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Nick

October - Eight Months Later

I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous before in my life. Looking around the locker room, I take in my new teammates and the red and black jerseys hanging on the racks. Someone’s blaring loud music and the team’s singing along to it. I know it’s one of their pre-game rituals from the multiple times they’ve mentioned it on interviews, and I’m too self-conscious to join in. Besides, singing loudly isn’t really my forte.

Caleb, on the other hand, has easily weaved himself into the team. My boyfriend’s across the room, horsing around with the first-line forwards and teasing them about how he’ll take their spots soon enough. They take it in stride, smacking him with their towels.

Despite Caleb’s teasing, he’s toned down his taunts compared to when we played for Camrose, and he confessed to me that it’s because the guys here are on a totally different league—literally. He doesn’t want to make himself too much of an ass considering he hasn’t proven himself in the major league, yet.

When I told him I have no doubt he’s going to prove himself in no time, Caleb grinned at me in that way that makes my heart skip a bit—then he said that he knew it’d be the same for me.

It’s been a crazy year, and I can’t believe I’m here, gearing up for our first match playing for the Buffalo Jets. Never did I think I’d be here, and with Caleb of all people. Never did I think that I’d even have a boyfriend, and that every day I wake up feeling stronger about him than ever.

It’s overwhelming, but it’s also perfect.

Caleb strides over to where I’m sitting by my stall, watching them. He isn’t in his gear yet, similar to me. Like the rest of the team, we’re still mostly relaxing and working ourselves up for the first game of the season.

He ruffles my hair, and I fake a grumble, swatting at him.

Caleb asks, “You think your dad’s here yet? He splurged on an entire suite for everyone, it’d be a waste if he didn’t show.”

“Dad said he was going to sell his company if they didn’t let him leave their board meeting early,” I say, flushing. My dad was very adamant about making it here today, and he even rented an entire suite for all our friends and families. Our families are here, as well as Rhys, Maddox, and Schultz. Some other guys from the team are here too, and Rhys also brought along his brother.

The way they’re all watching us is doing a number on my nerves. They’re making such a big deal about this game, but then again—it’s mine and Caleb’s first NHL game.

I really, really hope we make it count… but with Caleb, it always seems that way.

After graduation, we found a two-bedroom apartment for us. It’s nothing fancy and even if our contracts allow us to get something much bigger, Caleb said he didn’t see the point. Neither of us even bothered looking for furniture for the first week and slept on a mattress on the floor.

Dianne had gone absolutely pale when she found out, and even if we insisted she didn’t have to, sent a team of her interior designers to our place right the next day.

“You ready?” I ask Caleb, though my voice is too soft to be heard above the music. He’s able to read my lips anyway, and a slow smile spreads across his face.

“Yeah. Nervous as fuck, though.”

“I’m nervous too.”

Caleb looks around swiftly, then crooks his finger at me. He cocks his head towards the door. “Follow me, Nicky.”

“Where?”

He doesn’t answer me, and it’s not as if I wouldn’t do it, anyway. I follow him outside where we turn some heads but are left to ourselves. Caleb turns a corner and keeps walking until he finds a quiet hallway, stopping in front of a room that’s labeled “equipment.”

“Caleb, what?” I ask.

Snickering, Caleb opens the door and steps inside, pulling me with him. The door shuts behind me and he pushes me up against it, cupping my face and swallowing down any protests I have.

“Caleb,” I murmur, and he grips me by the back of my neck and gives me a long, passionate kiss. I return it with the same enthusiasm, my skin buzzing.

I wonder if he’s as happy as I am. Getting this far, having the most important people in our lives watching, us playing for the same NHL team—I can’t be any more enthusiastic.

Caleb pulls away, but I yank him back to steal one more kiss from him. I hold him by the face and my breathing gets ragged. His eyes darken when I wrap my fingers lightly around his throat in the way he likes.

Hoarsely, Caleb says, “Enough, baby. We need to get out there now and show them what we’ve got.”

Pumped up, I nod at him, the competitive flame in me once again igniting. When I say he changed things for me, it’s the absolute truth because the old Nick wouldn’t be here at all. The old me would be quietly living the life I thought was expected of me, and I’m so glad that Caleb showed me it was okay to want things.

Teasing, I say, “I’m happy you came along and messed everything up.”

He scoffs and pinches me on the arm, and when I pull away, he grabs me again and kisses me. God, I can never get enough of him—we can never get our hands off each other. Almost a year together now, and nothing’s changed.

I smile at him. It’s a genuine smile, and not the fake one that he hates with a passion.

Eyes flashing with amusement, Caleb says, “Thanks for messing up my world too, golden boy.”

Then he grins and fists the front of my shirt and gives me one last mind-numbing kiss before opening the door, leading me outside to a new era of both of our lives.