Page 53 of Date With Skates

The moment Nico and I meet, he comments about how I look like I was up all night getting fucked. I wish. Would have been better than what I did.

Toss and turn because I couldn’t stop thinking about Connor.

Maybe I cried a time or two, not that I would ever admit that out loud.

I don’t correct Nico when he makes the comments though, because it’s easier to let him think I was doing something so superficial. And eventually, he gives up and leaves me alone.

If I’m not giving it back to him, he knows something is wrong, and it’s time to back off.

I don’t speak a word until we get to the airport and are walking to our gate.

“Is our terminal located in Montreal? Christ,” I mutter as we turn another corner and keep walking. How the hell is this airport so big? And why do we have to walk? Why aren’t we being chauffeured? They have transportation at airports. I’ve seen those little vehicles in the Orlando, Florida airport. They need those here, and we should be in them. I’m with Nico Laurent, for fuck’s sake. We shouldn’t be walking.

Though trying to figure out where the hell we are going is keeping my mind busy enough that I don’t break down in tears or run away and hide in a corner. Especially when I thought I heard Connor’s laugh from one of the terminals. I didn’t look though, because I was afraid of what I would see.

When we spot our gate, I get a wave of panic that I’m not going to have anything else to keep me busy and everyone will see me have a fit over a stupid hockey player that I shouldn’t even care about.

“You want to get food before we sit down?” I ask.

“No,” Nico snaps.

I don’t say anything about the bad attitude, because it will only make it worse. Plus, I’m not in a very good mood myself. If he feels half of what I’m feeling, I can’t blame him for being miserable. It’s a miracle we haven’t gotten into an actual fight with the way we’re feeling.

We pass by a small food cart, and I stare at it a little too long.

“If you want food, don’t let me stop you.”

I consider getting something, because food is always a comfort, but I’m not feeling it.

Honestly… I think it’ll just sit in my stomach.

I sigh and shake my head.

Is this how it’s going to be now? Everything is going to remind me of him?

Kill me now.

When we see our fathers waiting for us at the gate, our spirits lift. I feel it in myself, but also from Nico. Family is important to us. We’re all very close.

Nico’s father hugs him first, congratulating him, and then my father goes in to give his congratulations.

“Great. You’re the favorite family member now,” I grumble.

“I always was,” he whispers cockily.

If my father’s arms weren’t still around him, I’d shove him.

“You’re still my favorite son,” my father whispers to me when he hugs me next. “Tu le seras toujours.”

I can’t help but smile at his words. Ever since I was little, he’s said the same thing. That I’m his favorite son and I always will be.

Well, yeah. Obviously. I’m an only child. Still, it’s sweet, and makes me feel even better about being back home.

It takes forever for our luggage to come around the track, but we finally get it and then we’re heading home. Further away from our hockey players.

Of course I’m happy to be home though. I miss my family, and not having to be at Nico’s every beck and call is a relief. To be fair, he went easy on me, but knowing he could have played that card at any point kept me on my toes. Had he not met Roman, he’d have annoyed me a lot more. But I know most of his free time was taken up by Roman, and for that I am grateful. I’ve traveled with him plenty of times to know how he is, and when he’s in a mood, he gets bossy.

I spot all the cars the moment we turn onto our street. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this sooner. Of course our family would throw a party for Nico. He won a gold medal! They’ll be celebrating for years to come.