You. Can. Do. This. （29）

May

End of the Semester

"Holy fucking shitballs," Audrey marveled, which caused Ryan to laugh as they pulled up to the Hayes-Baylor estate in Ryan's Cadillac Escalade-V.

"You can say that again," Ryker chimed in, adjusting his glasses to make sure he was actually seeing what he was seeing.

"Oh, just wait," JT told them, as they all grabbed their bags and headed up the 25 steps to the front door.

The 6,500 square foot, six bed, eight bath Tampa waterfront home boasted an oversized two-car garage and three floors, each with its own primary suite that included a balcony overlooking the bay and the home's private dock. The main floor's enormous great room and dining area provided access to the waterfront terrace, which included an outdoor kitchen, wet bar, and firepit with a view overlooking the salt water pool and hot tub below.

"I grew up in a one-bedroom apartment," Audrey said, admiring the breathtaking view of the outdoor backyard oasis.

"I shared a room with my sister until I was 13," Ryker added. "Then they converted a closet under the stairs into a makeshift bedroom for me."

"This explains so much," JT teased, nudging his boyfriend. "Come on, I'll show you my room."

The two followed JT up to the second floor, mouths agape as they entered his bedroom, which was the home's junior primary suite. Aside from the California king bed, which was dwarfed by the size of the room, it also had an attached office, a custom closet with built-in shelving and cabinetry, a private balcony, and a bathroom with a large, walk-in shower.

"You can just put your bags wherever," he told them, as he tossed his backpack onto his bed and flung himself onto it, pointing to both of them. "Come here."

Audrey and Ryker both climbed onto the bed, each of them sliding next to JT on either side. He placed an arm around them both, kissing Ryker first, then kissing Audrey. "I wanna give you both something just as beautiful to call your own someday," he told them, as he ran his fingers through each of their hair. "You both deserve nothing less."

"You sure you don't wanna reconsider the whole not-playing-hockey-for-a-living thing, baby?" Ryker asked, closing his eyes at the feeling of JT's touch.

"Nah," he said quickly. "Like I said, my parents left me a lot of money, and between Ty and Ryan, a lot of it was invested wisely. Combine that with my salary as a counselor, and I think I'll be just fine."

"You haven't told them yet, have you?" Audrey asked.

JT shook his head. "I'm so nervous, Aud."

"Why's that?"

"What if, like, they don't take it well? I mean, Ty has busted his ass for the past five years, done everything he possibly could to get me into juniors, keep me out of trouble, get me into college, and what? I'm just going to say, ‘Yeah, thanks for all of that. I know I caused you nothing but stress and almost ruined your marriage, but I don't think I wanna play hockey anymore.' Right," he said, sitting up and fidgeting with his hands. "This is gonna go over real well."

Audrey sat up next to him, reaching her hands up to his shoulders and massaging them, causing him to moan and dip his head forward. "Jacob? They love you. I guarantee you whatever decision you make, they will support you. Besides, it's not like you're going to stop playing hockey altogether. You're still gonna play throughout college to keep your scholarship, you just…don't wanna do it for the rest of your life. And what you do wanna do with the rest of your life is incredibly inspiring and important. I really think they're going to be fine with it."

JT sighed. "Aud, you don't know Ty like I know Ty."

"No, I don't. But I know he loves you with his whole heart. And I know that when you love someone with your whole heart, you find happiness in their happiness." She looked over at Ryker, who winked at her. "Right, Ryk?"

"Right," he said, sitting up and placing a hand on JT's back, the three of them leaning in toward each other for a quick, sloppy hug. "It's better to be up front with him, baby. Honestly, this might actually be a good thing for him, might eliminate some of the stress of him constantly having to go to battle for you. Sometimes, when you've been fighting for so long, you forget what peace feels like. Maybe, I don't know…maybe this'll bring him some much-needed peace."

"Yeah, maybe," he said, standing up from the bed and beginning to pace around in front of it. "I'm still just so fucking nervous about it."

