Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
TYLER
“So, I take it you’re graduating this year, Tyler?” Grace asks.
We’re tucked in the corner of the hotel restaurant in one of the booths lined against the back wall, and Colby’s been so relaxed it’s made my heart swell in my chest. He’s been laughing and teasing his parents, and there’s a lightness about him I haven’t seen around others.
His parents seem like good people, and I’m glad he has them in his corner. They’ve also taken a keen interest in me, which is nice, but it means I’ve had to think through what I say to avoid them finding out how I feel about their son.
“Yeah, I am. It’s kinda crazy to think it’s all coming to an end soon. These last four years have been a whirlwind in the best way.”
“Have you got any potential team prospects lined up? I hear it’s picking up in Europe if the East Coast or Canada isn’t any good,” Jamie says.
I catch Colby stiffening out of the corner of my eye. I’ve come to learn that Colby gets upset when the topic of my future comes up. The fact that he cares so much means a lot to me because the only other person who gives a shit about me is Piper.
I take a sip of my soda, giving myself a moment. His dad has been incredibly positive about my stats this season, so I’m sure my next words are going to come as a shock to him.
“No, sir, I won’t be playing hockey next season.”
“What?” he sputters, staring at me over the frame of his glasses. “You’re kidding me, right?” He turns his gaze to Colby. “Tell me he’s being a joker.”
Colby lets out a quiet, shaky laugh, but it comes out more like a sigh. “No, Dad, he’s not joking.”
Jamie swings his attention back to me, and it’s like taking a glimpse into the future and seeing what Colby might look like in twenty years.
Jamie is a handsome guy. They have the same bone structure, and their hair is the same shade of blond.
His eyes have the same amber tones, but they don’t enrapture me like Colby’s do.
His mom is incredibly beautiful too. It’s no wonder Colby is as gorgeous as he is.
“Tyler, please tell me to fuck off if it’s none of my business, but why the hell aren’t you playing next season?”
“Unfortunately, going pro has never been an option for me. It’s always been the plan since I was born to join my father’s business once I got my degree, so I’ll be heading back to Arizona after graduation.
” I try to keep the bitterness out of my tone, but I don’t think I do a very good job because Colby’s mom gives me a sympathetic look.
“What would you do? If you were given the chance?” she asks softly.
“Honestly?” I shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve mentioned it to Colbs before that because I knew my future was already decided for me, I’ve never let my mind wander down that path.
” I glance down at my empty plate. Only crumbs of the steak sandwich I ate remain.
“It seemed like a waste of time to dream about something that wasn’t possible. ”
They must not pick up on the slip of my tongue by calling him Colbs because they both frown, and Colby ducks his head.
I hate that I’ve put a damper on what has been an incredible lunch with Colby’s parents by bringing up my own. Spending time with them has made me realize how different our upbringings were, and how I’ve ached to experience this for myself.
“I’m sorry, Tyler. Every parent should give their child the opportunity to decide what they want to do with their lives,” Grace says with a sad smile.
“He didn’t give us a choice.” Jamie points to Colby, then twists to ask Grace, “Do you remember that time when he was like, six? And he had a fever?” He turns to face me again. “We went into his room to check on him, only to find his bed was empty. We couldn’t find him anywhere.”
“Then I looked out the kitchen window and spotted him shooting pucks into the net in the backyard,” Grace snickers.
His dad slaps his hands on the table and leans forward, a gleeful expression on his face that makes him look ten years younger. “Wearing nothing but his underwear, snow boots, and a woolly hat. It was eight degrees.”
A bark of laughter escapes me. The mental image of his parents trying to wrangle Colby inside in all kinds of weather appears in my mind, making me laugh harder. Beside me, Colby’s cheeks are red in embarrassment, but he’s trying his damnedest not to smile.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” I grin with a shake of my head.
“We had to introduce a new rule: you must wear clothes to play hockey,” his dad laughs.
“He’s always been obsessed, and now he’s here.” His mom smiles softly, looking at her son with such fondness. “About to compete in the Frozen Four.”
“Can we stop talking about me now?” Colby grumbles, picking up the dessert menu and pretending to read it.
The conversation shifts to my studies, and I can’t help but notice how they haven’t brought up the draft once.
