Page 42 of Two Guys One Puck (Gods Versus Monsters Hockey #2)

SEABORN

The NHL Draft

“ D on’t be mad when I go before you, Seaborn.”

I slap him playfully.

We’re sitting next to each other but like bros because we’re still playing our relationship close to the chest. I know it will be better that way in the long run since we have a lot to prove in our first season, and we don’t want our relationship to call anything into question with our teammates or coaches.

We talked about eventually coming out, but we’ll see how it goes.

Even if he doesn’t care, there is so much in the air with his residency and getting a waiver for his mandatory military service in a couple of years, and I’m okay with that.

His safety means more to me than being able to brag I fuck him.

“Are you ready?” he asks.

My hands are clammy, and the walls feel a little like they are pushing in, but I nod. “Yes. I want to get it over with.”

“You’re going to be drafted. Don’t worry.”

“I know. This just feels—” I shake my head.

“Like what?”

“A lot. What if I’m on the other side of the country?” Anxiety crawls up my throat. I know my brother won’t want to change schools, and Emily can handle it, but my dad will die in the next few months, and I don’t want him alone for that.

“They invented these things called airplanes. Is like magic. They can get you across the country in hours!” Ktytor’s hand lifts, but he clenches it into a fist and puts it back down.

I can tell he wants to touch me or put his hand on my thigh like he does to comfort me but holds himself back. The intention helps, and I just try to focus on breathing.

“Fuck off.”

He puts his finger to his lips. “Shhh. I want to hear my name when they call it.”

I cannot roll my eyes hard enough, but the whole thing kicks off, and the entire room gets quiet.

The New York Dragons have the first pick and the clock starts.

They use up some of the clock, and it feels like years.

I squeeze my eyes shut when they are finally ready to announce and it’s…Ktytor.

I open my eyes to find him smug as fuck, and I just know he’s going to be insufferable for the next few months.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” He gets up to shake hands, and the Dragons give him a jersey with his number on it.

Chicago has the next pick, and they take Wolfe. Archangel is smiling, but I can tell it’s fake. My heart hurts for him.

Then the Dragons are up again?

“What?” I want to ask Ktytor, but he’s over with them.

I glance around, but everyone seems a little confused.

It’s pretty public when teams trade players for draft picks, so how was this not talked about more?

A quick Google tells me the Dragons, in some witchcraft shit, came up with the first and third draft picks by last-minute trades after the regular season ended.

It surprises a lot of the room, and I just know there are backroom statisticians and guys in back rooms rerunning numbers like this is a real life Draft Day.

It’s not normal, but trades after the deadlines do happen.

Those players just can’t play post season.

I haven’t seen any speculation about the trades, and I guess I wouldn’t since they didn’t qualify for the postseason. I hadn’t even thought to look at moves the teams have been making leading up to the draft.

I’m still reeling and reading an article on my phone when I hear my name.

My head snaps up. Am I having a fucking stroke? This can’t be real.

We’re going to be on the same team?

I stand up slowly, and Ktytor is beaming.

I’m handed a Dragons jersey with my name on the back as the entire arena screams. Some shock, some excitement. I don’t blame them. I feel a lot of the same. I rub my fingers over the material, trying to process that Ktytor and I might just end up in the same city.

We get through the pictures with the draft staff and then do a few interviews. The General Manager talks a lot about their plans for both of us, and I go through it all in a fog. When all that is finished the General Manager checks in with us, and we exchange pleasantries.

“Everyone told us we were crazy for taking the both of you. They say there’s no way you can get along, but we think you two can really complement each other.” The General Manager slaps me on the back.

“I’m still not sure how any of this is real.” And it’s been over an hour.

“You ready to play with me instead of against me, Seaborn?” Ktytor asks.

“I think so.”

“I’m sure you two got it. I saw you two at summer camp; that’s when I knew I had to make it happen. We’re going to be unstoppable.”

“You’ve been planning this that long?”

The General Manager shrugs with a smirk. “I keep things in the back of my mind, and I know we had a lot of changes and growth we need to do.” He goes back to the staff table to work on the rest of the draft, leaving us to our own devices.

All the fear and anxiety we’ve carried for months melts away, and we both smile. It’s the final piece we carry restricting happiness. Sure, there are other things like being in the closet and navigating the changes coming, but none of them feel insurmountable with Ktytor.

“What do you want to do with the rest of our night?” I ask.

“Let’s go have hotel sex and celebrate. You owe me a bare fuck. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”