My vision blurred. The jubilation from the night before, that wonderful feeling knowing our dreams were almost withinreach, vanished.
It’s over. Coach will kick us off the team. Everyone knows.
Everyone. Knows.
They’d taken it all away from me. They stole my dreams. My hockey career was over. Theo would leave me.
They took away my power to come out on my own terms. My body was exposed. The love I felt for Theo was the object of derision, being passed around by a bunch of assholes on Snapchat like it was a fucking joke.
It came on fast. I rose to my feet and darted to the bathroom. I felt so violated. My sweetie was in despair. Someone did this to us, intentionally. It was all too much. I crashed through the bathroom door and didn’t even make it to the stall. Everything I’d eaten that day came back up, and it wasn’t stopping. I was on all fours in the middle of the bathroom floor, vomiting.
The door swung open. “Asher! Baby!”
Theo came and rubbed my back. I was heaving and sobbing at the same time. There was nothing in me, but I kept throwing up—the horrible retching sound echoing all around us.
The door swung open again. “Jesus! Is he okay? Should we call an ambulance or something?”
It was a male voice. Maybe the manager? I didn’t fucking know. I didn’t know anything except that my life was over.
“No, we’re okay, I’ve got him,” Theo replied. He continued rubbing my back as he whispered, “Baby, breathe. You have to breathe.” Despite his soothing touch and soft voice, my body still shook. Someone did this to us. Who could be so fucking vile and hateful to do something so—
Then it hit me.
I knew exactly who did it.
Mason.
Theo
I kept looking at Asher as I drove us home because I was so worried. Part of me wanted to take him to see a doctor because I was almost positive he was having a breakdown. He rested his head in his hand, covering his eyes, but the tears continued rolling down his cheeks. Every few seconds, he’d release a sob that made me want to pull over and wrap him in my arms.
“I know who did it,” he croaked out.
I nearly slammed my foot on the brake.He does?“Who? How do you know?” I asked.
Asher lowered his hand, shaking his head with a bitter look on his face that made my gut hurt. “Mason did it. I know it.”
Honestly, it made sense. The whole team knew Mason was jealous of Asher, but I never thought someone would do that to his teammate. I’d always had my teammates’ backs—except for Davis, because I was in love with Asher and didn’t know it. Okay, so jealousy makes us do some fucked up things. Still, I’d never try to ruin a teammate’s life.
“He’ll get his,” I assured Asher.
He let out a spiteful laugh, then started bellowing, “No, he won’t. None of those guys gets theirs. I’ve spent my whole fucking life dealing with those assholes, and theyneverget what they deserve.” Asher’s breathing became erratic, his clenched fists shaking as he continued to speak. “I hate them. Ihatethem, Theo. I don’t deserve this.Wedon’t deserve this. We deserve to be happy! Why can’t they just let us be fucking happy?”
He was screaming, sobbing, and shaking while he let it all out. He was falling apart, and I needed to do something. I pulled the car over and pulled him into my arms. “Baby. Wearehappy. Aren’t we?”
Asher stilled, then looked up at me with a questioning look in his eyes. “Of course, I’m happy with you. But…”
“But what?” I asked. “Think about it. Have you ever been happier?”
The hurt in Asher’s eyes diminished, and his brow smoothed out. “No. This is the happiest I’ve ever been.”
This is good. I’m snapping him out of it.“I’ve never been happier, too. No matter what happens with hockey,we,” I motioned between the two of us to drive the point home, “will be happy.
“I’m so sorry, Theo. You’re right. I just feel so stupid, you know?”
“I mean, same, babe, but we’ll survive. I’m not ashamed of being with you. We did a dumb thing, but we didn’t hurt anyone. We didn’t drink ten beers, then get into a car accident. We got a little carried away and sucked each other off in a locker room. It ain’t the first time that’s ever happened.”
Asher choked out a laugh. “I guess you’re right. It’s just so…”
