August should have said no because socializing wasn’t his style, but it took less than an hour to fill his suitcase with clothes and drive to the crowded airport. And that’s how he found himself on a first-class flight to the Canadian province of Nova Scotia alongside Niko Cote.
August had never been to Nova Scotia. He had heard plenty about it recently since a new team was being formed in the city of Halifax, but that was it.
Lobster fishing and small-town charm, that was the only thing he could picture when he thought of the place. So, he was surprised when they landed in an airport that looked normal and was filled with normal people, but what the fuck had he been expecting?
He still towered over everyone, even with Niko standing beside him, who was 6’0. But one person was approaching them who almost matched his height, and August would recognize those blue eyes and that scowl anywhere.
Harrison Killinger.
Niko waved the Toronto coach over and took August’s hand, pulling him through the hubbub and chaos of the airport crowd to meet up with their entourage. It wasn’t until they were standing a few feet away that he saw Jett Fraser beside Harrison, his arm secured tightly around his husband’s torso.
“Christmas crowd,” Jett shouted, smiling at them so brightly it was like the ceiling had opened up to reveal the sun. “We figured you would need help escaping.”
They were drawing a crowd; there was no doubt about that. Wide eyes watched them from every corner of the room, all of them excited to see four NHL stars meeting up in a public space. Some were pointing phones at them, while others began scrambling for something to sign.
The crowd was about to turn into a mob.
“I don’t think you showing up was a good idea,” said Niko, and August felt the grip on his hand tighten. “They wouldn’t recognize us, but you—”
“We’re here for PR,” said Harrison. He tipped his head to the left, and August’s gaze snapped to the older man standing beside him. “Robert is going to take you to our Jeep and keep you entertained while we sign some shit. Jett made me promise to do this, so enjoy your freedom.”
Robertgestured for them to follow, and August was dragged forward by Niko, who didn’t seem bothered by the fact that they were leaving his friends to die.
“Shouldn’t we stay?” he asked, turning to watch the crowd close in on Jett and Harrison. “I feel bad for leaving them.”
Niko tugged, like he was yanking a misbehaving dog on a leash. “No, Jetty loves doing this shit. Let him handle the fans. We have hot chocolate to enjoy.”
“Yes, you do, ma’ boy.” Robert clapped Niko on the back hard enough to make him stumble. “I got you the candy cane one since you liked it so much last time.”
Niko was a stoic kid in any other environment, but around Robert, somethingloosenedinside him. He seemed totally at ease following this strange man that August didn’t know, but they had to be close if Robert knew Niko’s drink preferences.
As it turned out, leaving Jett and Harrison to do their thing made the trip to the parkade an easy one. August took the job of loading suitcases in the back of the Jeep while Robert and Niko got in out of the cold.
It was snowing in Nova Scotia, making everything look and sound ten times more hectic as people slipped in the snow and plows drove by. But the moment August was in the backseat with the door shut, things got quiet again.
Robert was sitting in the front, and he twisted around in his seat so he could talk to them. He was a handsome older gentleman with a bushy mustache and a smile that felt familiar, but August was struggling to place where he’d seen it. His red nose and blue eyes made him look like a modern-day Santa, so maybe that’s where he was getting the feeling.
“Gusty, this is Robert Fraser, Jett’s dad,” said Niko, grinning at the man.
Oh. That was it. He recognized the Fraser smile.
“It’s nice to meet you, son.” Robert held out a hand, and August took it, shaking it firmly. “I watched you in the playoffs last season. You were on Jetty like a barnacle on a whale.”
August…didn’t know what to say to that.
Niko started laughing into his hand, leaving August no choice but to handle this himself.
“Am I the whale or the barnacle?”
Robert let go of his hand and burst into joyous laughter, reaching out so he could smack August’s leg.
“You’re a good kid,” Robert said, patting his leg gentler this time. “I can see why you’re here now.”
August wished someone would enlightenhimon why he was there, but he was going with the flow at this point.
Robert paused the conversation so he could fetch them their hot chocolate, and Niko took his with a thanks before sucking it back like it was fucking ambrosia.
August was more timid with his, but he had never tried hot chocolate, especially not with a candy cane flavour. It was sweet, but delicious, and it was the perfect thing to warm them up while the snow fell in waves outside the parkade.