It’s like whenever the topic of hockey and Colby’s career has come up, they focus purely on what he’s achieved and this weekend.
There’s been no mention of the NHL, or the media, or the constant hype that follows him around.
They’re proud of him for just being him, and that leaves an unfamiliar emotion sitting on my chest.
What does it feel like to know you make your parents proud?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard the words “I’m proud of you, Tyler” leave either of my parents’ lips.
Joey has said it a couple of times. The first one notably being when I graduated high school with the grades to get me into Whilton U, but it’s always been in relation to my education rather than hockey or the times when I performed with the band at school.
I try to hide the knot building in my throat as Jamie talks us into having dessert.
We’re on a fairly strict diet while we’re here, needing to be on the top of our game, but I’ve discovered Colby has a sweet tooth, just like me, so we share a slice of cheesecake between us before we have to say our goodbyes to his parents and head upstairs for the video session.
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Tyler,” Grace says as she brings me in for a hug.
I find myself squeezing my eyes closed as I return her hug. I haven’t felt the warmth of a mother’s embrace since I last saw Piper’s mom, and I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it until now.
She must pick up on the invisible cloud I’m carrying because she tightens her arms around me, letting the hug go on a little longer than what’s normal for hugging your teammate’s mom. Then, with a hand on my chest, she tips her head to whisper in my ear.
“Thank you for being here for him. He’s not the best at expressing himself sometimes. His lack of people skills makes it difficult for him, but I can tell you mean a lot to him, and I hope this isn’t the last time we see you.”
Smiling up at me, she gives my chest a pat, then takes a step back so I can shake Jamie’s hand.
Her words replay through my mind as we head out into the lobby.
Colby mentioned his parents are one of the few people who know about his sexuality, so do they know about us? Or could she see this spark between us that is beginning to feel too big for me to ignore for much longer?
We stop in front of the elevator banks, and I press the call button. The conference room Coach has reserved is on the second floor, and I’m too full and lazy to take the stairs.
Colby’s quiet next to me, watching me with a concerned crease in his brow. I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans to avoid reaching out for him.
“Your parents are nice,” I say, though the word nice is a major understatement.
“Thanks, they’re pretty great.” He offers me a shy smile. “I didn’t mean to, like, rub it in or anything. I know your parents aren’t, like…”
His words trail off, and it takes me a second to piece together what he’s trying to say. I immediately shake my head, dismissing his thought.
“You didn’t. I accepted a long time ago that my parents are nothing like yours. It doesn’t upset me like it used to,” I reassure him before adding, “Plus, I had a nice time hearing all the embarrassing stories about you and how you used to play in your underwear.”
He laughs. “Shut up. I’m sure you were the same.”
“I can promise you I wasn’t,” I tease.
His lips pinch as he tries to stop his smile from widening, then gives me a playful shove as the elevator doors open. We step inside, and I hit the button for the second floor before anyone else can follow us in. The moment the doors close, I turn toward him and lean back against the wall.
“Does your mom know about us?” I ask quietly, making sure my tone doesn’t sound accusing.
Surprise flickers across his face before he shakes his head. “No, why? What did she say?”
“Nothing bad, just that she hopes this isn’t the last time she sees me.”
Colby bites down on the corner of his mouth, averting his gaze to stare at a mark on the floor between us. “I’ve never been very good at hiding things from my mom.”
Pushing off the wall, I step in front of him and lift his chin with my finger until his eyes meet mine. “I’m not mad about it, Colbs. Maybe if things were different…”
The unspoken words hang in the air between us, heavy and grim.
If you weren’t heading to the NHL and I wasn’t going to be trapped in some high-rise, maybe we could give this a real shot.
A look of sadness flashes in his eyes, and I feel it like a stake to the heart every second he doesn’t say a word.
The elevator doors open, and the way he steps around me, keeping his head low as he enters the conference room, says more than words ever could.
Colby’s still quiet when we head back up to our room several hours later. All throughout the video session, I kept stealing glances at him, willing for him to give me something, but he didn’t. His focus remained fixed on the big screen, and then his attention was stolen by Winslow during dinner.
The door closes behind me with a soft click, and I watch as Colby kicks off his shoes, and then falls onto the bed face-first.