“A part-time author, I suppose. I only tend to write during hockey season, and nothing I write is ever edited for continuity, plot holes, spelling and whatever. I don’t make any money off it.”
“Why? You should.”
“I do it for me more than anyone else. It helps me relax before a game.”
I glance at the clock. It’s eleven in the morning. “We don’t leave for at least six hours. Do you usually do this all day?”
Dasan smiles, and it’s all kinds of wicked. “No. I usually begin at three and write until I need to shower before leaving my house.”
“Oh.”
“I have something for you, so I thought maybe I’d change up my routine. There are other ways to turn my brain off and relax, after all.”
“Dick maintenance,” I suggest.
He grins. “Not today but yes. Though I think I prefer dick maintenance after games. It’s a good release of irritation and celebration alike.”
That I knew. I smile and settle back into his leg to read some more. I wonder if Dasan will let me read what he’s writing. Whenhis clacking begins again, I decide not to interrupt with this question. I’ll ask in a while.
I’m just about to get back into reading when my phone rings. My heart always hammers in my chest with the fear thatsomeoneis going to oust our relationship, but the name flashing on the screen has no ties to hockey at all.
I look up at Dasan for permission. “Go ahead.”
My finger hits the green button to accept the call just before I think it’ll go to voicemail.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Hey.”
“Everything okay?”
“So… we were sitting on the couch, right? We were cuddling. He got a call, and I glanced at his phone. It was an unsaved number, but I noted the area code as he answered and talked familiarly to the person on the other end. While he was talking, I looked up the area code and it’s in Tennessee. You know what I did?” Trent says.
My heart sinks. “What did you do?”
I hear his inhale. “I closed out of the browser and turned my phone screen off.”
“Good for you.”
“When he got off the phone, Oriel told me that he was talking to his aunt. She just got a new phone number, and you know what? I believe him.”
I smile. “Good. You should.”
“We’ve been going to therapy. I feel less… strung up. It feels good to trust him.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Trent. Really.”
He sighs. “I just… Well, I want to thank you. It’s not like what you told me when I was there last isn’t something you’ve told me many times, butthis timeI listened. I came home and talkedto Oriel, and we decided to go into couple’s therapy. I haven’t pushed him away.”
“You deserve to be happy.”
“I did a shitty thing by stealing my sister’s boyfriend, but I’m still convinced he was meant to be mine anyway.”
I grin and lean into Dasan’s leg. “I get that, Trent. I think that too.”
“Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that. It felt like a breakthrough for me, and I needed to share it with someone.”
“You can share with me anytime.”
