Chapter 16
EZRA
After finishing my testing, I headed to my studio for some editing and stock photo shoots. Tomorrow, I had a family coming in for portraits. As I unlocked the studio’s door in the noonday sun, I surveyed the space. No sign of Tate. Had he disappeared or was he off licking his wounds somewhere?
I opened the door and stepped inside, locking it behind me. I should talk to Stella and see if she’d seen him. But then, she was supposed to call me if she did.
Flicking on the lights, I strolled to my desk. My phone chimed in my backpack. “Shit, speak of the devil.” I dropped it on my desk and fished the phone out. “Hello?”
“Ezra, it’s Maddy.”
“Hey, sis. What’s up?” I fell into my chair, set the phone on speaker, and placed it next to my keyboard. She was probably checking in.
“I spoke to Mom about PFLAG.”
My heart lurched. Fuck. Did I want to hear this? “You did?” I logged into my computer, bracing myself.
“She’s open to trying it. She agreed to go to one meeting with me.”
“One?” Planting my elbow on the desk, I rested my forehead in my fingers. That meant she was placating Maddy. Her heart wasn’t in it. My chest tensed and ached.
“She said if it makes sense to her, she’ll do more. I’m going with her.” She inhaled. “Ezra, it’s a start. She didn’t say no.”
“Okay.” I slumped and sighed. I’d allowed myself to get my hopes up despite knowing better. “When are you going?”
“This weekend. There’s a meeting on Saturday afternoon.”
“Well, let me know what she thinks about it.” It would be easier if I were with Lucas if Mom decided she didn’t like it. I opened my editing software. I could lose myself in other people’s smiling faces and happiness for a while.
“Ezra, she’s struggling with it, but she misses you.”
“Yeah, okay.” How fucking hard was it to accept your kid for who they were? I fisted my hand on the desk. “I need to go. I’ve got work.” And I didn’t want to hear any more.
“Sure. I’ll talk to you soon.” Her breath caught. “Ezra, what’s the latest with Lucas and Tate?”
I blew out a long breath. “Things are great with Lucas, and no, I’ve heard nothing from Tate.” I’d text Stella about that to be sure.
“Okay, good. I’ll talk to you soon, then. Bye.”
“Bye sis, and…thanks.” She was trying so hard. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” The call ended.
I opened my text app.
Ezra
Hi, it’s Ezra. Have you seen Tate around at all?
The dots blinked at me, and I held my breath.
Stella
No, it’s been quiet around here. I’ll let you know if he comes around.
A grin tugged at my lips. Maybe I was finally rid of him.
Ezra
Thank you. I’ll stop by when I’m home this week.
Stella
Looking forward to it
Warmth cradled my heart. She was such a pleasant woman. Too bad my mother wasn’t more like her.
The next few days were uneventful. I worked and spent quiet evenings at home with Lucas and sometimes with Evan. We all clicked, and once I received my test results, I was ready to go bareback with Lucas. Each night in his bedroom brought fresh adventures, and he was eager to try everything.
It was the night of the first home game against the San Diego Giants at Mullett arena and I waited at a back entrance for Jett and Mason.
Because of their status, we had to be stealthy about their entrance.
I gazed at the faraway mountain behind glass high rises off in the distance and the clear, dark sky beyond.
Mason and Jett, holding hands and looking larger than life in thin sweaters and designer jeans, strolled through the parking lot toward me.
I smiled and breathed in deeply, calming the butterflies in my stomach. I’d met them over the phone, but this would be more intense. I wished Lucas were here.
“Hey, Ezra.” Mason opened his arms. “Can I give you a hug?”
“Sure.” I stepped into his arms, and he hugged me tightly, then patted my back.
Jett stretched his hand out. “Nice to meet you in person, Ezra.”
I shook his hand and gave him my best smile. “Same.” What should I say now? I was at a loss.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” Mason tapped his knuckles on my chest, stepped to the door, and pressed a button. “You know I played at this rink in college?”
“Yeah?” He’d played for ASU. I knew that much, and we were near campus. I rubbed my sweaty palms together.
The door swung open, and a security officer assessed us. “Mason Hopkins and Jett Jarvis?”
“That’s us.” Mason showed the man an ID in his wallet. “Just in case you didn’t recognize me.”
“Oh, I know who you two are.” The man chuckled, stepped aside, and focused on me. “And you’re Ezra Turner?”
“I am.” I pulled my wallet from my jeans’ pocket. “Do you need to see ID?”
“I do.” The security officer narrowed his eyes.
“Dude, he’s with us.” Mason scoffed.
“Babe, cool it.” Jett grabbed Mason’s elbow.
“Just doing my job.” The security officer crossed his arms over his chest.
I showed my ID, and he nodded. Following Mason and Jett inside, I took in the maroon and gold paint on the hallway walls, ASU’s school colors. “This arena must be busy all the time.”
