Page 32 of Puck Shots (Love The Game #6)

Eli

Things have been pretty stressful for him these past few weeks with hockey and the attention from the scouts and teams picking up, and then with his grades needing a boost, I was more than happy to step in and lend a hand to study.

I’m not across all of his subjects, though, so his coach organized a couple of tutoring sessions in those.

They are working too. I should be happy that his coach is as invested in his academics as I am, but in truth, he’s only worried about his season.

If Cosmo’s grades aren’t up to scratch, he can’t play, and the winning streak they appear to be on could come to a grinding halt.

I mean, sure he’s just one player, but he’s like an infectious disease of confidence and calm that they need.

Even if that confidence is for total show.

I draw on the lightning bolt most days now for him, and he then traces over the one he put on my wrist, and it’s like I’m there with him, reminding him that he is something to someone without hockey.

I guess that’s also why I’d rather be here over Christmas break if I could.

Curled up on this old leather couch or in bed with Cosmo every night while the school is a relative ghost town.

“John’s coming for the first time in years, so I guess it should be okay.”

“He doesn’t normally come home for Christmas?”

“Not since he started in the league. What about you?”

“I can’t wait. Christmas is the best. The whole family get together, and extended family. Well, Brent wasn’t there for a long time. I’m not sure if he’s coming out this year either, given he was only here a few months ago, but it will be amazing with or without him.”

“Your family really goes all out for the holidays, don’t they?”

“My sister always jokes that Mom and Dad would celebrate the opening of an envelope if they made decorations to match. Thanksgiving weekend was a little lower key with the twins away, but fuck, the last Fourth of July party was off the hook. Brent was here for that, too, so I’ll probably always rate it top shelf. ”

“It will be super weird being away from you for two whole weeks, though,” I say, and he pulls me closer.

“You could always come out and visit me at home.”

My stomach flips.

“Really?”

“Sure. Come out for new year’s, it’ll be the best. We have fireworks and bonfires by the lake.”

“I’ve never met a guy’s parents before. What if they don’t like me?” I ask, a nervousness rising in the swirl of my gut the longer he takes to reply.

He turns in the seat toward me, cupping my face in his hand, and smiles.

“When are you going to see that you are an extremely likable person? You won over pretty much every guy in this house, and the guys on my team.”

“I guess so.”

“I know so.”

***

When I get off the bus in Habersham, I spot him right away, sitting on the front of a bright yellow jeep holding up a sign that reads ‘Welcome, Eli.’ It’s painted in big red letters, and it’s the most adorable thing anyone’s ever done for me.

“Good thing you weren’t going for inconspicuous,” I say, dropping my bag on the ground as he jumps off the hood and wraps me in his strong warm arms.

“It’s Tony and Calvin’s. They’re both in the Banana Ball league, so when they saw this, they just had to have it.

Just wait until you see the inside,” he says, grabbing my bag and slinging it over one shoulder like it weighs nothing.

He opens the passenger door for me, and I laugh.

The seats are covered in Banana Ball themed covers, one Funky Monkey, the other Animal Control.

The back seat cover is a mix of both, too, splitting in the middle on opposite sides as the front seats.

“Well, at least no one can say they aren’t passionate about the sport.” I chuckle, climbing in. Cosmo throws my bag in the back and gets in.

“Now I have to warn you, my brothers can be….a lot.”

“Just your brothers?”

“My sister is less work, but her and Mom will trap you in a hug, you can be sure of that. Oh, actually the twins probably will, too.”

“I like hugs.”

“I’ve noticed.”

He pulls out of the car park, and we head along the grey road, lined by bare trees, waiting out the cold of winter with the rest of us.

The ground is dark, and littered by broken branches, victims of the snow this place saw a few weeks ago.

It’s all melted now, replaced by the sludge of wet soil.

Who knows, maybe we’ll get some more over the weekend, and we can see in the new year under a pure white blanket.

Maybe I can put on a white tracksuit and hide from the rest of the Parks family.

I’m trying to act like I’m not nervous, but I am all sweaty and hot, and my stomach hasn’t stopped flip flopping since the bus turned onto the first corner out of Boston.

Cosmo and I have been texting since we went on break, and we had one really hot phone sex video chat the night before last when the distance just got all too much, but am I really ready for the meet the parents stage of this relationship?

He lays his hand over mine and laces his fingers, holding tight.

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?”

“No,” I manage to squeak out, and he laughs.

“They are going to love you, just wait and see.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then you can hide out in my room with me the whole time. I have a view of the lake from my window, so we can climb out onto the roof to watch the fireworks from there.”

“Hiding out in your room actually sounds like a nice way to spend the weekend.”

He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses the back.

“Oh, we’ll be spending plenty of time in there, I promise you. But seriously, you don’t have to worry about anything.”

The second I’m out of the car, his mom and sister are there, and just like he warned, they pull me into a tight hug.

