Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Evan had never been happier to have an adult day out.
Oh, he’d done some amazing shit when he was a player. Yacht parties. Beach weekends in Mexico and the Bahamas. Wild nights in Vegas during All Star week.
But going Christmas shopping with Sam in Santa Fe with the smell of snow and pinon wood burning everywhere, all the stores putting out cookies and hot cocoa?
This was like, core memory, engaged.
The snow was falling, they were only having to shop for odds and ends—because thank God for online shopping and delivery—and they were having a ball together.
They’d bought a Santa Fe-themed baby’s first Christmas ornament, and one for them for their first joint tree. They had listened to carols, laughed over an amazing hazelnut coffee, and now they were sitting at the La Plazuela watching a man make tableside guacamole.
There was something both utterly ridiculous and dignified about the guy, scooping avocado and mixing in jalapeno and onion from all these little bowls. Sam had ordered the chile rellenos, but he’d gone for steak frites because he needed some not-hot food for the night.
But the smoky pineapple margarita was a thing of beauty.
“Evan? Evan Halloway? Is that you?”
He glanced up, his eyes widening when he saw Kane Dubrow striding through the indoor patio-style restaurant, grinning like mad. The guy still looked like he was a current player, his body banging, even if he was mostly gray at the temples these days.
“Kane.” He stood to shake hands. “Good to see you. Sam, this is Kane Dubrow, former All Star center for New York. Kane, Sam Marrón. He’s my guy.”
“Sam, good to meet you.” Kane shook hands with Sam.
“You still starting a team down here at some point?” Evan asked.
“Yeah. I have a bunch of backers lined up and they’re talking an East Coast expansion to even us out.”
“Whoa. Holler if you need players. I rep plenty.”
“I will. You’re down visiting from Boston?”
“Nope. I’m here full-time now. Well, a bit north. I moved in with Sam.” He grinned at his lover. “I’d ask you to sit and have a drink, but we’re on a grandpa date.”
Kane’s eyebrows flew up. “‘Grandpa’?”
“Bobby’s boy Max got Sam’s daughter pregnant.”
“Holy shit. Well, uh, congratulations?”
“Gracias. She’s beautiful. She’s only two weeks-old yesterday.” Sam was so proud, so pleased.
“That’s awesome.” Kane’s serious face split in a wide grin.
“My sister just had my first nephew last month. I’ll call you in about twenty-five years.
Anyway, I’m meeting someone for drinks at the bar, but I saw you and wanted to say hello.
” Kane clapped him on the shoulder. “Here, put your number in my phone. I’ll call you about the team stuff.
Or maybe just dinner with you and your guy. ”
“Both. We’d love to see you.” Evan thought the idea of an expansion team here was brilliant.
These New Mexicans loved their sports, and Kane Dubrow had the face, the name recognition, and the born-in-New Mexico status to make a real mark for hockey culture in the state.
He put his number in Kane’s phone and got a text with Kane’s. “I’ll let you two have date night, man. Nice to meet you, Sam.”
“Mucho gusto.” Sam grinned at Evan as they sat back down. “You ever get with that?”
“What?”
“Oh, come on. He’s hot. You thought so too. I can tell.”
“Yeah, yeah. He was out of my league. And very cagey about his personal life.” He winked at Sam. “Besides, I have a thing for little rodeo guys.”
Sam’s dark eyes went wide. “I’ll have you know I’m all big in the rodeo world, guapo.”
“You are. I’ve seen you sign autographs.” Evan leaned across the table to whisper. “I can still lift you in one arm.”
“And it’s still hot as hell. Eat your guacamole.”
He dipped some up, and it was creamy, spicy, and full of lime. Perfect. So damn good. He was getting used to New Mexico, he thought.
It was easy to do that when most everything he loved was right here.
“You miss playing hockey?” Sam sure did love his avocado, and the way he licked it off his fingers after he had a chip was distracting.
“Sometimes, sure. But I’m pretty damn happy these days, baby. I got you. Hil. Natasha. A good business. A warm bed.”
He had a grandbaby. Dogs in the house. The weirdest Yankee-New Mexican fusion food ever. And they were about to have their first Christmas together.
“You so do. No one calms that baby down like you do.”
It probably shouldn’t make him grin so wide, those words, but it was true. His little Tasha loved him.
“I love that. I adore her, and she knows it. What about you? You sorry I came along with Max?” He reached across with his non-guac-y hand to press his fingers over Sam’s.
“Not even a little. You and me? We make flames together, and it’s all wild.” Sam’s smile was satisfied as fuck.
“We do.” He squeezed Sam’s hand, only letting go when their food came.
They ate and chatted and when they were done they headed out into the Santa Fe plaza, snow falling on their heads, the farolitos lit up and flickering in the night. It felt magical.
Perfect.
And the best part of all was that it was his to keep.