Phil mooned a few Boston fans in the stands, bendingover and pulling his shorts down to reveal more of his feathers. Chuckles erupted around the arena, and Chase smiled at the brief distraction from Tobias’ stretches. When he glanced back to find the goalie on the ice, Tobias stood and faced them.
“Maddie, look,” Natalie pointed out. “Uncle Toby is searching for you. Wave so he can see you better.”
Madison jumped up from her chair and waved her hands frantically, shouting, “Go Oby!”
Chase giggled at Madison’s excitement. When he turned back to the ice, Tobias waved to them. He slipped off his massive glove and blew a kiss up toward them, and Chase could have sworn he was making eye contact with him rather than Madison, but that was highly unlikely. They were seated in the middle of the lower level with what were probably other family members of players on the ice, and Tobias had probably aimed those gestures at Madison.
“I think that one was for you, Chase,” Natalie muttered over Madison’s head. “Ya know, I love him, but he can be a bit of an idiot. Especially when it comes to the people he cares about. Don’t give up on him just yet.”
Chase’s gaze snapped to Natalie and the sweet, mischievous smile on her face.
When he faced Tobias, he found him wearing a wide grin, something he hardly ever did on the ice.
How Chase wished for Natalie to be right, but hedidn’t want to pretend. Chances were the kiss was for his family, not him.
Tobias continued gazing in their direction and shot a wink their way. A teammate skated up to him, pulling his attention away, and Chase gasped. He’d forgotten to breathe and had to make up for the lack of oxygen getting to his brain. He told himself it wasn’t for him. It couldn’t be. Tobias made it clear he wasn’t ready for the public to know about his sexuality.
“Tobias invited us to visit the locker room after the game,” Grace said, putting an end to his racing thoughts. “Will you join us, Chase?”
“Uh, I-I don’t know,” Chase said. “Isn’t that for family?”
“No, of course not. The players can invite whoever they want,” Natalie said.
“I’m not sure if Tobias really wants me there.”
“Please, Chase?Pleasecome with us,” Madison said as she stared up at him. “You have to come to the locker room with me. I’ve never been there before. What if we get lost?”
“I’m sure one of the people working here would help you get there,” Chase said.
“No, Chase, I want yooooou!” Madison begged, her eyes beginning to water.
Chase’s gaze bounced between Madison, Natalie and Grace.
Both Grace and Natalie had their lips sucked between their teeth, like they were fighting saying more, while Madison was on the edge of having a full-blown tantrum.
“Okay, okay, don’t worry,” Chase said, reaching over to lightly squeeze her shoulder. “I’ll go with you and make sure you don’t get lost.”
A switch flipped and Madison went from nearly bawling in the middle of the arena to beaming at him like he told her he planned on taking her to Disney World.
“Yay!” Madison squealed, and Natalie patted her on the head.
There was something odd about the interaction, but Chase had bigger things to worry about.
He’d go to the Philly Inferno’s locker room after the game, where retired hockey legends—including Tobias—would congregate with their loved ones.
Chase didn’t belong in that category. Loved ones were people you weren’t afraid to admit to loving.
But if Tobias really wanted him there…
Was it possible the kiss and wink were for him? Or was he just hoping?
Either way, this would be a long-ass game.
27
TOBIAS WAS IN HIS element. Between the smell of the ice, the roar of the fans, the sensation of a puck bouncing off one of his pads or hitting his glove, it felt as if he’d never left the ice.
He was surrounded by retired pros, most of them in their late thirties and forties, but some even older. And Tobias dominated.
