Page 53 of Speak in Fever

"I may have mentioned you once or twice," Rath says with studied casualness. "Just in passing. Every phone call. For the entire season."

Percy laughs, feeling lighter than he has in weeks. "What did you tell them?"

"That you're an incredible captain. That you make me a better player. That you're funny and smart and kind and that I—" Rath pauses, color rising in his cheeks. "That I was pretty sure I was falling in love with you but didn't know if you felt the same way."

"Your parents know you're in love with me?"

"My mom knows," Rath corrects. "She has a sixth sense about these things. She's been dropping not-so-subtle hints about how nice it would be to meet this wonderful captain I keep talking about."

The idea of Rath's mother wanting to meet him sends a warm flutter through Percy's stomach. "What about your dad?"

"Dad's... coming around. It took him a while to understand, but he's trying. And honestly, the fact that you're team captain probably helps. He respects that you're a leader."

Percy can hear the complicated history in Rath's voice, the careful way he talks about his father's acceptance. It reminds Percy how lucky he is with his own family, how easy it will be to bring Rath home with him.

"My parents are going to love you," Percy says confidently. "My mom's been asking when she gets to meet someone special, and my dad—well, he'll probably want to talk hockey with you for hours."

"Are you sure?" There's vulnerability in Rath's voice, the fear of not being good enough or welcome enough. "It's not going to be weird, bringing home your secret boyfriend?"

"You won't be secret anymore," Percy points out. "That's kind of the point. No more hiding, no more pretending we're just teammates."

Rath considers this, his expression growing more serious. "That's a big step. Are you ready for that? For people to know?"

It's Percy's turn to think carefully. Coming out to his parents, to his hometown, to the extended network of family and friends who've known him his whole life—it's not a small thing.

But as he looks at Rath, at the hope and fear and love written across his face, Percy realizes the decision was made long ago.

"I'm ready," Percy says simply. "I want people to know that I'm with you, that we chose each other."

Rath's smile is brilliant. "Okay. Yes. I want to come home with you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I want to meet your parents and see your childhood bedroom and hear all your embarrassing stories.

I want to train with you and wake up next to you and not have to worry about anyone seeing us together.

" Rath pauses, his expression growing soft.

"I want to spend the summer learning how to be yours when hockey isn't there to complicate things. "

Percy kisses him again, deep and thorough and full of promise. When they break apart, he's already mentally planning—logistics and travel arrangements and the phone call he needs to make to his parents.

"There's a lake," Percy says suddenly. "Back home. My parents have a cabin there, nothing fancy, but it's quiet and private and beautiful. I used to go there when I needed to think or when hockey got overwhelming."

"Sounds perfect."

"We could spend a few weeks there. Just us. No pressure, no schedules, no teammates asking questions." Percy can picture it—lazy mornings in bed, afternoon swims, evening fires on the dock. "Would you want that?"

"Yeah, that sounds amazing," Rath says, and there's something almost desperate in his voice. "We can argue about what to watch on Netflix.”

"Why do we have to argue about it?"

"You have terrible taste in movies, Percy. We're going to have to address that."

Percy laughs, pulling Rath closer until he's practically in Percy's lap. "I can live with that. What else do you want to do this summer?"

"Everything," Rath says immediately. "I want to do everything with you. Meet your friends, see where you went to school, hear your dad's stories about when you were little. I want your mom to show me embarrassing photo albums and teach me your favorite recipes."

The domestic picture Rath is painting makes Percy's chest warm with contentment. "She'll do that, you know. The photo albums especially. She's been waiting years to have someone to show them to."

"Good. I want to know everything about you that I don't know yet." Rath's voice grows serious. "I want this summer to be about us, not about hockey or the team or anything else. Just us figuring out who we are together."

"We'll have to tell the team," Percy realizes. "Before we leave. They're going to figure it out anyway when we both disappear to Michigan for three months."

"Are you worried about that?"

Percy considers the question honestly. "A little. But not about their reaction—I think most of them have figured it out already. I'm more worried about the dynamic changing when we come back."

"Torres definitely knows," Rath says with a grin. "He's been giving me looks for weeks. And Raul asked me yesterday if I had 'summer plans with anyone special.'"

"So we're doing this," Percy says, needing to hear it confirmed. "You're coming home with me. We're telling our families. We're making this real."

"We're doing this," Rath agrees. "Though I should probably call my parents first. Let them know I'm bringing someone home with me for a few days before we head to Michigan."

"You want me to meet your parents too?"

"Of course I do. They're going to want to interrogate you." Rath grins. "Plus, my mom will never forgive me if I don't bring you by. She's been planning this meeting for months."

The idea of being welcomed into Rath's family, of being someone worth introducing and celebrating, makes Percy feel almost dizzy with happiness. "When do we leave?"

"Whenever you want. The season's over, we've got all summer." Rath stretches, looking more relaxed than Percy has seen him in weeks. "Though we should probably start packing soon."

They sit together in the gathering dusk, planning and dreaming and slowly adjusting to the reality of a future that's no longer theoretical. The season is over, but something bigger and more important is just beginning.