Page 50 of Back in the Game (Pride in the Game #1)

He frowned and called again, pacing slowly around Jett’s living room, his socked feet making soft sounds against the floor. Again—two rings, then nothing.

Without waiting for a reply, he hit call for the third time, unease settling heavily in his chest.

Two rings and nothing.

“What?”

Harrison didn’t say a word. He’d learned that silence worked better with Arlo than any lecture ever could.

His parents had always yelled when things got tense—when Harrison stayed quiet, it got through to him.

Maybe it was the absence of judgment, or maybe it just made Arlo feel heard in a way that shouting never had.

“Sorry,” said Arlo. Then silence.

“Tell me what happened, kid.”

There was noise in the background—muffled voices, the clang of gear, and the echo of footsteps on tile.

Harrison could tell Arlo was still near the locker room, but tucked away somewhere more private.

A bathroom stall, maybe, judging by how the sound bounced off the walls and the slight echo in his voice .

It made it easier to hear the hitch in Arlo’s voice when he finally spoke.

“My parents called me.”

Harrison’s heart rate spiked, that familiar surge of irrational anger rising fast and hot inside. Just the thought of the people he used to call family—those selfish, toxic pieces of shit—was enough to make his hands curl into fists at his sides.

“What did they want?” Harrison asked gruffly, unable to keep the irritation out of his tone. “Money?”

“Yeah.” Arlo let out a shaky breath. “They asked me for a hundred grand. I was so stunned I couldn’t respond before they just…moved on to the next topic like it was nothing.”

Harrison rubbed his face, preparing himself for whatever Arlo was about to say.

“There was this picture the press took of me,” Arlo said, his voice tight.

“A couple of teammates and I got swarmed, and Colson’s wife got spooked and grabbed onto me.

Colson’s one of my defensemen. Anyway, the shot made it look like I was shielding her like she was my girlfriend, because I had my arm around her. ”

He exhaled sharply. “My parents didn’t know she was married.

My mom went on this huge rant about how happy she was that I’d finally gotten over my homosexual phase and was dating a pretty girl.

Then she started talking about grandbabies and asking when I was bringing her home to meet them.

Just...endless bullshit about how we were going to be a happy family again now that I’d changed .

How they forgave me because I was finally normal . ”

The Townsends were the luckiest people in the world, and they didn’t even know it. If Harrison was still in Nova Scotia, he wasn’t sure what he’d do, but he knew it wouldn’t be good. The rage curling inside him made that much clear.

His angry train of thought was stopped when he heard Arlo’s breath catch in a sob. He was heartbroken for his cousin.

Fuck, he wanted to go to Montreal to see him and make sure he was okay.

“Harri…son,” Arlo said through harsh intakes of air. “Can I ask you…something? ”

“Yeah,” said Harrison as he clenched and unclenched his hand.

“Can I…change my last name to Killinger? Would that be too weird for you?”

His eyes burned. Harrison pinched the bridge of his nose to distract from the pain.

“It’s just…my father went on about how he was so proud that the name Townsend was on the back of an NHL jersey, like he was part of my accomplishment.

I realized it was the exact opposite of how I felt as he said it.

Townsend isn’t a name that I have pride in, and it’s not a name that should share in my accomplishments.

The name I should be wearing…I think it should be Killinger. ”

Harrison had to sit down. He couldn’t describe the emotions that were going through him if he tried.

“You were the one who pushed me,” Arlo continued.

“You were the one who took care of me and made sure I went to class and practice. You are the one who got me to where I am now, and I know it’s stupid, but I feel like I’ll go crazy if I have to wear this name.

Knowing my parents are sitting there watching my games with a smug smile is freaking me out.

They disowned me because they thought I was broken, and I want to return the favour by disowning them because they’re assholes. ”

Arlo stopped crying when his sadness shifted to anger, but Harrison could hear that he was nervous too.

He didn’t even have to think about it.

“Arlo, use my name. It’s not stupid, not even close. You’re brave for taking the last step to get away from them. They win whenever you touch the ice with their family name on your back. I should have told you to change it years ago.”

The sniffling returned, followed by a breathy, “Thank you.”

Harrison forced himself to relax and relieve the tension in his shoulders. He wasn’t ready to let go of his anger, but he needed to put it on the back burner until he was sure everything was okay.

“Do you need me to come see you?”

There was a frantic sound on the other line, and Harrison could almost see Arlo shaking his head frantically.

“No, I’m okay. My captain has my back. He took the phone from me when he realized what was going on and very politely told my parents to fuck off and never contact me again.

I was torn up about changing my name because I wanted to ask you, but I didn’t know how.

I played like shit tonight…I should have just asked you before the game started. ”

“It happens to the best of us, kid.” Harrison slumped into the couch cushions and stared at the insanely high ceilings. “We have a day off after the game tomorrow, and then we’re going on a string of away games. You should visit. I know you have a day off too.”

Arlo fell silent, minus the sniffling.

“Okay, I think I will. I miss you guys. Mostly Jett, but it will be nice to see you too.”

“Jackass,” said Harrison, grinning.

“Jerk.”

Jett reappeared, looking flushed from his speedy shower, wearing only a pair of grey sweatpants and a smile. Harrison was momentarily distracted by his gorgeous boyfriend, so much so that he almost didn’t hear what Arlo said.

“Can you translate that?”

“Huh?” Harrison tore his eyes away from Jett so he could process his thoughts again. “Translate what?”

“How did I botch it?” Arlo grumbled loud enough that Jett could hear it when he sat beside Harrison. “I hate French. Ironically, I ended up in Montreal and I can barely speak any of it.”

Jett motioned for Harrison to put the conversation on speakerphone, and he complied.

“Hi Arlo,” said Jett in his cherry tone. “What did you need help with?”

