Page 77 of These Wicked Hearts

“And I will get that Cup before I retire. I can promise you that.”

I snort. “Okay, sure.”

He bumps my shoulder lightly. “So, why did you really leave?” The question hits and settles somewhere under my ribs. I think about last season. About the locker room after wins. Grey yelling over everyone not listening to him because we were all hyped up. Oli shoving me into walls, laughing when I shoved him back. The constant arguing, bickering, and play fighting. We were a family.

Maybe I’ve been thinking about this all wrong. I’ve spent so much time trying not to take up space, trying to not be too difficult or need much from anyone. Maybe it’s time I started making some noise. “I needed a change. Believe me, Oli is more than okay.”

Theo smirks immediately. “Coming home to that fine man? I’m sure he is.” I roll my eyes, but I can feel myself smile. “Can I tell you a secret?” Something mischievous lights up his face suddenly. I nod carefully. “Andre and I used to hook up years ago.”

My brain short circuits. Of all the things I expected him to say tonight, that somehow didn’t cross my mind. “What?!”

Theo bursts out laughing. “Don’t tell anybody. Especially Oli. I don’t need that heat on my back.”

“Oh, that is definitely deadly information to hand to me.”

“I think he already knows,” Theo says, still grinning. “He’s been extra aggressive with me on the ice lately.” His eyes sparkle with amusement.

It’s strange hearing him talk like this. No shame or hesitation. Just open and honest. Years ago, we wouldn’t have brought these things up. Sometimes fans think we stop being human once we hit the ice. We don’t. We’re human. We all have families and lives beyond this game. Some of us are queer. Some of us aren’t. Some of us are just barely getting by inside the mental prison our minds make up.

I haven’t thought about coming out. It’s not something I want to do. I like my privacy. Still, I know conversations like this matter, and I love that we’re having them now. “How’s it been for you?” I ask quietly. “Since you came out publicly.”

Theo thinks for a moment.

“Not so bad.” He shrugs. “Could be worse.” The answer feels practiced. Not dishonest, but maybe not the whole truth.

“Do you have someone?”

Theo goes quiet long enough to make me regret asking. I shouldn’t have pushed. Finally, he looks over at me with a small smile. “There’s someone,” he says softly. “But I don’t have him.” Theo takes a long pull from his drink. “But he sure as hell has me.”

I open my mouth to ask, but he turns to me and smiles, clapping his hand against my shoulder.

“I’m glad you came, Atlas. It’s nice talking to you.”

I follow him back into the house where yelling immediately crashes over us.

“Interference!”

“How is it interference?!” Knox shouts. “It’s pool, not hockey.”

“What the hell’s going on?”

Layton throws both hands up dramatically. “Knox’s meaty fucking hand bumped the table and moved the ball I was about to sink!”

“You were nowhere near the ball,” Knox argues. “It moved millimeters. Millimeters, Lay! You were not making that shot.”

“Yes, I would have!”

“Rematch, right now!”

Layton pulls back, cradling his wrist. “My hand’s cramping.”

“Excuses from a loser.”

I laugh, the tension in my chest easing a bit, and Knox shakes his head, looking at me.

“Are you ready to go? I’m beat.”

I look at the guys and nod. “Yeah, sure.”