Chapter Thirty-Two Grayson
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: GRAYSON
B ending over at the waist, I placed my hands on my thighs while I fought to catch my breath from racing into the locker room. Everything was such a blur. One minute I was on top of the world from our victory and Theo’s MOP, and the next, the rug was jerked out from under us about our involvement with Vivian.
As my breath started regulating, I could hear Theo and Coach Murano talking. My hearing was all muted like I was underwater. Raising my head, I blinked at Coach Murano in shock. Of course, I could barely see him. Because of all the flashbulbs, everything before my eyes was black blobs. Shaking my head, I tried focusing on what he was saying.
“As far as repercussions from the hockey program, I can’t imagine any.” At Bennett’s relieved breath beside me, the black blob with Coach’s voice shook its head. “That’s only because the season is over and you three are seniors.”
“Thank God for small mercies,” I mused. And thank God that my vision was coming back. But when I looked at Theo, I wished it hadn’t.
His ashen face scared the hell out of me. “T?” I questioned.
He dragged his forlorn gaze to mine. “While we don’t face anything here, I sure as hell do with the scouts.”
With a grimace, I muttered, “Fuck.”
Theo shot a pleading look at Coach Murano. “What should I do?”
Coach ran his hand over his salt-and-pepper beard. “I wish I knew, Novak. It’s not like the program has ever faced anything like this.”
“Then what would you do if you were me?”
After appearing contemplative, Coach replied, “I’d send them one hell of an apology text. I mean, the most epic grovel you could ever pull out. Then I’d have my shit together with ideas for all sorts of community service to improve your image–opportunities both here until you start the season and then ones there for after you start.”
As Theo took in Coach’s words, Bennett stepped forward. “If it would help, Gray and I could send letters, too. You know, explaining the situation.”
With a groan, Theo shook his head. “I’m not sure it would help if they found out how you and I felt about each other.”
Coach Murano’s brows shot up as his mouth dropped. “Wait, so you two…”
To my surprise, Theo chuckled. “Yeah, Coach, we’re a thing just like me and Vivian are a thing. We’re all a big thing.”
I held up my hand. “Except me. I’m just straight with Vivian.”
“No pun intended,” Bennett mused with a grin.
Coach staggered back a little. “How long has this been going on between you two?” He shook his head. “Sorry, that's none of my business. I’m just in shock.”
“Four years for me,” Bennett replied while Theo said, “Three months.”
“Fuck me, I would’ve never guessed it.”
“Does it bother you, Coach?” Theo asked.
“Hell no. I mean, I’m not that way, but I don’t see why you two can’t be.” A sheepish look came over his face. “I gotta say it’s the four of you together that I have an issue with, not the two of you.”
I laughed. “Trust me. It took a while for us to get used to it. And even now, we’re still trying to figure it out.”
Coach opened his mouth and then closed it back. “Nah, never mind.”
“Go ahead and ask,” I replied.
“It’s just, how the hell did you find a woman with that much of a sex drive? I mean, my wife can’t keep up with me. I couldn’t imagine her trying to take on two more dudes.”
With a grin, I replied, “We’re all getting it at the same time, so it’s not like it’s triple for her.”
“Oh, right. I get it now.”
My phone rang then. When I glanced down at the screen, I grimaced. “Shit, it’s my parents.” Glancing up at the others, I mused, “What are the odds they’ve heard the news?”
“I’m pretty sure everyone in the state has heard the news by now,” Bennett replied.
Theo sucked in a harsh breath. “What about Vivian?”
Fuck. She was in the room with us with the reporters. Had they figured out who she was and barraged her with questions?
Bennett held up his phone. “She’s fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, she texted the group chat to tell us that her parents got her out of there right after the reporter asked the question. They’ve taken her back home with them.”
A relieved breath whooshed out of my lips. “Thank God she’s safe.”
“For now,” Theo remarked with a grimace.
Since my parents kept blowing up my phone, I finally answered. “Hey, I’m okay. Well, I mean, I’m in the locker room. Where are you guys?”
“We’re out front with the car running. If you can get out now, we can drive you away,” Dad replied.
“Okay. Let me check outside.”
When I dared to stick my head out of the locker room door, flashes of light went off while a long microphone was thrust in front of me. “Grayson! Grayson Collins, are you really in a polyamorous relationship with two of your teammates?”
I jerked my head back and slammed the door. “Fuck,” I muttered.
“Fuck is right,” Theo replied.
“How the hell are we going to get out of this?” Bennet asked.
“Good question.” Since I knew there was no way in hell I was getting out of the front, I brought my phone up to my ear. “Dad, I want you and Mom to go to McSorley’s bar. It’s three or four blocks from here. I’ll meet you there just as soon as I can.”
“Okay, son.”
“Be careful, sweetie!” Mom called.
“I will.”
Coach clapped me on the back. “I think it’s time we used the Bunny Tunnel.”
“The what?” I asked.
“I thought that was just an urban legend,” Theo remarked.
With a shake of his head, Coach replied, “Oh no. It’s legit.”
“What the fuck is the ‘Bunny Tunnel’?” Bennett asked.
“It’s an underground tunnel from the main arena to the practice rink. It houses a lot of the plumbing and electrical for the arena. When a plumber’s assistant told his coed girlfriend about it, every puck bunny in the area was going underground to get a piece of a player. It became such a problem, we had to seal off the entrance.”
Bennett furrowed his brows. “Well, if it’s sealed, how will we get through?”
Coach chuckled. “We didn’t do anything too serious. Just enough to keep the girls out.” Motioning to the sticks lining the wall, he replied, “I think it’ll take a few good whacks from all of us.”
With a nod, I stepped forward. “All right. Let’s do this!”
