A few are even saying their kids are mine and photos are sent. A can of worms has been opened. I wish I could stuff it all back inside and rewind the last twelve hours.
I have to tell Stevie. I can’t let her be bombarded like this. I left her sleeping in my bed.
It was the perfect evening. We ordered takeout, played with Caleb, had dinner with our grandmas, and then spent all night wrapped up in each other.
“Everything okay?” Stevie stretches out next to me.
It’s still dark. Caleb is still fast asleep after his big day out, but the buzzing of my phone woke me up.
I flip on the bedside lamp, the soft light bouncing around the room.
“Can we talk?”
A look of dread washes over her face as she sits up. “Is everything okay?”
“Between us? Yes,” I clarify. “But there’s a photo circulating of us from the game last night.”
“What? How? I thought we were in a restricted area?”
I shake my head. “It’s when we were leaving. I thought we were okay, but turns out?—”
“Oh my God. Is Caleb’s face out there? Do they know he’s your son?”
This has me grabbing her by the shoulders and pulling her in for a hug. I bury my face in her neck and breathe in her sweet scent, letting it sink into me and settle my nerves.
Her concern for Caleb is why I’m so far gone for Stevie, it’s not even funny.
“It’s blurry, but his face is there. They haven’t figured out his name, or yours, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“Are you okay?” Her warm hands rest on my back, her fingers rubbing soothing circles on the exposed skin there.
“Not really. People are being cruel. The comments are…well, I don’t even want to share them.”
Stevie pulls back, cupping my cheeks. Her eyes are sad and angry, mirroring my own. “What can I do?”
I kiss the beating pulse of her wrist. “Can you not go looking for it? I don’t want you seeing some of the comments out there.”
“Done.”
“Really? Just like that?”
“If it’s as bad as you say, I don’t need to.”
“It’s bad.” I sit back, checking my phone to see that Caleb is still asleep. “The worst part of all of this is him getting dragged into it. He didn’t ask for his dad to be a hockey star.”
“We’ll do everything we can to protect him. Me, Nan, Eve. You’re not alone in this, Bode.”
“I love you.”
I can’t help it. I can’t keep the words in any longer.
“You what?” Stevie looks stunned.
“I didn’t want to blurt it out like this, but it’s true. I love you, Stevie. The way you care for not only me, but Caleb? You’re one of the only people in my life who doesn’t care that I play hockey. I love you, Stevie, and I wish I could protect you from this, but I can’t, and for that, I’m sorry.”
“Stop it.” She places her hand over my mouth. “Bode, I love you. I love Caleb. As much as you think this is your fault, it’s not. Whoever decided to out us? It’s their fault. They can say whatever they want about us, but we know the truth.”
I smile against her hand and pull it off. “You love me?”
