Chapter 37
thirty-seven
. . .
Ceci
Colt flits around the room, adjusting the silverware on the table and then shifting it back.
“Dude, chill,” I say from my spot in the living room, where I have a view of the entire open space. “This is going to go fine.”
“But what if—”
Lumbering to my feet, I cross to where he’s now fidgeting with the bottles of wine. I set my hands on his shoulders, gazing up at him.
“He’s crazy about you. This isn’t a big deal.”
Except I know it is a pretty fucking big deal. Colt hasn’t dated much, and I can count on one hand the number of girlfriends he’s introduced me to in the twenty-plus years we’ve been friends.
It’s not the fact that the person he’s seeing is male. It’s that we’re merging our professional and personal lives, and that’s something we might not be able to walk back from.
“I love you, Colty. If this thing doesn’t work out, there will be another person for you.” I’m careful with my pronouns. “But don’t plan for an ending. You never know. This might be the right guy. If not forever, at least for now.”
My longtime friend exhales heavily. “You’re right.”
“I know.” My lips curve into a smirk. “Good on you for finally realizing it. Ceci knows best.”
“Ceci needs to not talk about herself in the third person,” he snarks back.
And then the doorbell rings, and his face pales.
“Fuck. I don’t think I can do this.”
“You can, and you will.” I squeeze his shoulders again.
But as a peace offering, I cross to the door, opening it to reveal Aidan side by side with Robby Andrews.
“Hey, come on in.” I beckon them over the threshold. “Colt’s just finishing up.”
“It’s good to see you,” Robby says with a grin. He gives me a brief, polite hug.
His tall, lean body is tight with muscle, and his short blond hair is styled away from his face. He looks good in a long wool coat and leather gloves, a gray knit scarf knotted around his neck. Yeah, I can see what my friend sees in him.
“You came together?” I look between them. I didn’t think my hockey player socialized with very many of his teammates, much less the assistant equipment manager.
“We were leaving the rink at the same time, so it made sense to carpool.” Aidan steps forward, and I allow him to pull me in for a kiss.
“Hey, you,” I whisper.
“Missed you,” he whispers back.
My heart thumps with happiness. “Missed you too.”
We separate, but he doesn’t let me go far.
His hand finds mine, lacing our fingers together.
It’s been about ten hours since I’ve seen him last, but it feels like ten years.
I’ve never felt this before—the soul-deep desire to be close to someone at all times.
It’s almost obsessive, this need to be near him.
“Come on, let’s meet Colt for real.”
They’ve been introduced to each other because of board duties, and we’re both connected to Hailey, but they’ve never spent actual time together.
Colt is a huge part of my life. If Aidan and I are going to work out, they’re going to have to get along.
Colt and Bex are the two friends I’m closest with these days, and I already know I get along with his sister.
We have to weave together the fabrics of our lives in a way that works for both of us.
In the living room, Colt is pouring a glass of wine, and he looks over his shoulder at us. “Aidan, what would you like to drink?”
“Sparkling water is great, thanks.”
“You got it.”
Robby sits on the couch, a fond smile on his face as he watches Colt bustle around. When my friend hands over the glass, their fingers brush, and his face flames red.
Rescuing my abandoned wineglass from the coffee table, I settle back onto the loveseat, tucking my leg under me.
“How did you meet?” I ask.
“Oh, so the interrogation is starting early.” Robby grins, setting his drink down and cracking his knuckles. “It wasn’t this big, romantic story. Not like you two.”
“Oh, so you met on Grindr?” I tease.
Colt chokes. “Cecilia,” he snaps.
“We met at the arena,” Robby says with a fond smile.
He catches Colt’s hand as he walks by, tugging him onto the sofa.
My friend settles on the couch and immediately moves closer to his—boyfriend?
lover?—and sets his hand on the blond man’s leg.
“Sometimes I skate laps before I have to resurface the ice. And he was sitting in the stands, working on his laptop.”
I laugh. “Colt, working? Color me surprised.”
The man in question sighs. “Why did we decide to do this?”
