Chapter Thirty-One

Trevor was concerned the defiance wouldn’t stick past the game Nick was set to attend. He had faith in what Nick was telling him, hoped that they really could get through whatever the world threw at them. Whether Trevor’s superstitions were valid or just a product of his environment wouldn’t matter if the media drove Nick away from him for the second time.

“What’s the matter with you?” Jetty asked, skating a wide ring around Trevor during practice. “You’ve been distracted all day.”

Trevor shrugged, thankful for the whistle blowing that gave him time to explain his doubts without painting Nick as the bad guy. When he and Jetty were back in line, he sighed. “Nick’s coming to the game tonight.”

Jetty’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline, which was stupid because they both knew he was talking to Nick again and had been on a date with him. “You’ve only been on one date, Peeks.”

“We had a relationship before this,” Trevor protested.

“Relationship,” Jetty repeated, and Trevor could practically see the air quotes, even if Jetty had both hands on his stick. “Not sure fucking your nanny could count as a relationship.”

Trevor bristled immediately, torn between yelling and punching Jetty in the mouth. To his credit, Jetty tried to apologize, but Trevor ignored him, once again skating up to the blue line to take his shot. He managed to keep away from Jetty up until they hit the locker room, and he couldn’t escape Jetty’s attempts at apology.

“If you were sorry,” Trevor bit out, “you would stop using that against me.” He kept his voice low, not wanting to throw his personal life back into the locker room to be analyzed and picked apart. “‘Fucking my nanny,’ seriously? You know that’s not what it was.”

Jetty sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I just don’t wanna see you get hurt again, Trevor.”

“That’s my choice.” Trevor tossed his jersey on the pile and started in on his under armor. “My life, my daughter, my choice.”

“I know,” Jetty said. He looked sorry, sounded it even. It was protection in Jetty’s own twisted way, but he had to acknowledge and understand that Trevor was an adult.

“I’m grateful you’re trying to stand behind me, Jetty, but you have to let me do this on my own. If it’s a mistake, I’ll know soon. I would never put Gabrielle in that position again, you know that.”

Jetty looked like there was more he wanted to say, but Pears slipped between them, planting a hand on Jetty’s chest and telling him to take a walk.

“I was handling it,” Trevor pointed out, though he was grateful not to have to continue fighting Jetty on the same thing.

“I know. Wanna tell me what that’s about?” Unlike Jetty, Pears didn’t seem surprised to learn that Trevor had Nick attending another game. He folded his arms across his chest. “You know what you’re opening yourself up to?”

Trevor nodded. “I haven’t thought of anything else. I’m sure about this.”

“You’d have to be,” Pears agreed. He was smiling though, waving a hand around the locker room. “If you can handle these assholes, pretty sure you’re good to go.”

“Who you calling an asshole?” Adam called out, and Trevor snorted, holding up his hands when Pears glared at him pointedly.

“You called them assholes,” he said. “I appreciate your help, captain, but you dug that hole.”

Pears threw up his hands, but he was smiling as he turned away, so Trevor wasn’t worried. He wasn’t even worried about Nick attending the game. Maybe that had more to do with his irritation with Jetty outweighing whatever concerns he had with the media, but only time would tell.

Going home was a pain in the ass. He’d dropped Gabrielle off with Abby, who was taking the girls out someplace, so his house would be empty when he returned. Nick wasn’t coming over until the late afternoon, just before they left for the game. He wasn’t sure when the idea of an empty house had become something to fear rather than to appreciate, but he had a feeling that Gabrielle had turned his life completely inside out.

“You wanna grab lunch?” Jetty asked, catching Trevor before he could leave the locker room. “I know I was a dick back there, but we both have the prospect of an empty house.”

It was on the tip of Trevor’s tongue to refuse. He was hungry, but he didn’t want to have another conversation with Jetty about the same thing. “We don’t bring up Nick.”

Jetty shrugged. “Fine.”

Trevor agreed, following Jetty out to his car. “I’ll meet you downtown. I need to take my car to pick up Nick later.”

Jetty didn’t latch on to his mention of Nick, thankfully, and agreed to Trevor’s plan. He also kept to his word during lunch by not bringing up Nick – or even Gabrielle – until he’d picked up the check and Trevor was making noise about returning home.

“I’m worried about you,” Jetty said before Trevor could stand. “That’s the only reason I keep bothering you about this.”

Trevor settled back into his chair. He said nothing, just waited for Jetty to continue.

“When you first told me you had a daughter, I know you were worried, but you’re a great father, Trevor.”

“Thanks,” Trevor said, around the lump in his throat. “Jetty–”

“Let me finish,” Jetty said, holding up a hand. “I know you’d do anything to protect Gabrielle, but you’re lonely too. I’ve seen it, know you haven’t slept with anyone in a long time.” At Trevor’s raised eyebrow he snorted. “You used to talk all the time about the babes you’d banged.”

Trevor winced. “Please tell me I never phrased it like that.”

Jetty shrugged, unapologetic, and grinned at Trevor’s groan. “Sorry, Peeks. Anyhow, you stopped talking about it. I figured it was because you didn’t have time, but then Pears told me about the gay thing.”

“I’m not gay,” Trevor pointed out. “Dig dudes, but not gay.”

“Uh-huh,” Jetty said, looking unimpressed by Trevor’s interruption. “The fact that you dig dudes might have explained it, but you never talked to me about that even when you knew I knew. This Nick thing – I know you didn’t want to talk about it – but this Nick thing was the first time I saw you really get invested in someone.”

“But he was my nanny,” Trevor said slowly. “Something you made sure to point out to me multiple times. But I didn’t ask for it.”

“I know,” Jetty said, sighing and rubbing at his forehead. “That wasn’t the problem. I knew it would end the way it did.”

“You didn’t,” Trevor pointed out. When Jetty opened his mouth, he cut across him. “You knew something would happen, something bad, but you didn’t know what. I appreciate it, Jetty, I do, but not all relationships work. I would never try and convince you to leave Abby on the off chance you’d divorce.”

It was a low blow considering how ridiculously in love Jetty and Abby were, but it was the only thing Trevor had to latch onto and use. He couldn’t imagine a world in which they ever divorced, but it did the trick. Jetty’s eyes widened, and he was silent for a beat, two, obviously digesting that.

“All right,” he said eventually. “I guess I was a bit too hard on Nick. I like the guy,” he added. “I just worry.”

“Well stop worrying so much,” Trevor said, gesturing at Jetty’s face. “Your frown lines are marring your beauty.”

“As if anything could,” Jetty said, almost with relief, taking the distraction Trevor was offering. “I will always be beautiful.”

“Beautifully self-centered,” Trevor muttered, but grinned and ducked out of the slap Jetty aimed at his head.

“Get out of here, go meet your boyfriend,” Jetty said.

Boyfriend. Trevor deliberately didn’t react to the word even though inside he was screaming. It wasn’t the word, but the prospect of having a long-term anything. “All right. See you at the game.”

Jetty waved him off and Trevor threaded his way through the tables, waving to a couple of people who recognized him. He was glad they didn’t stop him for autographs, eager to get back to see Nick, the thrill of having Nick attend the game was starting to outweigh his apprehension over what could happen afterward.

If Jetty’s intervention told him anything it was that he wasn’t going to let his fear dictate his decisions. From now on, his happiness, Gabrielle’s happiness, was the most important thing he had to consider.