Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 73002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“She is, and I love the picture we got of you with Avery and Ashlyn.”
Matty’s lips curved as he looked down at his phone. Of course, he had already made the picture of them smiling at the camera his background, replacing the one of him and Wells. Not that he thought Wells would mind. It was a great picture, and it warmed Matty from his head to his toes. “I do too.”
When Wells reached for his hand, Matty grabbed his first, bringing it to his lips and kissing it softly. “Thank you.”
“What did I do?” Wells laughed. “That was all you, dude, and you killed it. Yeah, you froze a few times, but, Matty, you were honest and real. It was fucking awesome to see.”
Watching Wells’s profile, Matty shook his head. “I couldn’t do it without you though.”
Wells scoffed. “I think you could, and I’m proud of you.”
Matty looked away bashfully. He felt really good. Not only would he and Avery work to get back the relationship he had annihilated, but he would get to know his niece, and the new niece or nephew Avery was pregnant with. It was all crazy, but damn, did it feel damn good. “Thanks,” he said softly, kissing Wells’s hand once more. “I’m proud of myself too.”
“You should be.” Wells flashed him a grin before looking back at the road. Matty couldn’t help but feel on top of the world. He had so many emotions running through him, happiness, fullness, yet still, the guilt was there. He hated seeing the marks through the ink on Avery’s arms. The pain and anger in Jace’s eyes…because those eyes would never change when it came to Matty. No matter what. And that sucked. But most of all, he hated that he had missed so much time with Ashlyn. She had finally gotten close to him toward the end, climbing into his lap as he played with her, but he knew it wasn’t like how she was with her other uncles or even their parents. He was the new guy, but then, he deserved that.
It was part of the punishment.
Just like the nine months he had endured without Wells.
As he sighed, his lips curved while his heart pounded in his chest. He watched Wells drive, singing along to the radio with that tranquility Matty wished he had even an ounce of. The hat Wells was wearing was low over his eyes, and he looked stunning. This man, Jesus, he was everything Matty needed. He may claim that Matty could have done it by himself, but Matty was pretty sure he couldn’t have. Every time he felt like he was losing it, Wells was saying something to urge him on. Just a simple touch or even a look gave Matty the strength, or better yet, the confidence to carry on, to get what he wanted.
Now, he just had the rest of his family to come out to.
“I think I want to wait to tell my mom and dad.”
Wells glanced over at him and nodded. “Okay.” Matty could hear it in Wells’s voice; he wasn’t on board with that, but he shrugged. “Why is that?”
“I just…” He paused, looking out the window at the city life surrounding him. “I don’t think they’re gonna take it well.”
“But Avery said they love you, that they’ll be supportive.”
“I know, but I don’t believe that,” he said sadly. “I mean, I’m the commissioner’s son, Wells. He’s a public figure—”
“But it isn’t how it was. Everyone loves gay folks now. Seriously.”
But Matty shook his head. “We’re in the manliest game in the United States. It isn’t a thing in our league. And I don’t know, I just worry he’ll disown me or something. It scares me. I’ve worked so hard to please him, to be everything he wanted, but I know this isn’t something he will be able to accept.”
“I never thought my dad could either, but he is starting to.”
Matty smiled, thankful for that. “But it took him forever.”
Wells shrugged. “True, but Avery seemed confident it would go over well.”
Matty didn’t agree. “I don’t know, I just want to wait.”
“How long?”
“Maybe when I go back to New York?”
“For the start of the season?”
He nodded. “Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “But I want to tell my brothers when we get back from Cancun.”
Matty watched as Wells swallowed hard, nodding his head. “When will you leave to go back home?”
Matty scoffed. “Home is where the heart is, and since my heart is in Colorado, I’ll just be going back to my apartment.”
He knew it was corny and silly, but he knew Wells needed that. He needed the reassurance, and Matty would always offer that. Rolling his eyes, Wells chuckled softly as he nodded. “You smooth talker, you.”
Matty grinned, his whole face joining the motion as he squeezed Wells’s hand. “I’ll go back before training camp starts.”