“You’re still weird this morning.”
“Still tired.”
“Packy.” His voice softened, which scared the hell out of me because Dog was usually loud. “I’m happy for you, but you have to protect your heart. Reporters are baiting you, and fans hold up signs at games like they know everything. Shit gets twisted.”
I flinched. My stomach tightened the way it had in my hotel room.
Dog didn’t miss it. “I’m not saying Nico will hurt you. He looks at you like you hung the goddamn moon. But this is a lot, being with a man for the first time, with the whole world watching.”
I stared at the tray table. “I know.”
While we ate, I wondered what was new on social media, then told myself not to look. Five minutes later, I had Instagram open. Bad idea.
The first post on my feed was from a hockey media account with over a million followers. The photo was from the event in San Francisco. It showed Nico and me mid-moment, facing each other, eyes locked as if nothing else mattered.
The caption hit like a punch:
Is Warriors’ Kirby Paquette Gay?
Sources say the chemistry between Paquette and Nico Rossi is real.
My mouth went dry as I tapped to expand the text.
League sources say Paquette has been privately exploring his sexuality. A teammate described the dynamic as “close friendship,” but the evidence suggests something more. Fans have noticed the shift from hostile rivalry to a level of comfort that raises questions. Is the Warriors forward testing new waters with Rossi, who is openly gay? This is a developing story.
My heart rattled like a snare drum. I set my phone on the tray table and struggled to breathe.
Dog glanced over. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Well, reporters.”
His eyebrows shot up when he looked down at my phone. “Fuck, Packy.”
All I could think about was Nico opening Instagram and seeing this. He’d probably wonder if it would make me freak out, if he should pull back before I did. After how things went earlier, the thought scared the shit out of me.
Dog rested a hand on my knee. “Nobody with a brain takes this stuff seriously. You okay?”
I nodded. “Tired.” Turning toward the window, I stared at the clouds drifting beneath us.
Please don’t let Nix see that post before I can talk to him.
A few hours later, I FaceTimed him as soon as I got home.
“Hey, baby.” His smile filled the screen. “Been waiting to talk to you all day.”
He sounded normal, so I took my first deep breath in hours. “Me too. I miss you so goddamn much.”
“No more than I miss you. Four more days until our event in Buffalo.” He cocked his head. “I’ll be staying with you, right?”
“Just try to get out of it.”
“Exactly what I wanted to hear.” He leaned back and gazed into my eyes. “I’m so happy to hear from you. Let’s talk about anything but hockey.”
The static faded. At least for now.
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