Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

LO

Pregnant lady erased her live reaction to reading the paternity test. Unfortunately for her, there were many— many —who recorded, and those posts have gone viral many times over. Honestly, I've watched it several times. Her arrogance. The way she taunted Caulder that now he wouldn't be able to deny her, and he'd have to be a father to her baby.

Imagine her shock and horror. Just picture it. As she reads it. "What is this shit? How did you manage to tamper with the DNA test? That's bullshit and you know it!"

She doesn't actually show the test online. She fumes for a solid three minutes before ending the video. It disappeared from her profile, only to reappear when she's tagged no less than two dozen times as others repost her recorded live with captions like, "If you're going to tell the story, keep the truth posted too." And, "What, you don't want proof of your lies?" My favorite by far is "Caulder Haines is far too gay for you, girl."

I may have laughed at that one. I even liked the post. Whatever. I'm sure my like is lost somewhere in their notifications.

This chick remained silent for days. Days! I thought she'd finally gone away and given Caulder the peace he craved and deserved. Nope. As soon as she was served with court papers notifying her of being sued for defamation and other stuff I only slightly understood—lawyers have their own damn language—she was back and ranting again.

"You can't fudge a DNA test and then sue me for speaking up. This is shit and you know it. Just another man refusing to take responsibility for their actions. I will win this, you know. I have the fucking baby proof."

My irritation for her may have spiked again. She should have just stayed away. Now she's just adding more to the case against her. Maybe she doesn't have a lawyer yet.

However, Caulder is mostly oblivious to her ranting online. The truth is out in the world and that's all he cared about. As far as he's concerned, she's no longer an issue.

He's right. She's not. The paternity test has made her bed for her. It relieved him of any presumed guilt and freed him of her claims entirely. Even if she refuses to believe the test results, it's not even like the test results had even the slightest percentage of probability where she could claim it possible. It was a 0% likelihood. Zero!

Caulder is back to who he was a month ago before she showed up online with her bullshit claims. What I appreciate about this whole thing is that, in a very public forum, it shows not all men are guilty because a woman accuses them of something. Women can also be an abuser. Just as was proven in the famous case against the legendary pirate actor and his estranged wife.

What I don't appreciate is the way the entire justice system is a lie. We like to pretend everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but in reality, everyone is treated as guilty until they're proven innocent. And that's the bandwagon everyone jumps on. No one will look at the accused and ask them their story. No one listens to the accused when they tell their truth. It's only upon absolute certainty that science provides when finally, the veil of guilt is lifted, and the truth of innocence is finally believed.

I'd like to say something about this has given me some faith in humanity, but I'm not sure there's a positive outlook on this.

"Ready, Lo?" Keno calls.

One of our favorite things to do is mess around on the ice. Most of the time, we're just playing. Sometimes we play two on two with Horny in goal, and we trade off who's attempting the goal.

Right now, we're still messing with some of the All-Star Games challenges. Admittedly, it's been more difficult than I thought it would be to figure out how to get goalies involved more. By the time I'm on my back, laughing because I fuckling slipped, we decide it's time for a break. Once more, the five of us are sitting with our legs spread, blades touching, and slinging a puck between us as we sip on our water.

The season is almost over. We have a game in two days and that's the last. Then I have a couple meetings here with my agents, and once all those stupid obligations are over, I'm heading to Buffalo to pick up my boyfriend and we're going. Just going. I don't even care where.

I mean, while that's true, we do have bookings. Our first stop is Greenland where we'll enjoy remote hot springs and breathtaking views. It's not off the grid or completely without other people, so there's definitely a chance we'll be recognized but it's also not crowded like Hawaii or the Keys.

The puck hits my thigh and I blink back into the moment. Four amused faces look at me. "Sorry," I say and fling the puck to Horny.

"Who's on your mind, Lo?" Etna asks.

"What makes you think there's a person involved?" I retort. Although this is a perfect opening for telling them about Caulder. Which I have been planning to do for the last couple days. I didn't realize how big it felt to me until the moment arrived. I became tongue-tied and haven't been able to say the words out loud.

I'm nervous. I hadn't anticipated being nervous.

"What else could possibly keep you so distracted than some one?" Etna counters.

Is it intentional that he's being gender neutral right now? I lick my lips, stopping the puck when Keno passes it back to me. I don't toss it out again. Taking a breath, I blurt out, "Fine. You're right. I'm thinking about my boyfriend."