“Welcome, Eli. We were so glad to hear you were coming,” his mom, Lyn, says as she and his sister, Rachel, let me go.

“Umm yeah, thanks for having me.”

“Calvin and Tony are in the rec room trying to pick a board game for tonight. It’s a Parks family tradition to spend the last day of the year in brutal competition,” Rachel says with a grin, and a roll of her eyes that tells me she secretly, or not so secretly, loves it.

“Eli is a killer chess player,” Cosmo says, and my cheeks burn.

“I’m okay.”

“You’re better than okay, and you’ve even taught me how to play.”

“Woah, who are you and what have you done with my baby brother?” Rachel teases.

He shoves her in the side, but she counters with a jab to his stomach, and he picks her up and throws her over his shoulder and starts walking towards the house as she kicks and laughs.

“I was joking, please don’t. I just did my hair,” she screams at him.

“Umm, is she okay?” I ask, and Lyn shrugs with a genuine unfazed smile.

“They do this every time. The pool is heated; she’ll be fine. Come on, I’ll show you inside.”

He’s going to throw her in the pool, and she’s not going to stop him?

Will his brothers try to throw me in? I can swim fine, but I only brought a few things to wear, and this is my nicest outfit.

I chose a dark blue shirt with a collar and grey chinos with a brown belt.

It’s the same outfit I wore to my cousin’s wedding last year, so I figured it would be good to make a great first impression on his family.

Soaking wet, I don’t think it would have the same effect.

Only one way to find out. I go to grab my bag from the back seat, but Lyn waves me away.

“Cosmo will grab that later. You’re our guest,” she says, linking her arm to mine. “I hope you’re hungry. Jo’s been on the grill all afternoon.

Just as she says it, the sweet smoky barbecue scent fills my nose, and my stomach grumbles.

“I could eat,” I say, trying to sound casual but respectful. Is that even a thing?

Lyn walks us around the back where there’s a covered pergola and comfy chairs just in time to watch Rachel, drenched and climbing from the pool.

There’s a decent amount of steam coming off it given the cool temperature outside.

Her face is red, either from the warm water or the pure rage building inside her. Only time will tell.

“Welcome,” one of the twins, I’m not sure which one yet, says, practically leaping from the sectional and landing in front of me.

“You a hugger or a handshake kind of guy?”

Lyn squeezes my arm.

“He asks, but really Tony will hug you, regardless.”

“She’s right,” he shrugs, pulling me into a hug and patting my back for good measure.

“So I’m the better-looking of the twins, I’m sure Cosmo’s told you all about me.”

“He’s mentioned you once or twice,” I say, and Lyn pats his shoulder.

“Leave Eli to settle in, go help your brother with the salads,” Lyn says, and he lets go and turns on his heel but not before I catch the slight roll of his eyes.

“He’s got his lover boy in there helping him already.”

“Then start on dessert,” she replies and leads me over to the barbecue.

“This is Jo, Cosmo’s father.”

He gives me a smile and a nod that, funnily enough, is just as welcoming as the hug his mom gave me.

“It smells delicious,” I say, and he smiles wider.

“The secret is the home-made barbecue sauce. Old family recipe.”

“I’m sure it’s great.”

“Mom, he’s totally ruined my hair,” Rachel screams from inside somewhere, and then Cosmo is waving from beside a fire pit burning in the side yard.

“Eli,” he calls, and Lyn releases my arm, and I head over. The crackling wood is giving off some serious heat, and from the looks of the pit, this gets some serious use, too.

“I met Tony and your dad. That just leaves Calvin, right?”

“Yeah, Brent’s still in the UK, but you can meet Ash, Calvin’s boyfriend. He’s ridiculously tall and has…interesting fashion sense, but he’s a cool guy.”

“Why do I suddenly feel like I’m walking into a test I haven’t studied for?” I ask, my stomach a flurry of butterflies. He hugs me to his side in the warm glow of the fire.

“It’s not a test. But if it was, it would be one of those open-book ones that make zero sense.”

“Those tests are more about determining your ability to analyze and summarize information rather than just being able to memorize it and recall it later. It tests understanding.”

“Well, you understand me better than half the people here, so I think you’ll do just fine.”

“Only half?”

“Okay, maybe two-thirds, Rachel knows all my secrets and Mom has this sixth sense about us kids, like there was some link created when we were in her womb that never really broke.”

“So I should ask Rachel to spill all your embarrassing childhood moments then?”

“Please don’t,” he says, cuddling me tighter. “I want to keep the illusion of perfection in place as long as possible.”

“I don’t need you to be perfect. I just need you.”

“Well, you got me. I’m really glad you decided to come.”

“Me, too,” I say, and he kisses me on the top of my head, and we stand there in front of the fire until the sun sets over the horizon, and Lyn calls us up for dinner.