"We're both here, baby," Ryker assured him. "Even if things go south, you've got us both here for you. But everything is gonna be OK. I promise."

"Thanks," he said, turning to face both of them, the sight of them sitting so close to each other on his childhood bed causing his dick to immediately take notice. "You know what would really help ease my nerves right now?"

"What's that?" Audrey asked, a smile creeping across her face as she was pretty sure she knew him well enough to know where this was heading.

He approached both of them, running a hand through each of their hair and tugging their heads gently toward him. "A repeat of my birthday. I mean," he began, pushing his full lips into a pout, then leaning down and placing his face within inches of both of theirs. "You want me to be relaxed when I have this conversation with them, don't you? Honestly, I think that would really help me relax, you know?" He turned his head toward Ryker, brushing their lips together ever so slightly.

"Banner?" Ryker whispered onto his lips.

"Yeah, Nerd?"

"Can you, um, try that again without sounding like a full-on sex predator?"

"Sorry," he apologized, pressing his lips into Ryker's and kissing him slowly, then turning toward Audrey and doing the same. "Anyway, I passed all my classes, completed my action plan, got back onto the team, and back into campus housing. I've been such a good boy. So, what are we thinking?" he asked them, the three of them breathing heavily, their hands beginning to wander around each other's bodies.

Audrey and Ryker looked at each other, then back at JT. "We're thinking…maybe you should lock the door, stud."

???

"Stop it!" Audrey said, putting her fork down and waving her hands over her plate as she laughed hysterically. "You're…no you didn't."

They'd spent the day at Ryler, touring the arena, JT showing them around and he and Ryker talking to some 14u boys who had a zillion questions about NCAA hockey. He'd also introduced them to Tyson, who, interestingly enough, was now in a relationship with Matt. Afterward, they'd headed back to the house, taken the Jet Skis out for a quick tour of the bay, then ended with a walk along the private beach before JT and Ty prepared dinner for everyone.

Ty laughed, placing a hand over his heart. "Swear on my fuckin' life, babe."

"You actually took his stick and threw it into the stands?"

"Sure did. He deserved it, too. First time the ref ever had to deal with that shit," Ty said, always down for a chance to relive some of the greatest hits from his glory days as a Bridgeport Islander. "He didn't even know what to call. I think he called it delay, right, Rook?"

Ryan shrugged, setting his fork down, taking his napkin from his lap, and placing it on top of his empty plate. "I don't remember. A lot happened that day."

"Was that the day you got knocked the fuck out and Ryan beat the guy with his stick, then got his ass kicked?" JT asked, as he scanned the table to see Ryker and Audrey's shocked expressions, which didn't disappoint.

"Is this, like, what happens in the AHL?" Ryker asked.

Ryan nodded. "When you played for Bridgeport back in our day? Yep. That team was a certified shit show. How about the night of your 21st birthday, baby?"

Hayes put his head down, shook it a few times, then picked it back up. "Shit. I forgot all about that."

"What happened?" Audrey asked, getting up to begin clearing the plates from the table with Ryan. "Was it better than Jacob's stripper-inflicted nosebleed?"

"Nah, I think that takes the cake," Hayes said. "But, I took almost the entire team out and got them annihilated the night before an away game. We looked like actual zombies and lost, like, 7-3. The game went on forever because everyone kept icing the puck tryin' to get their shifts to end ‘cause we were all hungover as shit."

"That was the first night we hooked up, too," Ryan said, leaning in to kiss Hayes as he took his plate. Hayes raised an eyebrow, and Ryan smiled. " One of the first nights we hooked up, I should say."

"So, how'd you two end up together?" Ryker asked, standing up and beginning to help clear the plates as well. "Also, I'm sorry if that's too forward of me."

Hayes and Ryan looked at each other, then Hayes at JT before looking down. "Nah. It's good. It's just a long story, kid. A long, complicated, painful story. But the ending has been worth every bit of it."