Silence.

Then Hilt hits Horny with a big grin. "Told you."

I narrow my eyes. "What?"

"I knew you had something going on with Caulder Haines," Hilt says.

The surprise that fills me has me rocking backwards. "What makes you think?—"

Hilt rolls his eyes. "The way you got so fucking defensive any time we bring up the thing going on with Caulder was telling enough. You might have thought you could play it up as you're now friends from the Great Bed Fuckery of 2022, but I've known you for a long time, Lo. You are protective of your friends, but not in the same way you are over Caulder."

I consider his words for a minute as I stare at him. "You knew I'm gay?"

"No. You just said that part."

I huff.

"We didn't suspect you were gay at all," Keno admits, laughing. "Actually, we didn't believe Hilt when he confided that he thought you were hooking up with Caulder."

"Uh huh." I look between them, gauging how they're taking the admission that I'm gay. Mostly, they look amused.

"Fine then. I'm gay. Have been my whole life. And yes, I'm seeing Caulder, although I had no idea that externally I reacted so strongly regarding him when you brought him up. Sorry."

"Don't be. It's sweet," Hilt says, batting his eyes.

I toss the puck at him.

"Since the All-Star Games?" Etna asks as we resume our game of pass while we talk.

I nod. "Yes, though it wasn't serious then. Just… mutual secret hooking up. It was a relief to be able to confide in someone who related completely. I think we realized it was more serious right before crazy pregnant lady went viral."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Keno asks, frowning.

"Because I made it a habit of not talking about my sex life, so my sexuality wouldn't be a factor in anything. As did Caulder."

"I mean, why didn't you tell us you're gay?"

"Same thing, but without the Caulder part. Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to constantly have your sexuality attached to you like a salutation? It's a non-factor, but the world is intent on making it a focal point. I don't want a career as a gay hockey player. The fewer people who knew, the easier it was to keep it that way."

"I've never thought about that," Etna concedes.

"You wouldn't," Hilt says. "Because it's not something you face as a straight man."

"Just as it's not something you face as a white man," Keno counters. "I get what Lo's saying. I'm a minority, so my nationality is constantly attached to me. It's always commented on in a way a white person's isn't. Even though it's not necessarily a bad thing because visibility is good for all minorities, so they see that we're here and have a place in sports too. But sometimes, I just want to be a hockey player."

"And yet, there isn't a persons of color group calling attention to it like the Gays Can Play," I comment.

He snorts. "Nope."

"Well, shit," Etna mutters.

"Anyway, didn't mean for this to go down that road," I say. "But yeah, that's why I didn't tell you. It's not a trust thing. I wanted to keep it from public knowledge as long as I could so any attention on me was for my game. Not my nationality. Not my sexuality. Nothing but my game."

"Why'd you change your mind?" Hilt asks.

"Because there's a very good chance we'll end up on the cover of some trashy tabloid this summer since we're planning to spend most if not all summer together. We don't plan to hit the mall holding hands or anything, but we also won't be hiding, either. Carefully selected adventures where it's unlikely we'll be recognized, but it's not impossible. And… you're my friends so I wanted you to know from me as opposed to the internet."

"Thanks, man. That's cool," Keno says.

"We support you," Etna adds.

"I also support you and your straight boy sexuality," I deadpan, raising a brow.

He laughs. "Yep, I can see how that might get annoying. Sorry. I just meant…" he trails off. "Yeah, okay."

I smirk. "I appreciate your support. I appreciate that you don't think differently of me. But I'd rather us just be normal. How we always are. Okay?"

Etna sighs. "Yep. Got it."

"Good. Want to play some more or are we done here?"

We play for a while longer but eventually, we head in, making guesses on the playoffs. We're so close to the end of the season with each team only having a game or two left, so the playoffs are already practically decided.

I head for home, calling Caulder on the way.

"Hey, babe," I greet.

His smile is evident. "Hey. You home yet? I think I hear road noise, so not quite."

"Correct. Ten minutes. Why?"

"Just checking. How was practice?"

"Good. Messed around on the ice with the guys." I pause. "I told them about us."

"You did?"

"Yeah."

"And they were cool?"

"It seems Hilt suspected a while ago. I guess I got defensive concerning you whenever someone brought up the pregnant girl thing."

Caulder laughs. "Did you? Jeez. How were you not outed eons ago?"

