Page 166 of Arctic Titans of Northwood U: Volume 1

Caden waited for me as I dressed. We were the last ones in the locker room. When I was ready to go, I leaned against the wall and watched him for a moment in the tranquility of the empty space that normally bustled with activity.

“Are you worried?” he asked.

He knew the answer, but something else dawned on me as he stepped toward me. “Not as much as I was before.”

He couldn’t help himself but smile. He was the source of my courage. “Let’s go, then,” he said, giving me his hand.

I was ready to take it. Wherever it took us, we’d go there together. “Do you realize we could have been together all along had I not had a crappy day when we met?” I told him.

Caden snickered and squeezed my hand. “Nah. It wouldn’t have worked out. I liked you, but I needed to get all the anger out of my system.”

I whistled. “Me too, actually. You wouldn’t have liked me for long if we’d hooked up right away.”

“What? The bratty, self-centered, cocky winger with an ego? Yeah, I doubt it,” he teased.

I glared at him threateningly. You’ll pay for that with your ass, my love, the look said. “And I’m not sure I would have fallen in love with the righteous prick you used to be.”

We reached the main exit before Caden would vow to have his revenge for these words. Out in the cold air, I clutched his hand harder for a moment but then released him. A dozen paces ahead, my uncle stood just outside the pool of light falling from the street lamp. He was still like a statue, looking away.

I looked at Caden. “Could you give me a minute?”

He nodded without another word. I knew he was here if I needed him, but I had to face my uncle alone. No matter what the outcome was, I had to look into his eyes and discover it for myself.

I walked up to him with all my courage, most of which was fake, and cleared my throat. “Did I shock you?”

He jerked like he had been deep in thought until he heard my voice. “Shock me?” He chuckled. “I’m not so easily spooked, Beck.”

We faced each other and he stepped into the ring of light. There was something heavy and serious in his features. I couldn’t decipher it, but it was at odds with his words. It was odd because he evenly filled me with hope and dread.

“It takes courage to pull a stunt like that,” he said.

“A stunt?” I was offended before I could process it. “I love him.”

Uncle Nate waved his hand to stop me right there. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way, Son.”

I drew a sharp breath. He still called me that. So, he wasn’t disowning me, I gathered.

“It’s a brave thing you did,” he said. Still, his words clashed with the heaviness in his eyes. “Most guys my age wouldn’t have dared to come close back in the day. But I…” He shrugged. “I’m proud of you, Beck.” Regrets of a lifetime welled in his eyes and my breaths grew even shallower.

“Uncle Nate?” I asked, a frown wrinkling my forehead.

He smiled warmly now, which scared me almost as much as his broodiness had. “I am, Beck. Sports have always had a hard time accepting anyone who is different, which is hypocritical when the entire point was to be different in another way. But times are changing. And young people making a statement puts a smile on my face. I’m proud of you, Son.” He set a hand on my shoulder, effectively cutting off every trace of thought I’d had before and forcing me to think about his words now.

“I didn’t mean it as a statement,” I said, slightly confused. “I just love him.”

Uncle Nate gave a deep nod. “And that’s a statement on its own, Beck. But…I’m happy for you. Come here.” And he wrapped his arms around my body, holding me still. He had always been the prime example of an athlete in my mind. I had shaped myself in his image. This strong man, muscled and confident, excelled in everything he cared for but still found the time to be a decent human being.

I hugged him hard. “I was so scared to tell you.”

“To tell me? Why, Beckett? You know you can always talk to me. Besides, it’s not my job to dictate anyone’s happiness.” He pulled back from me after the hug and shook his head pitifully at me.

I licked my lips, then turned my head to Caden and gestured for him to join us. “I want you to meet him,” I told Uncle Nate quietly.

Caden stepped forward, antsy but feigning confidence. He must have gathered by now that it had gone well. And when he joined us, he thrust his hand towards my uncle.

“So, you’re the guy who’s making my nephew have all those silly grins, huh?” Uncle Nate asked, shaking Caden’s hand and clasping his shoulder.

“Caden Jones, Sir,” my love said.