Ryan nodded at him, then took the dishes inside to the main kitchen, followed by Audrey and Ryker.

"Alright, JT," Hayes began, as just the two of them remained at the outdoor dining table on the terrace. "So, I talked to Mike, and it doesn't look like a combine invite is happenin' this year. I know it's a bummer, but I think with you playin' next year, you've got a real shot. He also said that both Anaheim and Calgary have expressed interest in you, pending what you can do next year, so you've got options. You'll train your ass off this summer at Ryler and make sure you're in prime shape come August. Already got you set up with a few of the best D coaches in the area. You'll start next week."

JT's heart immediately dropped into his stomach and he took a few deep breaths to try to calm himself.

You have to tell him.

You can do this.

You. Can. Do. This.

"So, um, about that." JT paused, as Hayes checked his phone, then put it down. "I kinda wanted to talk to you about something."

"OK?" Hayes responded, confused. "What's that?"

"So, you know I've had a hell of a year, right?"

"To say the least."

"Yeah. But, um, I've been thinking about all the stuff that happened, and I kinda came to the realization that, um…" JT stopped, then stood up and pushed his chair in, breathing wildly and trying like hell to get it under control.

"JT, what's goin' on?" Hayes asked, following him over to where he'd wandered to the edge of the terrace and was leaning against the railing. "You good, kid?"

Letting his head fall forward, he exhaled, then let it fly. "Ty, I don't wanna play hockey for a living anymore. I've realized that my, like, passion, my calling, is helping people. I switched my major from sports management to psychology, and I'm gonna work toward becoming a licensed counselor. I'm heading back to campus for the summer, and I'm gonna take on an internship with a therapist." His hands were shaking against the railing and his knees felt like they were going to give out at any moment. "I'm still gonna play, keep my scholarship, but I'm gonna do it for fun. I don't…it's not what I wanna do with my life."

He looked over at Hayes, who refused to make eye contact with him, staring out at the bay, his hands also shaking against the railing, but for a different reason.

"Ty? Can you say something? Please?" JT asked, tears welling up in his eyes.

Hayes sneered, shaking his head in disbelief. "The fuck you want me to say, JT?"

"Anything. Something!" he cried, turning toward Hayes. "Say you're proud of me. Say you support me. Say I'm a complete and utter disappointment. But say…fucking say something, man."

Hayes studied his hands for a bit, then turned and started to walk back inside.

"Ty! Please?"

"What the fuck do you want me to say, JT?" he snapped, turning back around to face him. "After everything the two of us have done for you, after all the…bullshit you put us through, after all the fighting we did just to keep your name clean and help you get to the show, you just wanna fuckin' give up? What the fuck would you like me to say?"

Don't do it.

Don't say it.

Keep your cool.

4-7-8

4-7…

"You know, you're fucking unbelievable!" JT yelled, clenching his fists as his eye began twitching and his posture stiffened. "Deep down, this is exactly how I knew you'd react, and fuck me for thinking you might actually give a shit about what I want for once…"

"All I've done for the past six years is think about what you want!" Hayes shouted, approaching JT and getting in his face. "How many times have I bailed you outta fuckin' jail? How many times have I begged teams and scouts to give you a shot? How many times have me and that fucking man in there been to counseling because of the stress of your bullshit?" Ty jammed his finger into JT's chest. "How many times have I come to your fuckin' rescue so you could make somethin' out of yourself, and this is the thanks I get?"

"Back the fuck up off me, Ty," JT growled through gritted teeth. "Back. The fuck. Up."

"Or what?"

"Back up!" JT screamed into his face.

Hayes, not even blinking, remained firmly in place, he and JT nose to nose. "Do somethin' then," he said calmly. "I fuckin' dare you to, kid."

A hand on JT's shoulder was immediately followed by an arm wrapped around his chest. "Hey. I need you to breathe with me," Audrey said softly into his ear, backing him away from Ty. "In for four, hold for seven, out for eight. Breathe with me, JT, OK?"