13
The banquet hall was decorated in Eastern University's green and gold.
Streamers hung from the ceiling. Centerpieces of flowers and hockey pucks adorned every table.
The room was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses and cheerful conversation.
Spencer stood in the corner with Layton and Zavier, their hands intertwined, their hearts pounding.
Layton's palms were sweating. He could feel the moisture on his skin, could feel the way his heart was racing in his chest. He had never been this nervous in his life. Not before the championship game. Not before the NHL draft combine. Not before anything.
He looked at Spencer. Spencer's face was pale but determined. His jaw was set. His eyes were focused.
He looked at Zavier. Zavier's expression was unreadable, but his hand was shaking slightly.
Layton squeezed their hands. "We can do this. We've got this."
Spencer nodded. "Together."
Zavier said, "Together."
The speeches began. Coach Miller talked about the season, about the challenges they had overcome, about the bright future ahead.
Terry King talked about the team's legacy, about the players who had come before, about the importance of family.
Drew Matthews made everyone laugh with a story about a prank gone wrong.
Then it was Layton's turn.
He walked to the podium. The lights were bright. The crowd was watching. He could see his parents in the front row, their faces expectant and proud. He could see his teammates scattered throughout the room, their eyes on him. He could see the scouts in the back, their expressions unreadable.
He took a deep breath. His hands were shaking. He gripped the edges of the podium to steady himself.
"I want to thank everyone for being here tonight," Layton began. "This season has been incredible. We've worked hard. We've fought hard. And we've achieved something amazing together."
The crowd applauded. Layton waited for the noise to die down.
"But I need to tell you something. Something I should have told you a long time ago." His voice wavered. He took another breath. "I've spent my whole life pretending to be someone I'm not. I've spent my whole life hiding. And I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being afraid."
He looked at Spencer. He looked at Zavier. They nodded. They were ready.
"I'm in love," Layton said. "I'm in love with my teammates. With Spencer and Zavier."
The room went silent. Layton could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. He could see his mother's face go white. He could see his father's jaw tighten.
He continued. "I know this might be hard for some of you. I know it's going to be hard for my family. But I can't pretend anymore. I can't hide who I am. Who we are."
Spencer stood up. He walked to the podium. Zavier followed. They stood on either side of Layton, their hands finding his.
"We're together," Spencer said. His voice was steady. "All three of us. And we know it's unconventional. We know it's confusing. But we don't care. We're in love."
Zavier said, "We hope you can accept us. But even if you can't, we're not going to hide."
Silence. The room was frozen. No one moved. No one spoke.
Then Coach Miller stood up. He started clapping. He was the first one.
The rest of the team followed. They were all clapping. Drew Matthews was cheering. Terry King was wiping his eyes. Sophie Gibson was crying happy tears. Reggie Tanner was clapping so hard his hands were red. Skyler Bradley was nodding, his sharp eyes glistening.
The scouts in the back were nodding too. They looked uncertain, but they were nodding.
Layton's parents stood up. They walked toward the podium. Layton's heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst.
His father reached him first. He put his hands on Layton's shoulders. His eyes were wet. "You're my son," he said. "I love you. I'm sorry it took me so long to understand."
His mother hugged him. She hugged Spencer. She hugged Zavier. "Welcome to the family," she whispered. "Both of you."
Layton broke down. He started sobbing. He couldn't help it. The relief was overwhelming. The love was overwhelming. He had been so afraid for so long, and now it was all over. They had accepted him. They had accepted them.
Spencer wrapped his arms around him. Zavier wrapped his arms around both of them. They stood at the podium, holding each other, while the room erupted into applause.
The banquet ended. Everyone was talking about it. The news would spread. But for now, they were happy. All three of them.
They left together. They drove to the cabin. They were going to celebrate. Just the three of them.
Spencer sat in the back seat, watching Layton and Zavier in the front. He couldn't stop smiling.
He had been so afraid. He had been so broken. But now he was here, with these two men, and everything was going to be okay.
They arrived at the cabin. The snow was falling. The lights were on. The fire was already crackling in the fireplace.
Layton unlocked the door and they walked inside. The cabin was warm and cozy and perfect. Spencer kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the couch.
Layton sat down next to him. Zavier sat down on his other side.
"That was incredible," Spencer said. "I can't believe it went so well."
Layton shook his head. "I can't believe it either. I was so scared. I thought they were going to hate me."
Zavier said, "They didn't hate you. They loved you. They accepted you."
Layton's eyes were shining. "I know. I still can't believe it."