“You love me, dude.” I turn back to Robby. “Go on. Was it lust at first sight?”
“For me, yeah,” he answers readily. “Took a little longer for him. But he kept coming around, and then one day I asked him out for coffee, and…”
“And now you’re happy?” My eyes dart between the two of them.
Colt’s glare softens when he looks at Robby, a soft smile lighting his features. “Yeah. I am.”
I reach for Aidan’s hand, needing his closeness. “Aww, that’s so sweet.”
He slips his arm around me, tugging me into his side and pressing a kiss to the top of my head, then nodding to his colleague. “I’m glad you’re happy, man.”
Robby beams at him. “Thanks, MacGregor. That means a lot.”
I don’t know a lot about Robby, only the highlights. He dated Vanessa in college, then Tyler a few years later when he was a goaltender in the AHL. Injuries ended his career early. I know the superficial details. I don’t know who he is or what he’s about.
Does he have any ambitions beyond equipment managing, or does that fulfill him?
Is he biding his time until something better comes along, or does he want to stay where he is and put down roots?
Does he want to get married and have babies, or does he prefer the single fuckboy life?
Dating doesn’t have to mean a serious, committed relationship.
If this is only a fling, or if this becomes a forever type thing, as long as he treats Colt well, I’m happy.
The rest of it will come with time. We’ll get to know each other better. And just like with Hailey and Ryan, our social circle is slowly expanding.
As if reading my mind, Colt leans into Robby. “What is Hailey up to tonight?”
“She and Ryan are on a date.” Aidan makes a face. “They went to see the musical in town.”
“And you don’t like musicals?” Colt asks with a raised eyebrow.
“Musicals are fine. She’s going to sing the entire show through for the next week. It’s whatever.” He rolls his eyes. “It’s more what they’ll get up to after.”
“So you and Ryan don’t trade stories about your exploits?” Colt counters.
My stomach twists. I want him to be able to talk freely, have a safe person he can work things out with, but I have to admit, I’m uncomfortable with details about our sex life being public knowledge.
“We don’t talk about that. Strictly off-limits,” Aidan says. “I won’t disrespect Ceci like that. And I don’t want to hear what they get up to.”
“They’re engaged,” Robby points out.
Aidan shudders. “Don’t remind me. It was bad enough when he was pining after her from afar. I could ignore it then. This…”
I stifle a laugh. “Honey, she’s a grown adult. She’s allowed to have a sex life.”
He grimaces. “I know. Which is why I don’t say anything to her. I’m not trying to stop her. I just don’t need the details of what they get up to.”
“The Grizzlies have the most respectful locker room I’ve ever seen,” Robby adds. “I know it’s not an easy thing to navigate, but I’ve never heard any of the guys cross any lines or be abrasively rude. Well, except Pope.”
“Thank fuck he got traded,” Aidan mutters. “I wanted to punch that asshole in the face.”
I laugh again. “You? Fight? I didn’t take you for an instigator.”
He chuckles. “No, babe, that’s all you.”
Two seasons ago, when Hailey and Ryan first started dating, Aidan got into a fight on the ice with someone who was hassling his best friend.
Even though he and Ryan were fighting with each other, he stood up to defend him against the other dude.
My man punched him… and then promptly got his bell rung. He’s a lover, not a fighter.
Aidan clears his throat. “I said I wanted to, not that I actually would. He was my teammate.”
“And now he’s fair game,” Robby adds with a devilish smirk.
“He’s on my shit list,” he agrees. “Hastings too.”
The only “good” thing to come out of Hastings’s terrible hit on Nick last season is that Bex decided to move forward with our helmet project. He’s fully recovered now, able to play hockey and live his regular life, but that hit scared her away from staying on as the team’s concussion specialist.
It’s hard to sit by and watch the ones you love hurt themselves, knowing there is nothing you can do to prevent another injury. Protect them, yes. Prevent? Not possible.
Colt clears his throat. “Dinner?”
Robby’s eyebrows dart up into his hairline. “You cooked?”
