Page 56 of Hockey Halloween
Brock
Brock wanted to ride with Felix to the arena, but his schedule made it impossible.
Between team meetings, practice, and signing auction items for the party, he wasn’t going to make it home.
He hoped the limo would soften any hurt feelings on Felix’s part, though it killed him a little he had to wait even longer to see what costume Felix had chosen.
He was so into Halloween, he probably went all out.
And here I am, he thought as he changed in the locker room, dressed like a giant stuffed animal.
He stole a glance of himself in the mirror—luckily, blue was a good color on him—before heading out to the main concourse.
A few of the VIPs were there mingling with his teammates.
The team’s backup goalie, captain, and star center were already there, along with about a dozen rookies and AHL players who were no doubt easier to coax into events like this.
A few of them did double takes when they spotted Brock, grinning ear to ear as they watched him walk in, but they were too busy talking to fans and sponsors to say anything.
Yet. He was sure he’d get an earful at some point, plus a lot of chirps via text as soon as pictures hit the Gliders’ socials.
Once he had a glass of wine in hand, he let himself be pulled into a conversation with some fans who started gushing about his hits this season.
Brock couldn’t deny it, he did enjoy the praise and recognition.
It wasn’t often that a defenseman got the same enthusiastic support as the big scorers did.
“Love the costume, by the way,” one woman said, a hand on her heart. “Loved that show when I was a kid! Grumpy Bear was my favorite, too.” He took a selfie with her and her son, and was about to sneak out for some hors d’oeuvres when he heard a squeal that could only mean Gwen had found him.
“Oh my God ! Warner! You look…” Lost for words, Gwen twirled a finger, so he turned for her to get a better look. “What are you wearing ?”
“Uh…” He raised an eyebrow at her. “The costume you sent me?”
“Oh honey, I love it, but I wouldn’t do that to you. This is a level of mischievous I reserve for my actual brothers. This is not what I sent for you. I sent you a?—”
An arm wrapped around his elbow, and Brock looked down to find Felix looking devilishly handsome. Quite literally for once, since he was dressed as a chic devil. It threw Brock for a few seconds, because Felix looked so good and he was here with Brock of all people and?—
“ That’s what I sent you!” Gwen stepped back to inspect Felix and nodded approvingly. “Honestly, it looks better on him. You must be the neighbor-slash-date.” She held out her hand. “I’m Gwen Jones. I run social media for the Gliders.”
Felix preened at her praise. When he shook her hand, he winked. “Felix Owens. Neighbor-slash-date to hockey player-slash-neighbor.”
“And a devil, apparently,” Gwen teased. She pointed between the two of them. “How did he get your costume?”
Brock had no answer for that, so he looked to Felix. Felix arched an eyebrow. “What address did you send it to?”
Gwen pulled out her phone. “Apartment 309—” She narrowed her eyes. “I’m guessing that’s you? And I’ve got the wrong address for Warner? ”
“He’s 306,” Felix confirmed. “We get each other’s mail a lot.”
As Brock processed what they were saying, he realized what must have happened.
“Wait, so I’m a Care Bear because of you ?
” Brock wasn’t sure if his was better or worse than when he thought Gwen had picked it for him.
He saw Gwen trying not to giggle as she excused herself, and Felix smiled sheepishly up at him.
That meant he was wearing something Felix had picked for him specifically; it was absolutely better.
“When this costume showed up with your name on it”—he flicked one of the devil horns and the headband slid slightly, making them lopsided but more impish than when they were perfectly centered—“I thought we were doing some sort of cute, couple-y thing where we pick each other’s costumes. Are you disappointed?”
“That you look sinfully handsome?” Brock blurted out before he could think better of it. “Fuck no.”
When Felix grinned, Brock answered with a smile of his own. Then he made a point of scowling.
“I'm supposed to be grumpy today. You're going to ruin my costume.”
Felix huffed in faux indignation. “I guess I did give you the perfect excuse to have your usual dour expression. Though you're just as cute when you smile, so feel free to keep it up.”
“So that’s why you picked this for me? Because I'm a moody grump?”
“I've seen you on the ice. You'd make a great devil…but you're a softie underneath. I picked it to show that I see what you put out there, but I also see you're loveable and huggable underneath the tough guy exterior.”
Brock couldn't remember the last time he'd blushed.
He hadn't even been all that embarrassed walking around in a light blue onesie in front of his teammates, coaches, and dozens of fans.
But hearing Felix say all that sweet stuff about him…
his cheeks were on fire and it felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest.
He coughed to clear the lump in his throat. “And what did you think it meant when you thought that costume was for me?”
“That you saw beneath the sweet daycare teacher and knew I'd be able to keep you on your toes. Or you thought I was a devil in the sheets and was maybe hinting at that.”
There was no containing the peal of laughter that bubbled up before Brock could stop it, so once it did, he let himself feel the full force of his joy at having this moment with Felix and the many more to come.
Because yes, he knew Felix was kind and sweet, and he was definitely beginning to learn how he'd keep Brock guessing in all the best ways.
And he was absolutely prepared to challenge who was more of a devil in bed…later. He had to do something else first.
Looking around, he grabbed Felix’s hand and pulled him behind a pillar so there was at least some semblance of privacy. He took both of Felix's hands in his, momentarily thankful the costume didn't include giant paws over his hands, and gazed into Felix’s eyes.
“I really like you, Felix,” he said. “I've had a crush on you ever since I moved into the building, and I'm glad you tricked me into helping you set up your Halloween decorations —”
“Tricked!?” Felix looked affronted, then bit his bottom lip to stop himself. “Sorry, sorry. You're being amazing, and I'm focusing on the wrong thing. Please continue.”
“As I was saying.” Brock brought Felix’s hands to his lips and kissed the back of his hand, right by the knuckle of his thumb.
“I’m glad you came into my life.“ He kissed another knuckle, pleased that now Felix was the one with pink coloring his cheeks. “I’m glad you’re more outgoing than I am, or we’d never have gotten here.
” Another, lingering kiss. “I’m glad you came to the party with me.
” He placed one more kiss, then held their entwined hands to his heart.
“And I’m really glad I get to go home with you tonight. ”
“So presumptuous,” Felix teased, though the way he batted his eyelashes showed he had no problems with that idea.
“I’m glad it worked out this way too. You’re the real deal, Number Nine.
Handsome, sweet, and you don’t take yourself too seriously.
” He went up on his tiptoes and brushed his lips against Brock’s, the kiss so chaste but affectionate Brock wished he could skip this whole party.
He couldn’t, though, so he kissed back and let Felix step away to put some much needed space between them .
“C’mon.” Felix pulled him away from the pillar. “Can you introduce me to your teammates?”
Instead of the nerves he’d expected, Brock was excited at the prospect of showing Felix off. This was the start of something fantastic in his life, and he wanted to share it.
“Sure,” Brock said, happy and settled in a way he hadn’t felt in years. “Anyone in particular you want to meet?”
“Is your defense…buddy…person…here?” He burst into giggles at Brock’s horrified look. “Sorry, I don’t know the word. Your partner for defense.”
Brock couldn’t help it: he laughed with Felix. “I’m going to have so much fun teaching you about hockey. Yes, he’s here. Somewhere.”
“Let’s start with him, then,” Felix said. “Lead the way.”
With a devil at his side, Brock took them back to the concourse for what would be the best Halloween party ever.