“This is the tip of the iceberg.”
I can’t resist. “I promise I’m sturdier than the Titanic and can handle anything.”
“Okay, Dad—”
I cut him off by kissing him goodnight … or afternoon.
Chapter Twenty
JET
Soren says he can handle anything, but the paparazzi, going straight from the airport to a meeting to turning around and going back to the airport less than forty-eight hours later, it really is just the beginning.
Benji and Freya do a double take when they drag their asses out of bed the next day.
We’ve been awake since four thanks to passing out when we should’ve made ourselves stay awake.
“Hockey dude?” Benji asks through heavy-lidded eyes.
“Whoa, I’m surprised you remember him with how many brain cells you’ve killed in the last two years.”
Benji looks like he wants to protest but doesn’t. “Do we have shit to do today?”
“Nope. We’re supposed to hide out until we make our reappearance in Seattle tomorrow and be all ‘Surprise, I’m all better and have a new boyfriend. Go me!’”
“Do we have to hide?” Freya asks.
“I dunno. Call Luce. Soren and I are housebound though.”
“We thought you were in your room sulking all night,” Benji says. “Guess we know what you were doing.”
“Yep, and wanna hear the dirty, dirty truth? We fucking slept. Fiji is far.”
They laugh.
“We will be doing that all day though, if you two wanna go out.” I don’t give them a chance to respond before nodding for Soren to go upstairs.
“Nice to see you guys again.” He makes a run for it.
Before I can follow him, Freya, the ninja jumps in front of me.
“What’s the story?”
“Yeah, what’s the story?” Benji asks.
“He’s coming on tour with us. The label is worried about Harley and me, he doesn’t have to report for preseason until September, so it’s a win-win everywhere.”
“Have you spoken to Harley?” Freya asks.
“Nope. Because that’s what exes do. Don’t talk to each other.”
“So he has no idea you’re with someone else?” Benji whistles. “And you say we’re full of drama.” He waves a finger between him and Freya.
She scowls at him.
I’ve seen how this plays out a million times. “You two should get married already. Now, unless you want to see a whole lot of gay sex, don’t bother us.”
“Will you judge me if I say I wouldn’t mind seeing that?” Freya jokes.
“Judge, no, but I will tell the tabloids you have crabs if you come knocking.” I kiss the top of her head and run upstairs.
When I get up there, Soren’s not naked like I expect. He’s pacing and talking to someone on his phone.
“Yeah, okay. I’ll ask. Yep. I’ll get you the number. Uh-huh …” He spots me. “Damon, I have to go. Go back to your vacation.” He ends the call and throws his phone on the bed.
“What is it?” I ask, deflated.
“We’re big news already. Damon needs Luce’s number or the number for your PR department at the label in case any damage control is needed.”
“Damage control? Does it matter who you date?” I didn’t even think of that.
“It’s not a big deal. The media wasn’t interested in me and Bryce because he was a no one. It’ll be different with you, and I’m only contracted for this season, so it’s just Damon being his usual cautious self. He’s worried about how it could affect next season’s contract negotiations.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I never would’ve let you get tied up in my media bullshit.”
Soren approaches and wraps his damn arms around me, making me melt into him. “I chose to be here. It’s okay.”
“What if you don’t get another contract because of this?”
“I will.”
“What can I do to make it better? We can tell everyone we’re fucking around instead of trying to push some loved-up relationship on them.”
Soren runs a hand through his hair. “That might be worse.” He pulls me down so we’re sitting on the end of the bed. “So, everyone knows there are all those puck bunny sites and single guys pop up there all the time partying with different girls. This is seen as relatively acceptable by the teams and the NHL in general because it’s always going to happen. What they don’t like to see is married guys on there. While they haven’t explicitly said it, they’ve hinted about not wanting me on such a site with guys.”
I frown. “I don’t understand.”
“Being gay in the league is scandalous as it is. Even three years after Ollie and I have come out. We have morality clauses in our contracts, and you saw what that did to your brother when photos leaked of him with some guy on his knees.”
“Meaning …”
“The NHL would probably rather me not date you at all or …” Soren lets me get to the conclusion myself.
“Or the opposite. Be in a fully-committed relationship.”
“But that is way too much pressure to put on us right now, and I don’t want to do that. So, we’ll play this by ear. See what happens. Damon and Luce can keep an eye on the media coverage for us.”