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“I thought we did,” Jed said. “I mean, I thought we both want what we have now. Nothing needs to change as far as I’m concerned.”

“But what does that mean, exactly? Like, you offered me a place to stay for the rest of the season. Not to move in with you for three years.”

“Do you want your own place?”

“I want to know what you want.” Meeting Jed’s eyes was easier now, because this conversation was so familiar already, and it looked like they’d get to keep having it again and again.

“I want this. You, here. Why would I want you to move?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I asked.”

“I want you to stay,” Jed said, grabbing his hips and tugging him closer. “But I also want to know what you want.”

Remy reached up to kiss him, long and hard. “You always want to know what I want.”

“I do.” Jed kissed him back and then rested his forehead against Remy’s. “Shouldn’t be a surprise. So?”

“I want this. I want to stay here with you.”

“Good.” Jed pulled him in even tighter and kissed him even harder. Slid one hand up to his neck and pushed his way into Remy’s mouth and practically ate him up.

Like he’s been holding it in, Remy realized. Like Jed hadn’t wanted to pressure Remy into a decision, because he loved him. And didn’t that make Remy feel tingly all over.

“I do want to go to Montreal for at least a couple of weeks, though,” said Remy when he came up for air again. “With you, if you’d like.”

“Yeah. I would like that.”

“And then I want to come back home so you can show me what’s so great about the mountains in the summer.”

“Home, eh?” Jed asked, looking at him with a gaze so warm that Remy thought he might melt.

“Well, you know.” He was melting, his legs were going to give out, he was going to be a puddle on the floor.

“I guess I do.” Jed pulled Remy in closer, like he knew exactly what was happening in Remy’s head. “It’s a plan, then. You take me to Montreal, and then I’ll bring you home.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

DECEMBER 31

“We can leave soon, if you’ve had enough.” Remy found Jed propped up against the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the chaos. It was New Year’s Eve, and Petey and Jake were throwing a Cap-approved rager in the penthouse they’d upgraded to the previous summer.

Well. It was a rager by Cap’s standards, which meant a “mellow evening with good vibes and good beer,” per Petey’s invite to the team group chat. The music was louder than his use of the word “mellow” had implied, and there was a lot of tequila in addition to plenty of beer, but Cap was dancing with Bakesy in the middle of the room, so he probably wasn’t too annoyed.

“It’s fine.” Jed’s mouth did the half twitch that still always made Remy’s heart speed up. “I was actually just thinking, I’m going to miss this.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“I mean, it’s the last year on my contract. I don’t know if I’m going to sign again.”

“Really?” Remy knew, in the back of his mind, that it was Jed’s last contract year. But Jed was still the starting goalie, part of the backbone of the team. There was no question that the Blizzards would sign Jed again if he wanted.

“Really. But I wouldn’t mind helping you win a Cup first.”

Remy laughed. “Wanna put a ring on it, eh?” And then he blushed because yeah, he heard how that sounded, and it didn’t come out quite like the joke he’d intended.

Jed put a hand on Remy’s back and pulled him in close. The team was used to it at this point. No one gave them a second glance.

“I would, you know. If that was important to you.”