Page 33

ERIK

MARCH

Distance in a relationship is tough as hell, but Luke being my long-distance boyfriend is a million times better than him being my long-distance crush.

Looking back, we were both idiots before we got together and basically acted like a couple without the label.

Now that we actually are official, everything feels…

more. The flirting is freer and way more intense.

Our conversations are deeper. Our dirty calls are somehow even hotter.

And those good morning texts from him at one in the afternoon never fail to put a smile on my face. I spent months wanting Luke, and now I’m all his. Having a boyfriend rules.

Today, we had our usual morning call as he got ready for work, and then I lounged around doing nothing. The season ended with a whimper for Alvik since we got trounced in the quarterfinals, which stings, but at least we aren’t being moved down a league.

Silver linings, right? And at least now I have a ton of free time to chill, work out whenever I want, and catch up on sleep.

At around six, Luke texts me again.

Luke Tremblay

Finally heard back from HR

Only took them a month to send me the right form to request a change to my payroll base

I filled it out and sent it to my manager this morning. Hopefully things go quickly

That’s amazing! So happy to hear that

I punch the air in celebration. His company jerked him around and made him go to something like fifty different people in order to get the ball rolling on transferring his job here, so it’s a huge relief and a huge boost to my morale to hear that things are progressing.

Luke and I agreed that we’d stay quiet about our relationship until his move to Sweden was on more solid ground.

Our feelings for each other haven’t changed, but we both know that long-distance relationships are a lot more stable when there’s a concrete plan to reunite.

I’m grabbing dinner with my family tonight since Eva is home from boarding school for the week, so the timing works out perfectly.

It’ll be a great chance to tell them about me and Luke.

The drive over to Lidingo is quick, and I pull up to my parents’ house a few minutes early. I let myself in, and I’m immediately greeted by Eva, who feigns reluctance while giving me a hug.

“Mom and Dad are buying wine before the liquor store closes,” she says, stepping into the kitchen.

“Oh, okay. How are classes going?”

“Fine.”

That’s exactly how I used to answer that question at sixteen, so I don’t push.

“What have you been doing with your life?” she continues. “Do you have a boyfriend yet?”

Teenagers, I swear, that’s all they care about.

“Actually, I do. I was going to mention that to everyone?—”

Eva smirks. “Is it Nils?”

I snort. “No, it isn’t fucking Nils,” I say, laughing. “His name is Luke, and we met when I was in Canada.”

“Yeah, yeah, I was kidding. Those social media edits of you two are something else, though—” She pauses abruptly. “Hang on. You said you met him in Canada? You moved back in October .”

My parents choose that moment to come home, and then I have three pairs of eyes boring into me.

Trying to project an air of confidence, I stand up straighter. “Yeah. We’re doing long distance for now.”

Eva breaks the silence that’s blanketing the house. “You said his name is Luke, right?”

“Uh-huh. What are you doing?”

She grabs her phone. “Following him on social media. I’m assuming the only Luke you follow is him.”

“Eva, no!” It’s too late.

“Ugh, he has a private account. Show me what he looks like!” she demands.

Chuckling, I open up the album on my phone that automatically collects every photo containing Luke. “Here you go.”

Eva accepts the phone and opens the first picture, which is the one Nils took of us when we visited Gamla Stan. “Aww, you guys are so cute together,” she says. “Wait. This is Stockholm.” Eva puts my phone down. “He visited .”

“He visited you?” Dad asks.

“He did. Anyway, what’s new with you, Eva? Are you ready for year-end exams?” My attempt at diverting the conversation is totally weak, but it’s worth a try.

“Not so fast,” says Dad. “I think we all want to know more about Luke.”

I groan. “Why is this turning into an interrogation?”

Mom speaks up. “You were sad and mopey when you came back because you had to leave him, and now we find out that he visited you and that you’re together. Excuse us for being interested.” She’s smiling, even though her words are serious.

Eva gasps, and it’s one of those over-the-top reactions that’s done more for effect than anything else. “You liked him for so long and now you’re finally together! That’s so sweet!” She jumps up and runs over to me, giving me a violent, shaky hug.

“Oh, come on, it isn’t that dramatic,” I counter, even though I know the way Luke and I started dating might be a tad dramatic.

