by Toni Aleo
“I know. I tried to gamble with him, but he’s set. He wants the money by the end of the week, or they go out Saturday.”
It felt like he had taken a puck to the chest as he wheezed in a breath, shaking his head. “I’ll get it.”
“Okay. Just let me know when you do. I have his account number and everything.”
Neither of them moved. Matty’s mind was going a million miles a second, thinking of different possibilities. “Can’t I sue him? I mean, this is invasion of privacy and then extortion.”
Brendan nodded. “We can. But the pictures will surface. So we can get the lawyers involved, but after legal fees and everything else, not only will everyone know, but we’ll be out the money.” He held Matty’s gaze, sympathy in his eyes. “But it’s up to you. I’m here for whatever you want to do.”
Matty’s eyes clouded as he looked away. “Don’t want to run?”
“You’re my client and my friend. I love you, Matt, and please don’t think your sexual orientation changes that. You’re still one hell of a person and a player. I don’t care who you’re sleeping with.”
Looking up, Matty nodded. “Thanks, man.”
“Of course, let me know when you’ll have the money, or when you do get it. I’ll let this fucker know we’re getting it together.”
But Matty shook his head. “Don’t tell him shit. Let him wait.”
Brendan nodded. “Sounds good.”
They both stood, and Matty held out his hand, but Brendan ignored it, coming around the desk to take Matty in a backslapping hug. “This doesn’t change us, Matt. We’re good. I just wish I had known before.”
Matty laughed as they parted. “I’m just private.”
“I know, but don’t worry, we’ll figure this out.”
“Thanks,” he said once more, a brave face on. “I appreciate it.”
“Of course.”
But when he left the office, his brave face was gone, and panic filled every single one of his features. His limbs were shaking, he couldn’t breathe, and he was pretty fucking sure he was having a panic attack as he entered his car, gasping for breath.
“What the absolute fuck?”
What was he going to do?
When he heard his phone ringing, Matty ignored it as he rolled over in his bed, clutching his pillow to his chest. He had spent all afternoon and evening trying to figure out what he could do about this. He was able to get a loan, but only for five million, and the interest was so damn high even he was scared of it. He knew he could ask his dad and he’d probably give it to him, but he’d have to give a reason.
Well, Dad, some asshole took pictures of my boyfriend and me on the beach. Oh, by the way, I’m gay!
Closing his eyes, he dug his face into the pillow as he groaned loudly. He knew Seth and Laurence didn’t have that kind of money. They were successful guys, but not that successful. He considered calling Avery for about two seconds before he realized he couldn’t. They were still so fresh in their relationship; he couldn’t ask that of her. No matter how much he wanted to. When his phone rang once more, he squeezed his eyes shut.
It was Seth. For the ninth time.
He had blown off their dinner date, didn’t even text either of them, but he just couldn’t. He was upset, he was devastated, and he just didn’t know what to do. He had no problem coming out now that he’d committed to it. Yes, he was scared, but damn it, he wanted to do it in his own fucking time! On his terms. This was so far out of his control that he couldn’t even fathom his next move. And he definitely couldn’t talk to his brothers right now.
Damn it.
When his phone started to ring again—this time, Laurence—he bit his lip. He was a bastard for blowing them off and not answering. He never did this, and fuck, they were going to worry. Reaching for the phone, he answered in a gruff voice, “Hey.”
“Dude, where are you? We’ve been waiting.”
He groaned. “Shit, I’m sorry. I fell asleep. I feel like shit. I think I got food poisoning or some shit.”
“Well, that sucks. I guess, call me tomorrow. Maybe we can get together.”
“Yeah, for sure,” he said in a rush. “I’m going to puke. Bye.”
Hanging up, he fell back on the bed as he let out a heavy breath. Covering his face, he rubbed his eyes as he went over what he could do. He was still considering suing the fucker, but he really didn’t want the photos coming out. If his family knew, that was one thing, but he didn’t want the whole world to know, judging him like he knew they would. It didn’t matter how much Wells said things had changed. He was a hockey player, and it wasn’t normal. Hockey players were rough, tough, and fucking puck bunnies left and right.
But Matty wasn’t.
He never did.
Shit.
When his phone vibrated in his hand with a text, he picked it up to see that it was Wells.
Wells: How’s it going? Have you told them yet?
Matty: No.
He didn’t want to tell him why, he didn’t even want to tell him anything, but he knew Wells would ask.
Wells: Why? You guys have been there for hours. Waiting till you get home?
Matty: I didn’t go.
Within seconds, the phone was ringing. “What the hell do you mean, you didn’t go?
Wells’s voice was so rough, and it felt so much like home. It calmed Matty, made him feel good, but then he remembered someone was trying to extort him out of six million dollars, and his shitty feelings rushed back. “Some shit came up, and I canceled.”
“What the hell came up?”
Matty understood Wells’s frustration. It looked like Matty wasn’t trying to move forward, but that wasn’t the case. The problem was he didn’t know how to tell Wells about the photos. “Don’t be pissy—”
“Don’t be pissy? Matty, you promised you were going to tell them. You promised me you were taking the steps to get to your parents so that we can be together the way we were on the beach!”