Coach was right, and it ended up where the four of us could hack through the styrofoam-type material of the blockade with the hockey sticks. Once we were free, we dipped out the back. Thankfully, none of the reporters were staked out there.
As we headed for our cars, Bennett said, “Look, you two go take care of your parents, and I’ll go check on Vivian.”
While Theo nodded, I said, “Text us how she’s doing, okay?”
“I sure will.”
After cranking up, I gunned it out of my space to go to McSorley’s. While it wasn’t a total dive, I knew it wasn’t somewhere anyone from Southeastern would expect us to be. The guys and I had stumbled upon the place sophomore year, and the cheap beer and low-key atmosphere kept us coming back.
Once I headed into the bar, I glanced left and right for my parents. Thankfully, Dad spotted me and rose out of his booth. Ducking my head to my chest, my feet shuffled over to him and Mom.
Once I flopped down on the bench, I glanced up at my mother. My chest clenched in agony at the sight of tears shimmering in her eyes. “Oh Gray,” she murmured.
Damn, I hated seeing her cry. More than that, I hated being the one to make her cry. “I’m so sorry, Mom.”
She reached across the table to my hand in hers. “Don’t apologize, sweetheart. My tears are for you, not for me. Tonight was such a special night, and the bastard reporters ruined it for you.”
Since my mom wasn’t one to cuss, I knew just how upset she really was. I squeezed her hand. “I seriously don’t know what I’ve done in this world to deserve such an amazing mother like you.”
My compliment kicked up Mom’s waterworks. As Dad shot her a concerned look, she shook her head as she grabbed a napkin. “I’m fine.”
Dad cleared his throat and shifted on the bench. “Son, your mother and I are trying to understand all this.”
“You mean the polyamory thing?”
As Dad nodded, a nervous laugh bubbled from Mom’s lips. “I’ll be honest that I had to Google what polyamory even meant.”
“You did?”
“Even though I understand the term, I still have so many questions on how it applies to you,” Mom replied.
“Basically, it just boils down to the fact that I’m in love with Vivian and so are Bennett and Theo.”
While Mom processed what I’d said, Dad’s brows creased. “When you say you’re in love with Vivian, does that mean just with her, or is it with the guys too?”
I snorted. “Would it matter to you if I was in love with Theo and Bennett?”
Mom quickly replied, “Of course not,” while Dad once again cleared his throat. A moment passed before Mom elbowed him. “No. It wouldn’t.”
Cocking my brows at him, I replied, “You don’t sound very convincing.”
“You know I’ve always said I wanted you and your brothers to love who you wanted to love.”
“I know, Dad. But it’s easy to say that, but it’s harder when it actually happens. Especially when it’s your kid.”
He sighed. “I think it’s harder imagining you loving two men at the same time than you just being gay.”
“Well, you can stop worrying because I’m not in love with the guys.”
“Are you sure?” Mom asked.
Nodding, I replied, “I care about them a lot. They’re my best friends, and I’d do anything for them. But I sure as hell don’t feel for them like I do for Vivian.” As Vivian’s gorgeous face flashed before my eyes, I replied, “She means everything to me.”
“That’s wonderful you’ve found someone to love,” Mom replied, her hands anxiously working the napkin in her lap.
“But?” I implored.
“It’s nothing.”
Shaking my head, I replied, “Go ahead and ask.”
“If you feel so strongly for her, how can you possibly share her?” Mom questioned softly.
“I wish there was a way for me to explain to you, but I can’t. It’s not like I ever imagined falling in love with a woman and sharing her with two other men. But it happened. And despite it not being the norm, it works for the three of us. All of us bring something different to the relationship and Vivian.”
While Mom teared up, Dad once again cleared his throat. “That sounds like a very mature explanation, son.”
“It’s how I feel. I’ve never loved any other girl or woman like I do Vivian.”
“Oh, honey,” Mom gushed as she squeezed my hand.
“While love is an essential part of any relationship, it’s not the only thing,” Dad countered.
“I know that.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Dad said, “And you four have some real obstacles ahead of you. I mean, babies are hard work.”
“I didn’t say they weren’t,” I argued.
After nibbling on her bottom lip, Mom hesitantly asked, “Do you know who the baby’s father is?”
Shaking my head, I replied, “We tried early in the pregnancy to find out, but when it didn’t work, we decided to wait until he was born.”
Mom’s eyes lit up. “It’s a boy?”
I smiled. “Yeah, that part we’re certain about.”
“Well, I certainly know about raising little boys,” Mom replied with a grin.
“He’s a lucky kid to have you as a grandmother.”
While Mom preened under my compliment, Dad leaned forward in the booth. “What happens when you find out you’re not the father?”
“Stan!” Mom chided.
“What? It’s a very real possibility.”
“Even if the baby doesn’t share my DNA, I’m still going to be his father.”
As Dad’s brows creased, Mom asked, “You are?”
Nodding, I replied, “The guys and I made a pact that regardless of what the paternity test says, we’re all going to help raise him.”
“And Vivian is okay with that?”
My lips quirked when I thought of her reaction. “As she says, a child can never have too many people to love it.”
“That is so true,” Mom mused while Dad huffed.
“You don’t approve?” I asked him.
“While I think it’s wonderful, I can’t help thinking ahead when he goes to school. Kids are cruel. What will you do when he comes home and says that children were making fun of him because he has three fathers?”
“Come on, Dad. Families come in all shapes and sizes these days.”
“I’m aware of that, but I still worry.”
“Whatever happens with our son, we’ll face it together.”
Although Dad appeared to have remaining doubts, he nodded. “I think if anyone can make it happen you can.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Cocking my head, I asked, “Does that mean we have your support?”
“Of course, Mom quickly said while Dad took a moment to reply, “Yes, son.”
At that moment, I realized how truly lucky I was. And in turn, how lucky Vivian and the guys were.