Page 52 of Hockey Halloween

Brock

Brock took the steps up to his apartment two at a time.

Yeah, there was an elevator, but he was only on the third floor, and it was a nice little mini-workout whenever he got home.

He rounded the last corner and pushed open the door to the hallway, only to nearly run over the person coming from the elevator.

“Sorry,” he said, reaching to help them steady the giant box in their hands.

“No worries.”

When Brock realized it was Felix, his cute neighbor, that he’d almost sent flying, he winced. Felix was tall, nearly as tall as Brock, but lean. He wouldn’t stand a chance if Brock accidentally checked him in the hallway.

“Since you're here”—he pushed the box into Brock’s hands and started toward his apartment—“you might as well make yourself useful.”

The box was heavy , and Brock immediately reevaluated Felix's strength. “What’s in here?”

“Halloween decorations.”

“Why do you have a metric ton of Halloween decorations?”

Felix just laughed, that sweet laugh that always made Brock melt a little.

“Because Halloween is the best holiday in the world.” They arrived at Felix’s apartment, and the little alcove around the front door already looked like Jack Skellington had thrown up all over it: a skeleton hung from the door knocker, a plastic jack-o-lantern stood watch next to a real one, the door itself was decorated with purple, black, and orange streamers along with stickers of creepy eyes, and the doorknob had a fake spider web.

Brock gaped at it, then looked down warily at the box in his hands. “What’s left, an actual mummy?”

Felix's smile brightened. “That would be awesome . Unfortunately, it’s just my cauldron that spews fake fog all down the hallway and my scarecrow that hands out candy.” He winked at Brock. “Really helps get you in the Halloween spirit, right?”

“Right.” He gingerly put down the box. Glad to be of service, but now sure he was no longer wanted, he started to back away. “Have fun?—”

“Go ahead and open it up.” Felix was unlocking his door and pushing inside. “I’ll go grab us some drinks. Beer or tea?”

“Uhm…” Were those really the only options? “Tea? Please?”

He opened the box, saw he had zero idea how to set any of it up, and decided it best not to risk it.

Instead, he stood there awkwardly with his arms crossed, like some sort of hallway gargoyle on guard.

At one point, an older woman left her apartment, did a double take when she saw him, then waved pleasantly before heading to the elevator.

Honestly, he wasn’t sure what she found stranger, the decorations or Brock.

Felix returned with two steaming mugs of tea and offered one to Brock.

“I saw your game against Baltimore the other day,” he said.

Brock perked up, pleased to know Felix really had watched the game.

When he’d mentioned it a few days ago, he’d assumed Felix was being polite.

“You don’t look half as big on the ice as you do in person. I guess because everyone’s that big.”

Brock grunted, so he didn’t have to decipher whether that was a compliment or not. When he took a sip, hesitantly bringing the mug to his lips, he found the tea was the perfect temperature.

“That was a good hit against #14 on the other team. Nilsson or something. The commentators wouldn’t stop talking about it and showing it.”

“It was good.” He preened. He wouldn’t say he’d laid the hit on Nilsson because he thought Felix might be watching, but it was definitely a plus that he had seen it.

“And a nice shutout by your goalie. I know the goalies get the credit for those, but the defense definitely plays a part.”

His praise gave Brock goosebumps. “Yeah?”

Felix gave a sheepish laugh. “Sorry, I’m making it sound like I know what I’m talking about. I’m just saying what the commentators said. But you really did look good, though.”

Any disappointment Brock felt was short-lived. Sure, Felix didn’t know hockey, but he’d made the effort to watch the game and understand it anyway. “Thanks,” he said, not sure the word conveyed how touched he was.

“You’re welcome. If you guys played earlier games, I’d watch more often,” Felix said. “We should get started on that last box.”

“We?” he squeaked, remembered he did in fact like Felix with his rusty red hair and dark blue eyes, and this was actually way better than the evening alone he’d planned, and decided he shouldn't question it. “Uhm, sure.”

Brock did very little helping aside from occasionally holding things while Felix did all the actual work.

He didn't even know that you could make an apartment doorway look so good.

It was nice, reminding him of his neighborhood as a kid, where a couple of the families went all out.

One even did a little haunted house in the front yard that he'd loved.

“This looks great,” he said.

“You sound surprised,” Felix teased.

“Because I am. It looks like a professional did it.”

Felix beamed at him. “Thanks. Want me to work my magic on your door?”

“Oh, uhm. I don’t really have any holiday stuff.

I travel a lot, so it never seemed worth it to put it up when I might not be around.

” He felt stupidly embarrassed, like disappointing Felix would be the worst thing in the world.

He didn’t even care about decorations. They looked nice and all, but the effort involved was a real detractor for him.

He’d expected Felix to look disappointed and maybe finally realize Brock wasn’t worth the effort, but instead he waved a hand dismissively. “I’ve got a ton of extra stuff in storage if you need it. But if you’re going to be out of town this year?—”

“I’m not, actually.” Brock remembered his promise to Gwen about the Halloween party...and the extra ticket she’d offered him for a date. He gulped. “My team is throwing a costume party this year.”

Felix’s eyes lit up. “Oh my God , that sounds amazing! That’s the one thing I miss about being a kid, getting to dress up and go trick-or-treating.

A costume party is, like, the adult version.

I only get to dress up for work and we do a little parade through the daycare, but it’s not the same, y'know?”

“Yeah.” He didn’t. “Would you...want to...go to the party?” Brock groaned internally because he sounded like such an idiot, but his heart skipped a beat when Felix’s whole face lit up.

“Really? You’re asking me to a costume party? You know I don’t have the kind of self-restraint to say no to a cute guy asking me anywhere, but to a costume party? I’m absolutely on board!” Then, more shyly than he’d ever seen Felix, he asked, “Are you asking me as a neighbor, or is this a date?”

Brock gulped. Because there was a safe answer and there was a dangerous answer, and he always gave the safe one.

Safe because he wasn’t risking any bad press, didn’t have to worry about his heart getting broken, and could just plow ahead with his career.

Except...Felix seemed like the kind of guy who made the dangerous answer worth it.

He was still wavering, unsure if he was ready for that leap, when he noticed Felix’s smile dim the longer it took to answer. Brock couldn’t stand disappointing Felix, so he gathered his courage.

“As a date,” he said firmly, almost angrily. He coughed and mumbled, “If that’s okay, I mean.”

Felix put a hand on Brock’s arm. He hadn’t realized he’d looked away until then, and he turned back to Felix. “I would love to go on a date with you, Number Nine.”

Brock couldn’t help it: he smiled. This felt better than boxing someone out of the crease. Better than doing the perfect stick lift. Better than...than...winning the Norris!

Wow. He really liked Felix.

“Great,” Brock said. “Now I can actually look forward to the party.”

“Oh my gosh, you’re such a grump. It’ll be great! Let’s go decorate your door to celebrate.”