“Yeah, they hold Firebird games here, Devils’ games and figure skating shit.” Mason glanced at me. “Our Goalie, Ace McAdams, his husband figure skates for ASU.”
“Oh.” Another queer player on their team. I strolled with them to an elevator, and Mason hit the call button. “How many queer players are on your team?”
“Four and a coach, that I know of.” Mason smirked at me. “But I can’t imagine a guy being closeted on our team with all of us there to support him. Right, babe?” Mason kissed Jett’s cheek.
“I suppose.” He threaded his fingers in Mason’s and then faced me. “Did Lucas tell you we have loge box seats?”
“No, he didn’t.” I puffed my chest. Damn, these guys would treat me like royalty.
“Yeah, it’ll help keep the cameras and fans off us so we can enjoy the game.” The elevator dinged, and Mason guided us inside. “We won’t be as close to the action, but whatever.”
After finding our loge box and settling in with beers and hotdogs, I took a seat between them. Was I being tag teamed?
“So, what’s the latest between you and my brother?” Mason unwrapped his hot dog and eyed me.
My pulse picked up speed. Here we go. “I, uh, I have strong feelings for him.” Was it love? Maybe, but I shouldn’t tell his brother that.
“Yeah? How strong.” Leaning in, he bit into his hot dog, fixating on me.
“Very strong.” Shit, I’d never talked to a brother of a man I dated before. Let alone a gay brother. I took a sharp inhale. “Things are going great between us. We get along and my ex is out of the picture.”
“He is?” Mason hooked a brow. “But you’re still staying at Lucas’s place? Did you two decide to live together?”
Jett’s attention drew to me, a faint grin quirking his lips.
“No, but we’re giving it another week to be sure my ex is gone.
He hasn’t shown up since the day of the court order.
” Which meant I had to go back home soon.
There’d be no reason to stay with Lucas.
I grabbed my beer from the cupholder and sipped it.
I needed to calm my nerves. Glancing at the rink, I saw a woman singing the national anthem.
The game would start soon and shit, we’d been talking too much and hadn’t stood for the song.
“I see.” Mason snickered. “Lucas is a sly son of a bitch. He wants to keep you there so he can be with you all the time. My brother is obsessed with you.” He threw a glance at Jett. “I admit it. I would have done the same with Jett, except I didn’t have to. We shared hotel rooms on the road.”
Jett scoffed. “Why am I not surprised?” He shifted in his seat and unwrapped his hot dog. “The Hopkins brothers go after what they want and let nothing get in their way.” He bit into his hot dog.
“Damn right.” Mason clicked his tongue. “Don’t worry, Ezra. Lucas will do anything for you.” His gaze locked on mine. “And I mean anything.”
My heart bloomed with emotion. “I’m not worried. I know that.” And deep down, I did. And fuck, I loved Lucas. I never loved Tate. Everything about my relationship with Lucas was what I’d been missing.
A Giants forward, deep into the first period, carried the puck toward the net.
Mason hopped from his seat. “Come on, Lucas, get that guy.” He pumped his fist.
“Sit down, Mason.” Jett pulled on Mason’s sweater.
With a smile, I watched Mason’s intensity. I’d seen it in Lucas, too. I swung my gaze at the game.
Lucas sped toward the Giants forward, hunching low on his skates.
Another Giant player threw himself at Lucas, pushing him onto the ice.
Sprawling on his belly, Lucas slid and smacked the boards.
“Penalty! Call a fucking penalty ref!” Mason growled and stepped to the edge of our box. “It was a penalty, right, Jett? Lucas hadn’t touched that fucker, and he didn’t have the damn puck.” Standing with his legs spread, Mason rubbed his chin.
The play continued with a Giant shooting at the net. The puck flew across the ice. Our goalie dropped, but the horn blew, and the net lamp flashed.
“Fuck!” Mason stomped his foot. “That never should have happened.”
Jett rose next to him. “Babe, calm down. Maybe the Coach will call a review?”
Holy shit, Mason was furious. Would he be in a bad mood for the rest of the game now? I scanned across the ice for Lucas.
On his knees, Lucas made his way back up onto his skates, looked our way, and shook his head.
Glowering, Mason fell into his chair and leaned toward me. “See, Lucas should have been able to check the Giant’s center there, but their fucking winger clipped him. That shouldn’t happen.” He tsked. “If I’d been on the ice with him, that winger would catch hell from me.”
Jett faced me and, with a snicker, said, “He means he’d start a fight.”
“Yeah? How much fighting do you do in a game?” I glanced at Lucas, now skating to his bench. At least he wasn’t injured. I’d seen little fighting in the other games I’d watched.
“Not enough.” With a huff, Mason crossed his arms. “Right, babe? Not enough.”