Chapter 18 #2
Huddled over Tyler’s phone, they watched videos of people using the corkscrew to drill through the ice. Apparently, what Jamie had was a hand auger, which seemed relatively straightforward to use.
“Do you want to do it?” He asked Layla, looking alternately at her and the long auger that sat on the ice between them.
“Nope,” she said, shooting him a cheeky grin. “This is a grand Christmas gesture for your man. You get to aug.”
Tyler snorted. “That’s not a real word.” He picked up the tool, careful to hold it out and away from his body. The two angled blades at the bottom looked really fucking sharp. “Okay. I can do this.”
“I will be here to cheer you on and run for help if you get hurt.”
Tyler stuck his tongue out at Layla. “I can’t figure out if you’re a good friend or a terrible one.” He made sure the auger was straight and upright, and then, slowly, with one hand holding the top, he began to crank the handle.
It took him a second to figure out how to hold it steady, but then a quiet churning sound filled the small tent as the auger cut into the ice.
A minute later, it dropped through, sending a pile of shaved ice bursting out of the opening.
Tyler pulled out the tool as Layla cheered, sweeping the ice chips away from the hole.
“I can’t believe that worked,” Tyler said, looking up at Layla.
She clapped. “I’m honestly impressed.”
“Okay.” Tyler stood up, wiping the ice from his gloves. “I’m going to leave everything else for Jamie to set up.” He checked the time on his phone. “He should be home from his dad’s place in twenty minutes.”
They organized the remaining gear as best as they could, and then hustled back across the ice to Jamie’s yard. The kids were red-nosed and happily sliding down the gentle slope of the hill, with Mitch dragging them up to the top over and over again.
“Thank you again for helping me,” Tyler said, leaning his shoulder against Layla.
She smiled, leaning back into him. “This is what friends do. We show up for each other.”
Tyler felt his throat tighten with emotion. There was no way Layla could have known what those simple words meant to him. How much it meant to hear someone call him a friend.
“Can we have dinner again soon?” Tyler asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. “I can come over early and help cook?”
“Of course,” Layla said, like it wasn’t a big deal to her. “I’d love that.” She cupped her hands around her mouth. “Come on, kids! Time to head home!”
The kids mobbed them, and there was a flurry of goodbyes and promises to see each other soon as they loaded up into their van.
Tyler led Rowan into the house through Jamie’s garage. Mitch had reassured him that Jamie would be thrilled to see them, and had encouraged them to go right in and make themselves at home.
Tyler got their snow gear off and found the blocks Jamie kept stashed in his hall closet. They settled into the living room, Rowan happily playing on the floor while Tyler got them both water from the kitchen.
There was a knock on the door, and Tyler ran over to get it, his wool socks sliding against the wood floor.
He paid the delivery driver cash and carried the bag back to the kitchen, setting it on the counter before joining Rowan on the floor.
“Hello?” The door shut loudly behind Jamie as he walked into the kitchen from the garage.
Fuck, he looked good. He wore a green and red argyle sweater with dark wool trousers that hugged his thighs.
When Jamie saw them, his face split into a huge smile, and any doubt in Tyler’s mind about sneaking into his boyfriend’s house was washed away. “Hey! What are you two doing here?”
Rowan jumped up and ran over to Jamie, bouncing up and down. “We did a surprise for you, Jamie! A Christmas surprise! Because it’s Christmas today!”
Jamie’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Tyler walked over to Jamie, wrapping his arms around him. “Merry Christmas,” he said, going up on his toes with a silent request.
Jamie kissed him softly. “I’m so happy you’re here,” he said against Tyler’s lips. “Best surprise ever.”
Tyler sank back down to his heels and looked at Rowan. “Should we show Jamie his Christmas surprise?”
Rowan nodded eagerly.
“Okay,” Tyler started, reaching for the bag on the counter. “There was a little hiccup in step one of your surprise, because Culver’s is closed on Christmas. I hope Chinese food is alright—I got you General Tso’s chicken and egg drop soup.”