“I know! Fuck, dude, some shit went down—”
“What? What went down?” Wells yelled, his voice full of aggravation. “Please tell me what is more important than telling your brothers you are with me.”
Matty exhaled loudly, annoyance running rampant through his veins. He hated when Wells got angry with him, even when it was expected. It didn’t happen often, especially with how calm he was most of the time. “Brendan called me when I landed.”
“Okay?” he snapped, and Matty bit back his retort that included a lot of f-words.
Sitting up, he closed his eyes as he relayed to Wells what happened. What they were doing in the photos, how both of their faces were showing, and how the photographer wanted a lot of money. “I can’t let my family find out like this.”
“I understand that, I do. So tell them before this guy lets it out. Wait, can’t you sue him?”
“Yes, but then the photos come out, and I don’t want people to find out like that.”
“Why does it matter? As long as your family knows ahead of time, why does it matter?”
“Because it’s our business! I don’t want it out for everyone to see. It’s already going to be a fucking field day for my dad when he finds out I’m gay, but if he finds out and then this happens, shit will be even worse. I can promise you that.”
He listened as Wells grumbled into the phone. Matty couldn’t make out what he was saying, but he could tell Wells was upset. “So you’re going to pay this guy? How much?”
Matty didn’t want to answer him. He wanted to hide under a rock, but he knew he couldn’t do that. “Six million.”
Wells laughed. “What the fuck? That is insane.”
“I know,” he agreed, shaking his head. “I can get a loan, but I really don’t want to. Asking my dad is out of the question ’cause he’ll want to know why. Yeah, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“I say let them come out.”
“I’m not ready for that.”
Wells let out an i
nfuriated breath. “When will you ever be?”
“Wells, don’t be like that. Seriously. This is a big deal. I can’t let them find out like this. My teammates? My family? That’s unfair.”
“Then tell them!”
“I will! But on my own fucking terms! I told you that from the beginning, that I was going to come out to them, to everyone, but I want it on my goddamned terms!”
Wells didn’t say anything for a moment, and Matty could almost see him shaking his head, his brow furrowed as he grumbled about how pissed off he was. Matty knew this man like the back of his hand, and he loved him more than Wells would ever know, but he would never let anyone leak intimate pictures of them. Those were their moments. Not the world’s.
“Fine.”
Matty’s brows rose at Wells response. “Huh?”
“Fine, give me your account number, and I’ll wire you the money.”
“Excuse me?” Matty said, completely stunned. “What are you talking about?”
“I have the money. Remember, Wren just transferred my half of the inheritance I should have gotten a few years back? Since I wouldn’t stop being gay, I had to wait for my sister to get it.”
“Wells, no—”
“I love you, Matty, and I know how you are. This isn’t how it’s going to go down. You need to tell them yourself, and I support that.”
“But it’s so much.”
“You’ll pay me back,” he said with a chuckle. “Or I’ll kill you.”
Matty couldn’t even laugh; his eyes were filling with tears as he shook his head. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Give me your account and routing information. I have a pen ready.”
“Wells—”
“Matthew. Yes, I said your full name, give me your fucking account number and shit so you can do this on your terms.”
So he did.
Even though it felt wrong, and he didn’t want to owe his boyfriend that much money, he knew Wells wouldn’t take no for an answer. But as he read the numbers and his heart slowly calmed in his chest, all he could think was that Wells was more than just a boyfriend. Though, he suspected he’d always known that.
But this, Wells’s willingness to help Matty when he really needed it, confirmed that even more.
Wells really was his everything.
His partner.
A part of his soul.
Twenty
“Thank you.”
Gone was the panic, and back was the rough, low voice Wells adored and craved. He hated the way Matty had sounded when he’d first answered the phone. It hurt him, and while he may not have fully thought through what he’d just done, he really didn’t have a choice. He had to help Matty.
Because he loved him.
Shaking his head, he leaned his hip to Wren’s new kitchen counter. The house she and Jensen had just bought was modest, to say the least. Unlike the one Brie and Vaughn had purchased, over-the-top with too many rooms, this was cute. Five bedrooms and a bonus room. It was ranch style with an upstairs and a downstairs. It was simple and totally them. “Don’t thank me. It’s fine.”
“No, really, Wells. I don’t think you realize how much this means to me.”
Wells smiled as he drew a little hockey stick, then a dog on the pad that had Matty’s account details. “What’s the point of having all this money if it can’t be used for good?”
“You could have donated to something.”
“I still will. I mean, I don’t even know what my grandfather thought I was going to do with all this money, but thank God for it, I guess.”
It was sort of crazy to think he was now a millionaire. He’d always dreamed of being one, but he wanted to do it by playing hockey. That hadn’t happened, though. It was an inheritance he had to get from his sister because he was proudly gay, which apparently was against one of the stipulations in his grandfather’s will. Wren couldn’t have kids out of wedlock, and neither could Wells. Neither of them could be in a same-sex relationship either. If either one of them violated the terms, the other got the whole sum. And if they both violated, their dad got it. So the deal had always been that Wren would get it all and split it between the two of them since Wells had no intention of becoming any less gay. He just wished Matty were as proud about his sexual orientation as he was.
