Page 38

DAMIEN

A fter a quick breakfast, Silas and I followed Dave as we headed to campus for the meeting with Nora and the school’s media team. We arrived at the president’s office at nine, and that’s when reality hit.

Last night we told the hockey team, today the press release about my relationship with Silas was a go; our marriage was officially public news.

There were discussions about scheduling interviews, how to answer questions from reporters, and when to comment on socials going forward.

Cillian Wexford, the journalist hired for the write up about the hockey camp, the one who caught me and Silas kissing, was back for a formal interview.

Unlike the media team, who knew him, Silas and I greeted him with cool politeness.

When it came time to sit down with us, Cillian was just as reserved, probably because we didn’t give him the college scandal he was so keen to write about.

“Why don’t you guys wear rings?” Cillian asked us.

“Hockey players don’t wear jewelry for the most part, even in our off time,” Silas replied. “It’s a safety thing and then it becomes a habit. We save it for special occasions.”

I was more than impressed with how calm and cool my husband was the entire time.

Not only that, but he was protective of me too.

Whether that was a word, a look, or a touch of his hand.

It worked both ways. Being in the spotlight wasn’t easy but he seemed to take the questions, and everything else, in stride.

The longer I sat with him, the more I realized that while our wedding might have been impulsive, my decision to choose him wasn’t.

I knew, without a doubt, that this man was right for me. I’d never felt surer of anything in my life.

But after two hours of meetings and question after question, my head began to throb.

The reporter left, and Silas and I were dismissed.

Thank fuck. I needed to move; I had to do something, anything.

Whenever I was faced with a difficult situation, I didn’t sit and wait for the answer to come to me, I acted.

Whether that was on the ice as a player, on the bench as a coach, or when it came to my personal life, like eloping with Silas, I didn’t talk about it; I did it.

It was the reason I vibed with hockey, and it was how I built my life back up after my injury.

Silas and I were so alike in that way. We didn’t let life happen to us; we shaped our life.

When we stood up to leave, I could feel the eyes of the entire office on us.

Most of the attention seemed friendly, or at least, polite, but not all of it.

Not that any of the staff would say anything while Nora was in the room.

Her stance was clear, and she wasn’t one to be questioned.

But while I was used to the spotlight in my playing days, this perusal felt different.

With my ex, I never thought twice about taking her hand in public. No one noticed or cared.

Not anymore. Not that I’d waste any time on what other people thought.

Fuck that.

There was only one opinion that mattered, and that was Silas.

We stepped into the elevator and when the doors shut, I breathed out a long sigh of relief. I turned to my husband, and only then noticed the tense expression on his face.

“Are you okay?” I asked him.

“Yeah, I’m good. But it was a lot of talking. Like, a lot. I’m not used to being the focus of everyone’s conversation. My head’s spinning in a hundred different directions.”

“You were amazing. I’m so damn proud of you.”

“Same, baby.”

I squeezed his hand and pulled him into my arms. He notched his face against my neck.

“You know what we need right now?” I whispered.

“A beer?”

I chuckled. “That too. But I’m thinking something much colder.”

Silas leaned back and stared at me.

“Let’s hit the ice,” I explained.

Silas grinned and kissed me. “I like that idea, but first, we need to head into town. There’s something I’m missing.”

I shook my head. “But all your equipment’s in the locker room.”

My husband held up his left hand and pointed to his ring finger.

“Not all of it.”

Silas

“Wow. Just… wow.”

Damien chuckled and pulled me in close.

“You’ve said ‘wow’ ten times in a row, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I—” I paused and studied my left hand. “I can’t stop staring. It’s so real. We’re married. It’s right here on our hands for everyone to see. I love it.”

“Me too.”

We’d entered Sutton’s one and only jewelry store—a tiny but elegant shop named Kismet—and it took no time at all for us to decide on our ring choice; classic gold bands with a hammered finish. The owner, Erik Kismet—coolest last name ever—ran the shop with his husband, Sam.

“If you’d like them engraved it’ll take two weeks,” Erik informed us. “Or you can decide on that later. There’s no rush.”

I looked at Damien and he nodded.

“Let’s do the engraving,” I replied. “We can wait.”

We slid the rings off and passed them back to Erik.

“After all, hockey players don’t wear jewelry,” Damien quipped, sliding his arm around my waist.

“I said on special occasions,” I returned and kissed him. “And we’ll have plenty of those.”

“You two are so cute together,” Erik announced. “Is that how you met? You’re both hockey players?”

Damien groaned and I bit back a laugh.

“We did meet because of hockey, yes.”

The PR training this morning was kicking in…

“I sense a bigger story going on here,” Erik replied as he pointed between the two of us.

I chuckled. “I promise, we’ll tell you the whole thing when we pick up our rings.”

Erik nodded. “So, back to the engraving?—”

We settled for simplicity: Taken .

Was it usual? No, but then nothing about our relationship could be called that. It was perfect for us, and that’s all that mattered.