Spencer reached out and took his hand. "It's real. It's happening. We're together. We're open. We're free."
Zavier said, "We're free."
They sat in silence for a long time, holding hands, the fire crackling in the background. The snow continued to fall outside. The world was quiet and peaceful.
Finally, Layton said, "I want to celebrate. I want to celebrate us."
Spencer's heart skipped. "What do you have in mind?"
Layton looked at him. His eyes were dark and full of want. "I want to be with you. Both of you. I want to show you how much I love you."
Zavier's breath caught. "Are you sure?"
Layton nodded. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
Spencer's body was on fire. He had been waiting for this moment for so long. He had been dreaming about it. He wanted this. He wanted them.
He said, "I want it too. I want both of you."
They moved to the bedroom. The room was large and warm, with a king-sized bed and soft lighting. Spencer stood in the middle of the room, his heart pounding, his body trembling.
Layton walked toward him. His hands found Spencer's waist. His lips found Spencer's neck. "You're so beautiful," he whispered. "I've wanted this for so long."
Zavier came up behind Spencer. His hands found Spencer's shoulders. His lips found Spencer's ear. "We've both wanted this. We've both wanted you."
Spencer's knees went weak. He leaned back into Zavier's chest. "I want you too. Both of you. I've wanted this since the beginning."
Layton kissed him. It was soft and slow and full of promise. Zavier kissed his neck. His hands moved down Spencer's chest, unbuttoning his shirt.
They undressed each other slowly. Each piece of clothing was removed with care, with reverence, with love. Spencer stood naked between them, his body exposed, his heart open.
Layton stepped back and looked at him. "You're perfect. Every inch of you."
Zavier said, "We're going to worship you. Every part of you. All night."
Spencer's body arched toward them. He wanted this. He wanted them. He wanted everything.
Layton laid him down on the bed. He knelt between Spencer's legs. He kissed his stomach, his hips, his thighs. Zavier knelt beside them. His hands found Spencer's chest, his nipples, his neck.
They were synchronized. They were moving together. It was like they had done this a thousand times.
Layton looked up. "Tell me what you want."
Spencer said, "Everything. I want everything."
Layton took him into his mouth. Spencer arched his back. His hands found Zavier's hair. He was so overwhelmed. So wanted.
Zavier kissed him while Layton worked. Spencer could feel both of them, could feel their love surrounding him, consuming him. He was drowning in them and he never wanted to come up for air.
Layton worked him until he was trembling. Then Zavier took over. Layton kissed Zavier while Spencer watched. They were all connected. All together.
Zavier laid Spencer on his back. He was between Spencer's legs. Layton was above him, kissing him.
Zavier entered him. Slow. Torturous. Spencer cried out.
Layton watched. His hand was on himself. He was stroking in time with Zavier's movements.
Spencer reached for Layton. "I want you too. Inside me."
Layton hesitated. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't. I want it. I want both of you."
Zavier said, "We'll make it work. We'll be careful."
They positioned themselves. Zavier was behind Spencer, inside him. Layton was in front. Spencer took Layton into his mouth. It was overwhelming. It was perfect.
They moved together. It was a rhythm. A dance. Spencer's hands were in Zavier's hair. He was moaning around Layton. He was so full. So loved.
Zavier came first. His body shuddered. He was still inside Spencer. He was still moving. He didn't want it to end.
Layton pulled out. He stroked himself. He came against Spencer's chest. Spencer followed, his body arching, his voice raw.
They collapsed together. They were covered in sweat and come and tears. It was the most beautiful thing Spencer had ever seen.
They lay in the bed, tangled together. The fire crackled in the other room. The snow continued to fall outside.
Layton said, "I love you. I love both of you so much."
Spencer said, "I love you too. I didn't think I was capable of this. But I am. With you. With both of you."
Zavier said, "I love you. I love this. I love us."
They fell asleep together. The fire burned low. The snow fell outside. They were home.
Spencer woke up in the middle of the night. Layton was on one side of him. Zavier was on the other. They were both holding him.
He lay there in the darkness and felt his heart swell. He had been through so much. He had been hurt and betrayed and abandoned. But now he was here. Now he had this. Now he had them.
He kissed Layton's forehead. He kissed Zavier's cheek.
They stirred. They woke up. They looked at him.
Layton said, "What's wrong?"
Spencer said, "Nothing. Everything. I just love you so much. I can't believe this is real."
Zavier said, "It's real. We're real. We're together."
Layton said, "Forever."
Spencer said, "Forever."