugs her back. “It’s okay. Your mom gives the best hugs. I’ve missed it.”
Mom finally lets her go. “I can’t help it. I’m surrounded by testosterone with you and your dad around all the time. I’m just happy to have another woman to hang out with.”
Briar and I laugh.
“You need directions to the hotel?” I ask my dad as they climb into the car.
“Nope, we’re all good. We’re staying at the same place we stayed at last time.”
“Call me if you need anything,” I say.
“We’re good, honey. We’ll see you tomorrow at your house for brunch. Love you.”
“Love you, buddy.”
“Love you, Mom and Dad.”
I close the car door and wave as they drive off. Briar looks up at me, a warm smile on her face. “Your parents are so sweet.”
“They’re the best.”
“That was sweet how you paid for dinner.”
I shove my hands into my pockets and shrug. “If only they knew how I really got the money to pay for it. They’d flip.”
“No, they wouldn’t.”
I let out a tired laugh. “I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be very happy if they found out that I’m a secret thirst trap on social media.”
Briar shakes her head. “Okay, maybe they wouldn’t be thrilled about it.
You’re their kid. No parent wants to think about their kid doing sexy stuff like that.
But I’m sure they understand that you’re an adult, and you can do whatever you want.
They wouldn’t let it affect how they feel about you. They love you. No matter what.”
That shameful feeling inside of me fades at the way Briar explains it. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
“And it’s not like you have to tell them about your secret account. That’s private, only for you to know.”
I smile at her. “And you.”
She playfully smacks my arm. We start to walk home when Briar’s phone buzzes with a text.
She stops walking. “Shit.”
I turn to her. “What’s wrong?”
“My parents are in town.”