"Love you, too, Seggy. I need to find my other jersey. The home jersey," she said, but Seg knew she was talking to herself. "I can't wear this one to a home game. Hmm."
"Ma, I'm going to let you go now."
"All right, Seggy. Love you. Talk to you soon."
Seg hung up the phone and pulled up his text message app.
WHEN CAM AND GANNON LEFT, Roan bathed Liam, got him dressed for bed, then offered him a little bit of the infant cereal the doctor recommended they try out. The kid was a healthy eater, that was for sure. However, Roan decided they'd do the bath after dinner in the future since his boy was also a messy eater.
Once he'd cleaned Liam up for a second time, Roan changed him, then put him in his bed. The boy would probably sleep for several hours. He usually did after spending any amount of time with Cam. The guy spent so much time entertaining Liam it was a wonder how neither of them fell asleep where they sat.
Since the day Cam had found out about Liam, and Roan had come out to the rest of his friends, everyone seemed infatuated with the little boy. Not that Roan could blame them. Liam was the cutest kid ever. He liked that Liam would get to grow up with so much love around him. Between Cam and Gannon, Dare and Noah, Hudson and Teague, and Milly and AJ, the kid was set.
Roan's phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out, glancing at the screen.
The smile on his face was instant and automatic.
Hockey boy: Love the pic. Thank you for that.
Roan had entered Seg's name initially but changed it to hockey boy for one reason only. To protect Seg. Although he didn't want to live his life hiding, Roan would do what he needed in order to keep Seg's career safe. If the man decided to come out publicly, it would be his choice, not because Roan fucked anything up for him.
Roan: I wish I could say Liam watched the whole game.
Hockey boy: The bigger question is, did you watch?
Roan: Of course. Not an easy feat when my friends kept eyeing me every time you came on the screen.
Hockey boy: I take it they've figured us out.
Roan: They won't say anything.
Hockey boy: I'm actually smiling, Roan. I'm not worried. It's not the people close to you that I'm worried about.
Roan: I get it.
Hockey boy: Do you?
Roan: Yeah. I do.
Hockey boy: I've invited my mother to come to Texas. I want to tell her in person. I think it's time to let her know the truth. She knows me too well. She knows something's different.
Even now, a grown man with a child, Roan could admit to a certain insecurity when it came to trusting that people wouldn't react badly. He'd learned long ago that just because someone claimed to love you didn't necessarily ring true when it came to certain things.
Roan couldn't deny the fear that trembled beneath his skin. He remembered coming out to his parents. The way his mother blew a gasket, the way his father sat there, staring at him like he couldn't have possibly heard him correctly. Although his mother hated him after that and his father acted indifferent, Roan didn't regret telling them. As a teenager, it had been a weight on his shoulders that threatened to tear him down. He couldn't imagine having lived his entire life in the dark.
Roan: How do you think she'll take it?
Hockey boy: To tell you the truth, I don't know. But my mother's love has always been unconditional. That's why I want to give her the respect she deserves and tell her before she hears it from someone else.
Roan: Someone else? You've told others?
Hockey boy: No. But I'm scared I won't hide it well. I don't want to hide you, Roan. Not from anyone. If it gets out, that's on me. I think I'm going to talk to Phoenix. Get his perspective.
Roan: The owner? The one who's bisexual?
Hockey boy: Yeah. He's not in a position to pass judgment. Doesn't mean he'll think it's a good idea.
Roan: I get it.
He did get it. Roan understood the sports world. He knew there were a few professional athletes who had come out of the closet. Since he never heard much after the fact, he didn't know if that was because they'd disappeared or if they'd managed to go about their normal lives because people were willing to overlook it. Not everyone, of course. Roan wasn't naïve. Although he lived in a fairly sheltered world where being out was okay-his friends were all out-Roan knew it wasn't that easy for everyone.
Hell, it hadn't been easy for him. There were times he hated himself because of what his mother had done. The fact that she packed her shit and abandoned the family, blaming him solely, had hurt more than he was willing to admit. But that was a lifetime ago, and he'd since come to terms with it.
Mostly.
Roan: I'm here, whatever you need.
Hockey boy: I need you, Roan. That's what I need.
Roan felt heat swamp him. He wasn't sure Seg's statement was a sexual one, but that didn't stop his body from coming to life. If he allowed himself to think about it, he knew he missed Seg. He wanted to see him, to spend time with him, to watch him hold Liam and smile the way he had the first time. This was new for him. But he wasn't running from it.