A corner of his mouth tipped up. “I likethishockey player.”
When we went back inside together, the room felt lighter—someone was laughing about auction items getting out of hand, Layton was already jotting notes, and whatever tension had been there earlier had eased. Tennant caught my eye again.
This time, I didn’t look away.
TEN
Cam
Returningto Pennsylvania in early November was a rude shot in the gonads after a month in Greece.
Sure, the temps in Patras had been slightly cooler than in summer, but I’d take mid-sixties over four any damn time. Still, it was good to be home. For four weeks, I’d been surrounded by beautiful Greek men and women. Stunningly gorgeous people seeking fun times with a rich jock. Yanni had about screwed himself into a coma by the time we’d gotten to his parents’ house. I, on the other hand, had been playing the part of a celibate monk. Brother Cameron. That was me. All because I was too hung up on Jari. We had been texting a lot. Day by day, I could feel his defenses lowering, his openness coming to the fore, his sweet sense of humor bubbling up like ginger ale over ice. I was smitten. Totally. I knew the signs. The smile when his text rolled in, the flutter in my gut when he sent me a stupid GIF, the worry over his darker, quieter times.
Even now, stateside and at home, sitting on the sofa with a Railers/Raptors game about to start, I was so happy. I’d text him after the game, the first I’d been able to watch since I’d left the States, to either congratulate him or offer some sympathy on aloss. Even old battle horses like me got down after losing a game. That truly never went away.
Curled up on the couch, my bags still unpacked, my ass dragging, a bag of nacho cheese chips and a can of white birch beer at hand, I turned on the game. The first period was about to start. The anthem was about over, and the announcers were coming back on air.
“Special thanks to the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire’s Station Two songbird, Ilinia Trochi, for that beautiful rendition of our nation’s anthem. Tonight’s goalie matchup is brought to you by Fiat, and it looks to be a good one.”
“It sure does, Brian. In net for the Railers is—oh man, listen to that.” I sat up, nacho cheese dust on my fingers, as the fans at the rink started to boo someone. The camera left the Raptors’ goalie and fell on Jari, taking the ice. “That’s too bad. I’ll be honest here, Dave, I see no similarity between father and son. In personality or skills on the ice.”
“Me either, Brian. I’ve spoken to the young man several times, and he’s always polite. Perhaps the best way for Lankinen Junior to win over the fans of this great city is to come out tonight against a very aggressive Arizona team and show them what he’s got.”
“Yeah, you show them, Jari,” I mumbled around a mouthful of chips.
And show them he did. When his line was first on the ice, the center shuffled it to Jari, who wound up and took a shot from center ice that bounced off the goalie, over his shoulder, and back into the net. Eight seconds was all it took. Eight damn seconds and BANG! The fans who had been heckling Jari suddenly thought he was fantastic. Cheers and hoots rang out, the goal horn sounded, and the red light began to spin. I leapt up with a yell, dumping my bag of chips all over the couch and carpet. After a rather goofy celebration dance—I blame the buttwiggle on severe jet lag—I cleaned up my mess, then enjoyed a strong game from the Railers. They won by two goals, and feeling happy, I texted Jari.
Cam: Hey, you rock! Great goal! I want to take you on a date. When are you free next?
I hit Send, feeling like I could conquer the world. Then I fell asleep before the stars of the game were announced. An hour later, the buzzing of my phone somehow managed to wriggle into my sleep. Blinking into consciousness, I wiped at my dry lips with one hand as I pawed around on the couch with my other.
Jari: Are you serious?
Cam: About what?
Jari: A date.
Oh. Oh shit. Well, yeah, I was serious. Being exhausted may have lowered my inhibitions, but it didn’t make me feel something I wasn’t already feeling.
Cam: Yes, very much so. Are you feeling a certain way about that?
Those three dots undulated for what felt like a century, and I started typing because I couldn’t wait.
Cam: It can just be dinner. Nowhere public. Maybe here. A picnic?
Jari: It’s four degrees out.
Cam: Inside picnic. No ants. LOL!
Five minutes of sheer agony dragged by before he replied.
Jari: Free tomorrow night.
Cam: Cool. Say around six? I will pin my house, and we’ll do it here.
Jari: Okay.
I chucked my phone on the table and then promptly fell back to sleep with a wide grin on my face.
