If only Matty didn’t have the shittiest timing in the world, he’d feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

As it was, he’d been stuck in his goddamn tiny hometown for a week now, and the itch under his skin to get out of his fucking hometown had just hit critical at a dinner conversation about why he wasn’t dating some hot Toronto chick. The whole time, he’d been thinking about how soft Kevin’s skin was.

Sometimes thinking about how damn gay he was made Matty laugh; other times, it twisted the knot in his chest until he itched to break and blurt it out over supper.

When he and Kevin had agreed to be boyfriends, they hadn’t really had the chance to discuss this yet. He knew Kevin planned to tell his buddies and family about him sometime, because there was no way they could hide this when he was going out to Fredericton to visit everyone with him, but…

His own family was different.

He rubbed a hand down his face as he packed up his bag. He loved his parents, most of the time, but a week at a time was about all he could stand.

It was a damn good thing he had to fly out of Toronto tomorrow, and he had a good excuse: seeing some old and new buddies in the same place.

His family understood. After all, they could get him wanting to be close to his hockey buddies. Matty just wasn’t sure they’d understand if he was also boning one of them.

He thought he’d done pretty damn well explaining away his daily Skype calls to Kevin, distracting himself reading breakdowns of the upcoming season and how good (or bad, according to some commentators) his chances were, and going for long walks with Jasmine.

Sometimes all-day walks, but hey, whatever worked.

But he wasn’t about to whine about it. His family probably wouldn’t hate him. They’d just… do that subtle thing, which was worse.

He loaded his pack in the car, hugged his parents goodbye, got Jasmine settled in the passenger seat, and got the fuck out of Dodge.

Passing city limits was the second-best part of his day.

The best? Pulling over to read a text—not from Kevin, which would normally be the highlight of his day, but from Chris.

Nate texted. He hasn’t been around cause he has a girlfriend now. He’s moving out. Know anyone who needs a new roommate? ;)

When the meaning sank in, Matty gasped so sharply Jasmine whined and looked over at him. He almost flung his phone at the dashboard in excitement.

“Okay, girl,” he told her. “I hope you’re ready to fly to a tiny little place that’s a little less shitty than that place was. And then ask my boyfriend if he’ll move in, before we’ve even twice—wait, I don’t need to tell you that. That’s not appropriate for doggy ears.”

Jasmine eagerly wagged her tail, trying to squirm over to get her nose into his lap.

He laughed and pushed her back gently, scratching her ears there instead. “No trying to drive. You need a walk before we finish the drive? Let’s go.”

Tomorrow’s trip was a lot more exciting than this one had been. He’d be with Kevin 24/7 for this week in Cam’s guest room, where Kevin was staying to spread around the burden of hosting him each time he visited.

By the time he got back to the car, Matty was calm enough to text back.

Thanks man. I’ll ask him when I see him :)

Finally, just tomorrow, they could be alone together. Well, not quite alone, but away from anyone who would judge them.

* * *

Kevin wasn’t surprised to get a call from Cam that evening while he was trying to figure out what to pack to impress Matty and also be comfortable that week.

“Hey, man.”

“Dude, you’re flying in tomorrow!” was Cam’s excitable greeting.

Matty laughed. “Yeah, I know I am.”

“Bro. It’s been too long.”

“Broooo,” Matty snickered, grabbing another Henley t-shirt to shove into the bag. “Yeah, it’s been way too long. We just never made it out, huh?”

“Good of you to come back and see me.” Cam’s voice was light, almost teasing, and Matty hesitated for half a second. But he couldn’t come out to Cam without asking Kevin’s permission first, could he?

“Yeah. You were my best bud out here for ages.”

“Kevin’s really glad to have you around.” Cam was speaking more seriously now, but then he chuckled. “And he’s cool to hang around, huh?”

“Yeah, he’s awesome,” Matty agreed lightheartedly. “Thanks for letting me crash, especially with Jazz.”

“No problem! Noah’s been bugging me for months now to get a dog, anyway,” Cam laughed. “He loves having ‘em around.”

“Awesome,” Matty laughed.

“Kevin likes ‘em, too, doesn’t he?”

Matty blushed as he shoved another pair of jeans into his bag. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear Cam already knew. “Yeah, he’s great with her.” He rifled through the hangers, choosing a couple more things.

“Good,” Cam approved. He paused for a few seconds, then laughed. “You only packing now?”

“I just got back from home,” Matty complained, rolling his eyes. “Shut up.”

“Ah, right, yeah,” Cam answered. “How was that?”

Matty grunted. “Not the best visit, but it was just long enough.”

“Yeah,” Cam murmured. “Folks got you drove?”

Matty blew a quick sigh out through pursed lips. “Just about drove nuts, yeah. All the why aren’t you dating some Toronto girl yet—”

Shit. Wait.

Cam was gay, and he was gay, but they hadn’t actually talked about it. Hell, Matty hadn’t even known for certain Cam was gay, except that weird thing with his shitty ex who’d dumped him in the ambulance on the way to hospital. Well, and then he’d gotten a boyfriend within days of getting back home, which Matty had endlessly teased him about.

“They really leaning on you? Shit,” Cam groaned. “That sucks. Don’t worry, man. We’re cooler out here.”

“Yeah, good,” Matty laughed. “Okay, I gotta finish packing and get Jasmine’s food ready.”

“Okay!” Cam brightly added. “See you tomorrow, man.”

Matty had only just put his phone down when it buzzed with a text—from Cam, no less. That was kinda weird.

He picked it up, then squinted. It was a screenshot of a phone conversation, but only a picture text and its original sender—Fisher—was visible.

The photo was Matty himself with his arm around Kevin’s shoulder, and Matty was looking goddamn starstruck or some shit as he watched Kevin.

It took him a second to place it. That had been when they were booking these plane tickets, right after Kevin’s incredibly adorable flustered proposal on the doorstep.

Matty’s cheeks flushed with heat as he slapped his phone against his forehead. Cam had been playing with him after all.

He rolled his eyes, even though he was laughing. Goddamn his buddies. “Fuck you, Fisher!” he called out, knowing Fisher would hear from the kitchen.

He heard a burst of laughter in return. “Yeah, you wish!”

Matty groaned and sent a quick, Fucking Fisher back to Cam, but he was still laughing as he zipped up his bag.