Let’s just say, Colt is not the best chef. He can prepare food, but he doesn’t cook.
“Ordered in,” he mumbles, his face flaming. “I wanted something nice.”
“Aw, babe.” Robby squeezes Colt’s leg. “You know I’m happy with anything. As long as it’s you and me, I’m good.”
I grab for Aidan’s hand again, holding on for dear life. I’m so happy for my friend I could combust.
He helps me to my feet as Colt and Robby rise. The open floor plan means we can see the dining area from here, where the serving platters are laid out.
When he sold his company, Colt bought a “big boy” apartment. As happy as he was to live in a one-bedroom in Cambridge, it was time to grow up a bit. Of course, the jump from shabby one-bedroom to skyscraper penthouse was a bit extreme, but… we have the money. He’s certainly not hurting for cash.
While other people were learning life skills, like how to cook and take care of themselves, Colt and I were building our businesses from the ground up.
We outsourced anything we could because our time was more valuable spent on our projects than on learning how to cook anything more complicated than a bowl of pasta or roasting a chicken.
My ex-husband never forgave me for not being the consummate housewife, and it’s taken the better part of a decade to come to terms with the fact that I’m perfectly fine the way I am.
Even when I let work take over my life, sometimes to the detriment of everything else, I’m not broken or lacking because I’m not good in the kitchen.
It’s kind of the same for Aidan. He devoted his life to hockey; it consumes him, and he outsourced what he had to in order to survive. He hires someone for meal preparation, he has Hailey managing his schedule and commitments, and he isn’t afraid to find someone to help him when he needs it.
Robby is the only so-called normal one of us. When he got injured, he had to learn how to function as an adult without hockey dictating his decisions. Sure, he’s still involved with the sport. It still dictates his schedule. But not his life choices.
We’re all a little stunted in one way or another, but we’re moving past it. Moving on.
Colt retrieves the salmon from the oven, where it was keeping warm. I settle in beside Aidan, his hand falling to my thigh. I know the salmon from Olde Boston is one of his safe foods—it’s why I suggested it to Colt in the first place. And not just because I wanted the harvest bowl.
Although, because my friend knows me so well, he ordered two for us all to split as a side dish. This is why I love him so much.
Conversation flows during dinner, and then we linger over dessert. It’s easy to imagine doing this again in the future, maybe with Hailey and Ryan joining us. Our little trio, my two good friends, Aidan’s sister.
We’re making our own bubble with friends who feel like family.
An actual community. Sure, I’ve got my book club friends.
I’ve got Bex and Vanessa by my side, plus Johanna, Sadie, Viv, and Elsy, and then there’s Audrey, Rachel, and all the other WHAFFLs: wives, husbands, and family, friends, and lovers attached to the team.
Knowing they’d support me, they support us, is more than I can possibly say.
Somehow, almost without realizing it, all of my social circle has become entangled with the Grizzlies. When I joined the board four years ago, I never would have expected this would become my life. And I’m so glad it has.
Colt is happy. Robby doesn’t seem to be a serial killer. Aidan and I are able to socialize with them as a couple.
Check, check, check.
At half past nine, Colt makes a point of checking his watch. “Okay, it’s time for you to leave now,” he says with an awkward chuckle.
“Aw, you’re getting rid of us already?” I tease.
Aidan chokes.
“I love you, but I don’t really like you right now,” Colt fires back.
“Relax, dude. I’m leaving. You and your boo can go get freaky now.” After rising from my seat, I round the table and hug him from behind where he’s sitting. “Thank you for dinner, Colty. Call me in a few days when your social battery is recharged.”
He sighs and pats my hand. “You’re a menace.”
“And don’t you forget it.” I kiss the top of his head. “Robby, it was great to hang out with you. We’ll have to do it again soon.”
“Maybe Hailey and Ryan can join us next time,” he suggests, glancing at Aidan carefully.
“That would be great,” he says, to my surprise. “We’d love to.”
Oh, that man is so getting a blowjob tonight.