Wells took a deep breath. “I agree with you in the sense that you have to do this on your own. You aren’t like me, no cares in the world about who knows I’m gay, and that’s fine. I love the private part of you, but I hope this doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass.”
Matty paused for a moment, and Wells knew he probably didn’t have to say what he just did, but he had to for his peace of mind. “Meaning?”
“Meaning, don’t take this money, hide the evidence of our relationship, and then puss out on telling your family.”
“Wow, don’t hold back what you’re thinking.”
“Have I ever?”
“No,” he answered, letting out a long breath. “I have every intention of telling them, Wells. I promise. I even told Avery today that you and I would be at dinner with my family.”
“I will be,” he demanded. “You promised me.”
“I know, and I will stand by that.”
“I know you will,” Wells answered, his shoulders falling a bit. He didn’t want to worry about these kinds of things, but unfortunately, there was no other way. Their relationship was in Matty’s hands—hell, Wells’s heart was in his hands—and he just hoped the dude didn’t crush it once again. When Wren came into the kitchen, Wells gave her a sideways glance as she waddled to the fridge for a water. “Hey, let me get this transferred, and I’ll call you in a bit. Text me when it comes through.”
“Are you sure?” Matty asked after a moment. “I don’t feel right about this.”
“Why?”
“I’ve never borrowed money from friends, or hell, my boyfriend.”
“Well, I’m not some regular friend or boyfriend, am I?”
Matty let out a low growl. “Nowhere near.”
“Good, I love you.”
He sighed heavily into the phone. “I’m going to be the bottom for a while, aren’t I?”
That made Wells laugh, his face hurting from the grin. “Probably.”
Matty scoffed as he chuckled. “I love you.”
Hanging up, Wells set his phone down on the counter as he glanced around for Wren’s computer. “Hey, can I use your computer real fast? I won’t search for porn.”
“Cool, and don’t search for the home videos either. I don’t want you ogling Jensen’s cock.”
He snapped his fingers. “Darn.” Their laughter filled the room as Wells sat down with Matty’s account information before opening the laptop she handed him. “Tired of their shit?” he asked as he typed quickly, angling his head toward where Vaughn and Jensen were still having their cock fight.
“Yes. They are so childish. Brie left to get us food, and when I said I would go with her, to get away, of course—”
“Duh.”
She smiled. “Jensen told me I couldn’t leave because I had to tell them where to put shit.” She exhaled out loudly, leaning to the side. “We have so much to do. We have to get the house ready for Tate Odder’s retirement party, and then we have my baby shower with Elli Adler. Ugh, then the NHL Awards! Who does that in August? It’s hot as fuck in Vegas. Jesus, I’m tired.” When she finished her sentence, she grabbed her belly, a grimace on her face.
Alarms went off in Wells’s head. “You good?”
She inhaled sharply, letting her breath out slowly as she nodded. “Stupid Braxton Hicks.”
He made a face. “Doesn’t that mean the kid is coming?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Pre-contractions. Wait. How did you know that?”
He smiled innocently. “I may or may not have gone over the book you had with Jensen, when we were back home.”
; She laughed as she closed one eye, leaning to the side again. “That’s incredibly cute.”
“I told you, I’m gonna be in the room.”
“You will be nowhere near the room. You won’t even be in the hospital. You and Jo both.”
He feigned hurt. “That is rude.”
“I don’t care,” she wheezed out as she came over, sitting on the chair beside him. “This kid might kill me.”
“Can I have the kid and the money, then?”
She made a face. “Pretty sure that goes to Jensen.”
He nodded. “So I’ll kill him and take it all. Muhahaha,” he laughed as he clicked a few buttons and transferred the money to Matty’s account.
“You’re a crazy person.”
“You’re not the first to claim that. I’m sure Alex hates me to the fiery depths of hell.”
“And then some,” she added, exhaling as she leaned back. “Good Lord, these things suck ass.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, closing the computer, glad she didn’t notice or ask what he was doing. “When did they start?”
“Couple nights ago. My doctor says I’m fine. I’m not even dilated.”
“That means your pussy is opening, right?”
She grimaced. “Please don’t talk about my pussy.”
He smiled as he heard a text pop up on his phone. Getting up, he said, “You know the kid will push his huge head out of that, and you know it’s gonna be gigantic. Your head is massive.”
Matty’s text said the money came through and that he loved him. That was good.
“Are you done?” Wren asked, annoyance in her voice.
He scoffed. “I actually have a lot more I could say, but yes, I’ll be done and go help our friends move your shit. Did my bedroom suite come, or am I sleeping on the couch?”
“Couch,” she answered as he started to walk away. But then she added, “And do you really think I’ll let you walk out of this room without explaining to me why you just sent your boyfriend six million dollars?”
Stopping dead in his tracks, he scrunched up his face. “Shit, are you a pregnant Spider-Woman? How did you know that?”
“Not pregnant Spider-Woman, but very nosy and a pro at eavesdropping.” She shot him an evil grin. “So spill.”