When Dad finds out I’ve been brought up to the “big leagues” only to run an initiative to protect players from this “imaginary condition,” his reaction is going to be interesting.
Reaching for the phone, I call Josie instead of texting because this situation definitely calls for bottomless mimosas, and an hour later, we’re sliding into a booth at our favorite brunch joint. By some stroke of magical luck, we didn’t even have to wait for a table, so I’m hoping that’s a good omen for today’s family gathering.
“So, spill,” Josie says after we’ve both ordered and have our mimosas in hand. “You sounded stressed on the phone, and the bags under your eyes are telling me you didn’t sleep, but I don’t think it’s because you were having too much fun.”
“Ugh. Jo, it’s so fucked-up. I should be throwing a damn party right now, but the universe is conspiring against me, I swear!” So much has gone on over the last couple of days since I left her at the bar on Friday night, we’re almost finished our eggs bennys and on our third mimosa by the time I’ve caught her up. Once I finish, she leans back and blows out a breath.
“Dude, you were not kidding when you said this was complicated,” she chuckles, and I toss a balled-up napkin at her.
“Yeah, thanks. But you’re supposed to tell me what I should do, not laugh at me!”
Smiling, she leans forward again, taking another sip from her champagne flute. “Well, you need to accept that position because you’d be an idiot not to. You and Dr. McSexy Pants are just going to have to be grown-ups about the situation. You don’t owe him anything but professional courtesy, especially since the asshole ghosted you. It’ll be awkward for a couple of days, but it’ll pass. And as for your dad…” She pauses and chews on her lip for a moment. She knows I have a difficult relationship with my dad, but she also knows from personal experience that underneath his super-macho, toxic-man façade, Kent Warren is a good person. It makes her a good sounding board for me when I have issues with him because she knows him so well.
“I think it will be better if you just tell him right away. If he finds out you’ve been promoted from someone else, he’s not only going to be pissed about the job itself, but he’ll be hurt that you didn’t tell him. And when your dad is pissed and hurt, it’s not great for anyone.”
“Pffft. Yeah. I knew you’d say that,” I mutter dejectedly. “I know I have to tell him, but I really don’t feel like listening to him rant about how doctors and the ‘woke left’ are trying to change sports.”
Josie nods sympathetically as she finishes the last of her mimosa. “I get it, hon. But here’s the thing. Your dad really does adore you. I know you find it hard to believe, but it’s true.” She shoots me a mischievous grin. “Maybe tell him when you first arrive so you can have a couple of drinks early in the day before you drive home?”
I snort a laugh. “Um, yeah, great strategy, Jo. Hey, you know,” I say as an idea occurs to me. “It would be waaaay easier if you came with me. How about it?” I give her my best puppy dog eyes, hoping she’ll take pity on me and tag along as a distraction.
I expect her to make excuses right away, but when I see her thinking about it, I crank up the pressure by sprinkling a little guilt into the mix. “You know it’s been ages since you’ve seen them. Plus, if you’re there, it will take some heat off me. And I need you with me so I don’t sit around and mope about my sexy doctor. Please, please, please?”
I clasp my hands in front like I’m praying, and she rolls her eyes.
“Ugh, okay, fine, you’ve successfully guilted me into it, Manipulator-Boy.”
I grin happily. “Oh, thank you so much, lovey! Having you there will make this so much easier. Plus, they really do miss you. They’ve asked about you the last couple of times I’ve seen them.”
She waves her hand. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve already said I’ll come with you. You can ease up on the guilt now.”
I just shoot her another jubilant grin before we make plans for me to pick her up in a couple of hours and then part ways.
I wasn’t exactly joking when I said I wanted her to help distract me from thinking about Ben. Even though I said it as a joke, I’m pretty sure she can see right through me and can tell that I’m low-key obsessing about him. Fuck, I have no idea how I’m going to be able to work with the guy without walking around with a super-hard dick all day long.Sigh.I guess we’re gonna find out real soon.
When it’s time to get ready, I force my ass into a pair of skinny black jeans and a soft blue polo shirt, throwing a set of warm-ups into a bag for the game.
After picking Josie up from her little house in Queen Anne, we head east to my parents’ big house on Lake Washington. Even though Josie’s with me, I’m still nervous about how my dad will react when I give him the details of my new job. I imagine that if we had a normal relationship, I’d be excited to tell him about my promotion. Maybe he’d be impressed or even happy for me landing this kind of high-profile, important job. But my dad and I have never had a normal relationship.
Being both the youngest and the smallest of his children, I’ve always felt like a bit of an afterthought in my family. I’ve never doubted that they all love me, but I was never the kid they bragged about. When I was younger, I remember hearing my parents gush to their friends about how well Mike and Brad were doing on their respective junior teams, and what an incredible hockey player Christine is, and on and on. My accomplishments have always been more on the low-key side. Doing well at the science fair or bringing home a good grade on a math test never really compared to winning state championships or making the US Olympic team.
Pulling into the long, curved driveway, Jo and I hop out of my red Tesla and head to the huge, arched double front doors, which are decorated for the season with a matching pair of stunning live wreaths, complete with little sparkly twinkle lights. It might not be exactly my style, but no one can argue my mom’s impeccable taste. The house always looks like something out of a magazine, especially around the holidays.
I always have to remind myself that I don’t need to ring the bell when I come here. Even though this is where I grew up, it’s never really felt like home to me. My loft in Capitol Hill has always felt more comfortable than this fancy mansion.
As we walk into the house, the sound of an NFL football broadcast reaches me from my dad’s den. It’s too early for hockey games to be on, and football has always been his second favorite obsession. Jo and I ditch our coats and boots at the door and head to the kitchen, where we find my mom and my sister chatting. To my surprise, my brother Brad is leaning against the large kitchen island, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I ask. He plays for the Florida Jaguars, so he’s not on the West Coast much during the season. His twin, Mike, plays in Los Angeles, so we see him a lot more often. Brad comes over and wraps a meaty arm around my neck, holding me down to give me a noogie. Obviously, Iloveit when he’s in town.
“Hey, lil’ bro! Don’t I even get a ‘nice to see you’? What, are you not happy to see your big brother for some reason?” I love my siblings, but Brad has always had more of an edge than the other two. Since I came out a few years ago, I’ve wondered if part of the reason is homophobia. I don’t like to think that way, but it’s possible. The world of pro hockey isn’t exactly the most pro-LGBTQIA+ environment.
“Fuck off, let go of me,” I mutter, pushing at him. He releases me, and after giving Josie a big hug, he grabs a handful of grapes from the bowl on the counter before disappearing down the hall, probably to hang out with Dad.
“What is he doing here?” I ask my sister, Christine, who’s retaken her seat on a barstool at the island after squealing and giving Jo a huge hug.
Josie and my mom are chatting in front of the professional-grade, stainless steel range while Mom stirs something that smells like her spaghetti sauce, so I grab the stool beside Chrissy.
“They’re playing in Vegas tomorrow night, so he got permission to come out early. He’s flying down there in the morning,” she answers.