Jamie bent over the bag and inhaled. “Mmmmm,” he said. “Smells perfect. Did you get some for you guys, too?”
“Yeah,” Tyler went on. “And there’s a case of Spotted Cow in the fridge.”
“Really? You got me a Cow case?”
“And, for the main event, you’ll probably want to throw another layer on.”
A few minutes later, they were all layered up for the cold afternoon again.
Rowan walked between them, holding tightly to both of their hands.
When they reached the edge of the lake, Jamie let out a warm laugh.
“You didn’t,” he said, glancing between the distant ice fishing hut and Tyler. “Did you set up my hut?”
Tyler grinned, satisfaction curling in him at the happiness on Jamie’s face. “I used the auger and everything.”
Jamie leaned over and kissed him hard. When he drew back, his eyes were bright, the green taking on an almost-blue hue under the pale sky. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“Papa says you’re his favorite friend,” Rowan said, looking up at them. “And we should do nice things for our favorite people.”
Jamie’s eyes softened. “Your Papa is a smart guy,” he said, before rubbing his palms together. “How about I teach you boys how to ice fish?”
“Yes!” Rowan clapped his mittens together. “Are there snacks?”
“Let’s eat the food your Papa got us, and then we can go out to the hut and get cozy.” Jamie reached down and scooped Rowan into his arms. “Did you know I have a special heater in the ice hut?”
Later, Rowan sat curled up on Tyler’s lap, his eyes drifting shut. The light was fading in the small hut, which was surprisingly warm given how small the heater was. Soft country music filled the air, and Jamie sat across from them with the wooden handle of the fishing pole tucked under one thigh.
He watched them with a small smile on his face.
“What?” Tyler asked.
Jamie just shrugged. “It feels good to have you here.”
“It feels good to be here,” Tyler echoed. “I want to keep making time for you. For us.”
“Me too.” Jamie reached out with his boot and nudged Tyler’s shin. “It’s been amazing spending all this time together. Moments like this are going to be rare once I go back into the lineup. I’ll be busy again.”
“Are you excited to play?”
Jamie nodded. “Yeah. I’ve missed it.” Tyler watched him closely, noticing the slip in his smile. “I’m nervous. It sounds ridiculous, but–”
“Not ridiculous,” Tyler cut in.
“It is, a little bit. I’ve been playing hockey for so long, and I was out longer than this when I pulled my groin eight years ago.”
“So what feels different now?”
Jamie’s lips parted in a sigh. “I’m the captain now,” he started.
“It means more. What I do out there…It’s always mattered, but now I’ve got to be better.
At the beginning of the season I was trying to do too many things out there on the ice.
I can see that now. But I can’t help but worry that I’m–that what I bring to the team isn’t enough. ”
Tyler watched Jamie’s eyes. He saw the fear right there on the surface, even as the light was fading in the little tent.
“We both know I don’t know shit about hockey,” Tyler said, grinning when he got a smile from Jamie.
“But I’m getting to know you, and I’ve met your team, and I think if you asked any of them they’d say that you are the only captain they want.
You’re a leader, Jamie, and you’re going to figure it all out. I know it.”
“I really want to kiss you right now,” Jamie said, giving him a fond smile.
A quiet laugh escaped him. “Sorry, Cap. I’ve got my hands full.”
Quiet settled between them. Rowan shifted in Tyler’s lap, burrowing his warm face against Tyler’s neck. Jamie watched them, his expression soft and fond and everything Tyler had ever hoped for.
“I’m going to be gone a lot,” Jamie said, breaking the silence. Tyler could hear the apology in his voice. “But I’ll give you as much time as I can.”
Tyler wrapped his arms tighter around Rowan. “I’ll be here. I knew who you were when I said yes to dating you, Jamie. I know what you mean to your team and to this town. I’m with you every step of the way.”