Page 184 of Over the Line

I didn’t think a text had ever made my heart slam harder against my ribs. Though I’d known it was coming, it still sent my heart into my throat. With unsteady hands, I struggled to write back.

Of course. When & where?

Just got done with practice. Can meet you at your place?

Sitting back against Liam’s couch, I considered agreeing to that, but if he’d just finished with practice, there was no point in both of us driving clear out to the South Hills. He wasn’t far from Sewickley Heights right now.

I can meet you at yours. Less of a drive for you.

Ok. I’m heading out now.

I was instantly on my feet and hurrying out to Liam’s garage.

Be there ASAP.

As the garage door opened, I sent a text to Liam.

Going to talk to Chris.

Okay. Hope it goes well.

I wanted to ask how things had gone at the training center. Liam had been sure they were going to have another sitdown with their general manager, and even if they didn’t, they still had to be on the same ice together. They’d also still had to prove they could play together like normal. I wanted to ask, but every moment I sat here in my idling car texting with Liam was another moment things were unresolved with Chris.

I’d find out soon enough how this morning went. First things first, I left Liam’s place and headed for Chris’s townhouse.

When Chris let me in, his expression betrayed nothing but fatigue. Some of that was probably from having a newborn in the house, but I doubted that was the whole story. Not when he was avoiding my gaze.

We stood in his kitchen instead of sitting in his living room; I suspected he was too restless to sit. I could relate.

Silence hung between us for a long moment. I wasn’t sure if he was waiting for me to speak or if he was trying to gather his thoughts. Either way, there was something I need to get off my chest first.

“I’m sorry, Chris,” I said.

“I know.” He sighed and fidgeted. “You guys really were going to tell me?”

I nodded. “After the season was over. We weren’t trying to go behind your back or hide anything. Just… with the baby and your rookie season, we didn’t want overwhelm you.”

“But why would you think it would overwhelm me?” He locked eyes with me. “You’re dating Liam.” He shrugged. “So what?”

It figured—I’d worked myself up over this stressing him out, and it turned out he didn’t care. He was just upset that we’d kept it from him. Trust me to find a way to make this into a shitstorm when I could’ve just told him from the start.

I sighed. “I guess—I thought you might see it that way, but there was also the chance you wouldn’t. I can’t even tell you why I thought you wouldn’t like it. I was just worried you would, and I… guess I played my hand so carefully it backfired.” My shoulders dropped. “Just like I didn’t tell your grandpa I was queer because I was so worried—even as an adult—about what he’d think. And now that he knows…”

Chris tensed. “How did he take it?”

I laughed humorlessly. “Better than I ever thought he would. He apologized for letting me think I couldn’t tell him. I…” I rubbed the back of my stiff neck and swore under my breath. “I’ve made a lot of messes for myself and caused a lot of stress for other people by holding things back when I just should’ve fucking said something. And I wish I hadn’t had to learn that the hard way—over and over again—because I keep hurting the people I’m trying to protect.” My voice wavered as I added, “I keep hurting my kids.”

Chris watched me for a moment, chewing his lip. “Listen, I think I went off hotter than I should have. I didn’t even think it was that big of a deal, you being with him. It was just humiliating to have—the way it all happened…” He waved his hand. “I’m sorry. I think if you guys had just told me when you were ready, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, you know?”

“You really wouldn’t have been upset I was with your teammate?”

He quirked his lips. “I mean, it would’ve been weird, but like—you guys are both adults.” He shrugged. “Liam’s a good guy. If I’d found out from you and him, I think it would’ve surprised me, but I can’t really think of a reason to be mad about it.”

I deflated and leaned against the counter. “I was tying myself in knots over it, thinking you wouldn’t be happy or that we’d stress you out somehow, and then… this.”

“You couldn’t have known it would come out like that.”

“It was always a risk,” I whispered. “With Liam being so high-profile.”