“Jett! Thank God you’re here. Harrison is useless.”

He and Jett exchanged glances; Harrison’s expression was one of exasperation, and Jett’s expression was one of amusement.

“Like I was telling Harrison, during the game some asshole on the Florida team said something to me, and I’m pretty sure I know what he said, but I want to hear the official translation.”

“Lay it on me then,” said Jett. “I’m fluent in French.”

Arlo repeated the words, and since Harrison was listening this time, he understood .

“Uh…” Jett looked to Harrison for help, but Harrison was staying out of this one. “That loosely translates to you have a pretty ass, but your face is dumb. ”

“Tabarnak, are you for real?!” Arlo sputtered with anger. “I thought he called me a dumbass. I would have accepted that, but saying I have a nice ass and a dumb face is crossing a fucking line.”

“Who said it to you?” Harrison asked. “What number was he wearing?”

“Five. It’s a good number for him because he certainly acts like a toddler.”

“Oh, Loic Beauregarde,” said Jett. “It’s funny that he was giving you grief. He’s normally a pretty chill guy, unless you really piss him off and then he chirps like a motherfucker.”

Harrison knew of Beauregarde, the defenceman for the Florida Barracudas.

He was the only player he liked on that team, if only because Beauregarde refused to speak English for any interviews, and always fucked around with his answers.

They would ask him a stupid question like What do you want to do better next game?

And Beauregarde would say something sarcastic like, All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth .

Even though he was on an American team, the people of Quebec loved him. They got a kick out of how much of an asshole he was.

Harrison wasn’t surprised he had rubbed Arlo the wrong way, but a stiff breeze could accomplish the same thing if his cousin was in a bad mood, so it’s not like the man had to try hard.

“Teach me some French words that I can use against him the next game we play,” said Arlo. “étienne refused to help me when I asked him because he’s a prude.”

Harrison doubted that. Arlo seemed to know one solid French curse already. étienne was probably trying to protect his rookie from getting his ass kicked.

“I’ll text you a few,” said Jett like the traitor he was. “Are you still at the arena? Why does it sound all echoey?”

“I’m sulking in the bathroom, yeah,” said Arlo. “étienne is pacing outside, so I really should go, but you better text me those words, Fraser.”

“Bossy little shit.” Jett scowled at the phone like Arlo could see his face. “I’ll send you stuff soon. Try not to get into any more fights. ”

“Sure, dude. I’ll be good.”

Harrison didn’t believe him.

“Let’s hang out soon,” said Arlo. “And Harrison—thanks.”

Arlo hung up without saying goodbye before Jett could ask any questions. The second the call ended, Jett turned on him.

“Thanks for what?”

He didn’t know if he could say it without getting choked up. His family was such a touchy subject for him and Arlo, and he sometimes didn’t know how to explain things without digging up more trauma. Harrison wished he had a father like Jett’s dad sometimes. It had to be so much easier.

“Arlo’s parents are…fishing for fame and money,” Harrison said, feeling tired. “Arlo was upset before the game started, hence why he got into a fight. He wants to separate from them, so he asked if he could have my last name since I practically adopted him.”

He was expecting Jett to be happy, but he wasn’t expecting his eyes to fill with tears, turning their colour into liquid gold.

Jett took his hand, holding it tightly before leaning up to brush their lips together. “That’s an amazing idea. You’re a great guy, Harrison.”

“There’s nothing great about what I did.

” Harrison couldn’t stop himself from twisting his finger into one of Jett’s blond curls.

“I love Arlo. Changing his name to Killinger not only feels right, but it’s also a great way to crush his parents like they crushed him when he was a kid.

They deserve every second of misery that’s coming to them. ”

Jett frowned with disappointment. “They’re that bad?”

Harrison’s laugh was the furthest thing from amused.

“They saw a picture of him standing next to his teammate’s wife and called to thank him for finally getting over his homosexual phase.”

“Oh, fuck them,” Jett growled. “Does Arlo want to add Fraser to his name too? I don’t even care, I’ll legally adopt him. They’re not going anywhere near him ever again.”

Harrison found himself smiling as the tension slowly lifted. Jett’s viciousness was becoming one of his new favourite things.

“When we go back to Nova Scotia, I think we should pay them a visit,” Jett continued, ignoring Harrison as he tugged him close enough to barrage him with kisses on the top of his head. “If they open the door and we’re there dry humping on their front porch, it will scar them for life.”

“Or we could do what everyone else does and send them a bag of dog shit in the mail,” said Harrison. “Showing up will get the cops called on us. You have a career to think about.”

“What are the cops going to do? Arrest us for public indecency?”

Harrison chuckled and gave up on kissing Jett until he was in a better mood. “That, or trespassing.”

“Dicks.”

Harrison couldn’t agree more. He thought the topic might be dropped, but then Jett began chuckling darkly. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but he asked anyway.

“What?”

Jett gave him an innocent smile that was a little unnerving.

“I was just thinking—I might buy some hockey cards and signatures from the players to send them. But you know, only all the gay players.”

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Harrison relaxed against the couch and grinned. “You’re devious as hell, Fraser.”

“They fucking started it,” said Jett, snarling. “You come for one of us, you come for all of us.”

And wasn’t that the truth.

If there was one place that Harrison had always felt accepted, it was on the ice with a group of guys that he knew would have his back.

The Townsends had no idea what hornet nest they were disturbing by fucking with Arlo, and that was just from the Sunbursts, let alone every gay person in the league.

“Fuck it,” said Harrison. “Let’s go to the store. We have hockey cards to buy.”

It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough to quell the anger wriggling around in his insides when he thought of Arlo’s parents, but doing this one tiny thing was a start. Death by a thousand cuts still ended in death. The Townsends were about to find that out.