“Wait a second.” Mom pours herself a glass of wine. “Does that mean you’re trying to move back to Canada?”

“Not really. I mean, I wouldn’t turn down an NHL contract, but that’s not on the cards. He’s trying to come here.”

“He’s moving here for you ?” Eva asks.

I scoff. “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, I’ve always seen you as my sweaty older brother who’d inhale food and plod around the house at strange hours. Not an ideal candidate for a swoony romance.”

“Well, that sweaty older brother has a boyfriend and you’re still single, so shove it.”

“Ugh, fine. For real though, I’m happy you found someone. I thought you never would.”

Taken aback, I look to my parents for support, only to find them nodding along with Eva.

“I’m so glad to find out that my own family has such little faith in my dating life,” I grumble.

Mom takes a sip of wine. “Erik, you’re a handsome young man?—”

Eva interrupts. “Yeah, if you ask his fan account.”

“No.” I cut in. “We do not talk about the stupid fan account.”

“What fan account?” Dad asks, and Eva hovers her phone in front of him, presumably with the offending page pulled up. If I have a stalker who wants to murder me, now is the ideal time for them to strike.

“Okay, as I was saying,” Mom starts, “you’re… someone with a fan account, but you always seemed too busy with hockey to find anyone.”

“Only liking guys kind of narrows my options down, as does moving across the world every two years,” I mutter, grabbing a beer from the fridge.

“But then Luke happened,” Dad says, and I nod. “What happened there?”

“Nothing much. We met, hung out a lot, and couldn’t fall back to being friends after I had to move back to Sweden.”

“And now he’s moving here less than a year later.” Mom puts her wine down and rests against the counter, facing me.

“Sure, when you put it like that , it sounds wild, but he isn’t being rash. That’s why it’s taking a while for him to come over. Planning and stuff takes time.”

Dad sits down. “That’s a huge decision.”

“Exactly. And if anyone should be concerned, it’s him . Moving was his idea.”

Mom sighs. “Erik, forgive us for being a little concerned. Think about how it sounds to us: you suddenly mention that you’re dating someone, he’s in another country, and he says he’ll come here to be with you.

I hope you both know how hard it is to find a job here without fluent Swedish. Does he even work? How is he?—”

“Mom, stop.” I take a few breaths to steady myself before continuing.

“Yes, he works. He isn’t quitting his job.

His company lets him work from anywhere in the world.

He makes more money than I do. I’m certain he isn’t trying to scam me because he would have given up in favor of an easier target long before now. ”

Finally, everyone is silent.

Until Eva isn’t. “He makes more than you ?”

I give her a terse nod.

She snickers. “Damn, Erik has a sugar daddy.”

“Christ, Eva. Luke isn’t my sugar daddy.”

“He could be, though. Luke accepted my follow request, and he posts from everywhere .” She turns her phone to our parents. “This is him in Korea. I’ve always wanted to go to Korea.”

“Yeah, I heard the northern part is beautiful. You should go there,” I mutter.

Dad chokes on his sip of beer and Mom drags a hand over her face, but I don’t care.

“Why is he moving here ? It’s so cold and dark,” Eva says, changing the subject.

“Luke actually likes it here, and he visited in February . He said it was nice and warm.” Luke was probably kidding, but it was rather pleasant when he visited.

“Seriously? He liked it here in the winter ?”

“He did. What about it?”

“I’m sorry—your boyfriend has fucking Stockholm syndrome.”

The rest of my family groans while Eva leans back in her chair, smug and crossing her arms.

“Making bad jokes is supposed to be my job,” Dad says, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Okay, guys, we’re getting a little off track here,” Mom says. “Erik, we’re glad that you found a nice guy, but there still is a lot that’s up in the air. What if his visa doesn’t end up working? The government here is getting stricter with immigration.”

“Then Erik will marry him,” Eva says, acting like it’s a done deal.

“Should I?” I speculate out loud. Marrying a guy I met less than a year ago is a huge deal, and yeah, I’m not actually considering it.

Still, Eva firmly tells me yes at the same time Dad says “no, don’t.”

Mom frowns. “That’s very impulsive, Erik.”

“I know, I know.” Throwing my hands up, I sigh. “I’m not going to marry him, don’t worry. He’ll move here on his own merit, and then you’ll meet him.”

I can’t wait.