“Stay here, I'm getting a shower, okay? Then…” I went to a crouch again and hugged her hard. “There's someone I want you to meet.”
The limo was absurdly luxurious,all leather and quiet space, as if the world had decided to be gentle for once. Mom smiled the whole ride, her hand tucked into Mikko’s, and he watched her as if she were the only person there. Attentive. In love. Something inside me eased, a knot, constant weight lifting just enough for me to breathe.
When we pulled up outside Cam’s place, I punched in the gate code without thinking, muscle memory taking over. The drive curved up through the trees, familiar and safe.
Mom leaned on her stick when she got out, the other arm linked through Mikko’s, and together they managed the few steps to the front door. I unlocked it and ushered them inside.
“Cam?” I called.
There was a pause, then his voice floated down the hall. “Clothes off, babe! You still owe me a blowjob!”
I winced. “Cam?—”
He sauntered around the corner, loose shorts slung low on his hips, confidence intact right up until the second he clocked the strangers in his hallway.
He stopped dead.
We all just stared at each other.
Then my mother laughed. Full-bodied, delighted laughter, as if she’d just been handed the best punchline of her life.
“Uh, Jari?” Cam asked faintly.
“Mom,” I said, heat flooding my face as I stepped close to Cam and laced my fingers with him. “This ismyCam. And, Cam? This is my beautiful mom.”
Cam blinked once, then recovered with speed. He straightened and nodded politely. “I usually make a better first impression, ma'am. With pants.”
Mikko’s mouth twitched.
My mother was still smiling. “I like him,” she declared.
Cam glanced at me, eyebrows lifting. “Your mother is here,” he murmured.
“She is,” I agreed.
“And I'm not wearing anything.”
I couldn't help the snort that left my mouth. “You have shorts.”
Cam straightened and then stepped closer to my mom, who tugged him close for a sideways hug.
“I'm Cam,” he said unnecessarily as they hugged. “Very nice to meet you, ma'am. I swear I own clothes.”
Mom grinned at him. “Best first meeting ever. Call me Abigail.”
He shook hands with Mikko, and then stiffened and glanced at me. “You told them.”
I nodded. I didn't know what was going to happen now, where I would be, where Mom would be, or how Aarni would react, but everything I wanted was here in the hallway of my boyfriend's house. “I want to tell everyone. I want to be the real me. Is that okay?”
Cam hugged me so hard I could barely breathe. “God, yes.”
The callfrom Aarni came a week after Mom and Mikko had flown back to Finland, after Cam and I had promised we’d visit as soon as our seasons didn’t overlap and time finally belonged to us.
I’d just gotten off the phone with Mike, who was officially my new agent as of yesterday, and I’m sure the shit would hit the fan at some point. I was glad Cam was next to me when it did. He made me stronger.
He made me feel safe and able to deal with all of this.
I answered it curled into the corner of the sofa beside Cam, a bowl of popcorn balanced between us, the movie playing quietly in the background—one of those ordinary, easy nights that had started to feel like home. We’d had a meeting today with management about media strategy, and I made the most important requests of my entire hockey career.