I huff. "I've never loved someone before," I say defensively. "But to be fair, I thought I had kept most of those feelings to myself."

"Your poker face isn't as good as you thought, huh?"

"Apparently not. But they were cool about it."

He sighs. "Good. I hate that we live in a world where there's a fear your friends won't be accepting of the gender in your bed."

"Mmm," I agree. The world isn't accepting of a lot of things.

I pull into my driveway while Caulder's telling me about Creed and his husbands discussing having a kid. I guess they were talking about it at lunch today. His story stops when he hears my door shut.

"You're home?"

"I'm home," I confirm. "But you can keep telling me about the Boziks having babies."

"No. Hurry up and call me on video." Then he hangs up.

I chuckle as I drop my bags and head for my room to get my tablet. He answers right away and my breath catches. This man is fucking naked. Hard. His dick is in his hand as he gently strokes it smack in the middle of the screen.

"Are you really telling me about Creed having kids?" I ask, unable to look away.

Caulder laughs. "Yep. Distraction tool for the win. Though he's cute so it's not that big of a distraction."

My eyes flicker to his and he's grinning. It's then that I realize he's not in bed. He's on his knees on the floor. In the bathroom?

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Get undressed," he commands. "And hurry up, Lo. I'm so fucking horny." His voice is whiny, but jeez do I shiver at his words.

I fumble as I strip my clothes off. His laughter doesn't dissuade my cock from showing its appreciation of the sight we were greeted with.

"So, I have a secret," Caulder admits as soon as I'm sitting at the edge of my bed, butt naked.

"What's that?"

"I've uh… been trying something."

I have no idea where this is going, but the way heat floods my body has my cock throbbing. "What?"

He licks his lips; he's nervous. But when he shifts, pulling his up cock and balls so I can see under him, my gaze is locked on where the dildo I sent him weeks ago is partially lodged in his tight hole.

"Oh, fuck," I groan, squeezing the base of my cock. I shudder at the sight.

"Can you see?" Caulder asks.

"See? I can't look away."

He laughs, but I can hear his nerves. "But I mean… the angle?"

Taking a breath to calm my racing heart, I say, "Set it on the floor, propped at a slight angle. Yep, like that. Little less angled. Perfect. Now I can see your hole stretched and those sexy boys hanging down."

"Ugh," he grunts, gripping his balls in his hand and raising them. "Why do you have to be weird?"

I laugh as I watch, transfixed, while Caulder arranges himself so he's leaning back against the wall and slowly, so fucking slowly, pulls himself up so the head of the dildo is only barely in his hole. Then he slides down. Down, down, down.

"Holy fuck," I mutter. He doesn't quite bottom out, but he's so fucking close. "So hot, Caulder. God, I bet you're tight."

"I'm not sure how to relax yet," he admits, and I can hear the slight strain in his voice. "Everything I read says I need to relax, but how do you do that and still use your muscles to move at the same time?"

"Slightly different muscles. It takes some practice to differentiate between them. Does it feel good?"

Caulder doesn't answer right away and I watch as he rises again and slowly descends. Fuck, I may come for us both.

"It's not as horrible as it was initially. The first few times, I definitely didn't like it."

My gaze finally moves to his face. "Why did you keep trying?"

I'm not entirely sure whether he's blushing or if his skin is just red from the silicone cock shoved in his ass.

"Because I want to do this with you, but… I was worried I'm not going to like it, so I thought I'd… try it until I enjoy it?"

"You have no idea how much I love you," I say, and fuck if I don't wish I could make him understand. He smiles. "You do whatever you're comfortable with, but two things, babe. One, no matter where we are in our relationship or how long we've been together, you can always tell me to stop if you don't like something. I need you to understand that. And two, you enjoy when I finger you. I'm quite confident you'll enjoy it when I fuck you too. Having a man behind the dick easing you into it after prepping you fully is a very different experience than doing it yourself. Not always better. I'm not romanticizing this. But I'm very sure that it'll be better for you."

Caulder sighs. "I love you too," he answers. "And I know. I get in my head sometimes and can't get away from the thoughts. But we can talk about that when I don't have this thing in my ass. I'm going to need to see you ride yours because that's the hottest thing ever and I really need to get off."

I shiver in excitement and practically fall on my way to the bathroom. Maybe I can convince him to fuck around online with me for the rest of the day. I fully intend to try. But first, I need to see this man come on his dildo.