Once we were done at the store, I texted Finn to let him know about the press release.When he asked what I was up to, I mentioned that Damien and I were in town but headed for the rink. It didn’t take us long to drive back to campus.

While Damien headed to his office to grab his skates, I walked to the locker room and got changed.

I met him back on the ice a few minutes later and we warmed up together. Damien took his time, and then he watched as I ramped up my workout.

Suddenly, Finn and all the guys from the camp appeared, ready and eager to join us.

“I guess we’re doing an extra day of camp this week,” Damien quipped.

Finn skated up and offered his hand to me. “We had to see the newlyweds for ourselves.”

I shook his hand, and he pulled me in for a hug.

“Congrats, Si. I still can’t believe it, but you look so fucking happy.”

My face flushed as I glanced over at Damien. “I am.”

“They’re both smiling like crazy, so I know the news is real,” Ethan added with a smirk.

After all the guys offered Damien and I congratulations and hugs, we got right into our drills. But I was clearly still reeling from the events of this morning because next thing I knew, Dane whizzed by me and scored.

“He got the drop on you, Banning! Follow the puck, remember? Run the drill again.”

Damien’s words gave me a weird sense of déjà vu, but at first, I didn’t even realize that he was talking directly to me. Until everyone in the camp came to a stop and looked my way.

“What?” I asked.

“He’s talking to you, bud.” Finn chuckled.

“Holy shit,” I exclaimed.

Everyone started laughing, Damien included.

“Now it hits you?” Finn replied and nudged me.

“Now it’s fucking real. Even more than the rings.”

“Rings?” Finn asked. “Where? Let’s see them.”

“We’re having them engraved so it’ll take a few weeks,” I added.

“Okay, less talking, more working!” Damien called out.

An hour into our practice and I was in the zone. And it was clear to me, and the guys, that nothing on the ice had changed; I was back to playing hard and Damien worked me harder.

When we took a break to hydrate, Damien skated off to the boards and pulled out his phone. The relaxed expression on his face from earlier was replaced by a glare I knew all too well.

I skated over to him. “What’s going on?”

“Lots of comments on the press release,” he whispered. “And some of it is nasty. As we expected.”

I yanked my gloves off and motioned for him to pass me his phone. “Let me see.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I gave that glare right back at him.

“Don’t do that, Damien. Don’t try to protect me from this . You know I can handle it.”

Damien nodded and reluctantly passed me his phone.

There was our photo along with the college’s official announcement.

My first thought was damn, we look hot together .

Then I read through some of the comments, which I refused to give voice to, and my stomach dropped out.

Was I surprised by the hate? Not at all.

It was the reason so many queer students and athletes hesitated to come out, me included.

I remembered when Dane came out, along with Jace, the first guys on our team to do so.

While most of the people in our circle and at the school were supportive, there were always haters.

Always. The only thing we could do was stand tall and refuse to back down.

Getting hit on the ice was one thing, but off it? It took a whole other level of courage.

Did I give a shit what anyone else thought? No.

I gave Damien’s phone back and skated to the bench to grab mine. I tapped on my socials, opened my photo app and began posting pics.

“What are you doing?” Damien asked as he slid up to me.

I selected the photo of us in the jewelry store with our wedding bands on. And another pic of us at his house, sitting on the deck, and one of us kissing too. If people wanted to talk, we’d give them something to talk about.

“I’m doing what we planned. I’m making it known that I’m proud as fuck to be your husband.” I showed him my posts and kept scrolling for more pictures. “And anyone who doesn’t like it can screw off.”

Damien’s tense expression finally eased. “Get in your opponent’s zone and don’t let up.”

“Exactly.”

“If we weren’t surrounded by your teammates right now, I’d kiss you so hard,” he whispered, his husky confession making me shiver.

I stared into his eyes, and I saw… everything.

His love, and his vulnerability too.

“We can’t let these haters win,” I replied. “This is our life, not theirs.”

“It’s going to be rough for a while and I… I’m worried you’re going to question your decision to be with me,” Damien admitted quietly.

This man… he totally wrecked me. This wasn’t only about us, but about the past. Damien’s ex left him when he was at his lowest point. And he was all up in his head that it was going to happen again.

“No, baby,” I whispered. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m with you and that’s final.”

I slid one hand to his back to reassure him. It wasn’t a kiss, but it was the best I could do for now.

“Stubborn as always,” he quipped, his smile making a comeback.

“That’s right.”

“I’m so damn lucky.”

“It goes both ways,” I admitted. “And remember, I’m new to being out too. But we don’t win by easing off, right? Or letting these stupid comments divide us. We win together, or not at all.”

“So, you do listen during practice.”

“I remember every single word you’ve ever said to me. Every word, every argument?—”

“Discussion,” Damien corrected.

“That too.” I smirked.

“Hey Rufus!” Ethan suddenly called out from across the ice. “Are you gonna play with us or what?”

“You heard him.” Damien chuckled and crossed his arms. “Get back to work, Banning.”

“You got it, Coach.”