Tales of the Underground: Velocity - 27. Chapter 27

It was a weird experience seeing Eli play again, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world. Even now just seeing his usual clean blond hair gleam with sweat was fine with me. To me everything about him was perfect no matter what was happening.

I grabbed the hockey bag from Eli’s other hand and he ran his now free hand across the face paint on my cheeks “I must be one lucky guy if you’ll put makeup on for me”

“What can I say. You bring out my soft side.” The soreness from yesterday’s workout set in the second I grabbed the bag, and I couldn’t help but grimace.

Eli gave me a weird look but a few of his teammates walked up to congratulate him on a good game before he could say something. They looked really happy to have him as their captain, but I could tell their parents weren’t so thrilled.

“I think you need to work on your social skills with adults” I joked knowing the real reason they didn’t care for him.

Eli rolled his eyes and watched them out of the corner of his eye “You know how parents get, no one wants a queer in the same dressing room as their kid”

“I do, so long as that queer is you” I said bumping arms with him. He laughed a bit but I could tell something was on his mind. I threw his bag in the back of my car “Don’t let them get to you, your teammates respect you, that’s all that matters”

“It’s not that” he said climbing into the passenger seat “I think my dad’s mad at me, he usually never misses any of my games”

I gave him a curious look and climbed into the driver’s seat “Maybe he just got caught up at work, being a police officer can’t be easy” I said trying to get him to relax.

“We got in a fight this morning” he sighed looking out the window “I guess being gay finally set in when I said I had a boyfriend, and he wasn’t a fan of it being you”

I didn’t even bother to turn the key, I reached over and grabbed his hand “Why’s that?”

“He said he your fine as a friend, but that you’re not really headed anywhere” Eli began to tear up a little “he said he was surprised that he didn’t find you with drugs the night you were almost arrested”

I tried to wipe Eli’s tears but he was really broken up over it “Hey” I said forcing his head to look at me “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, we have each other okay?”

Eli didn’t calm down “Mom said he was just lashing out at you because he’s still getting used to it all, but what if he’s not?”

I leaned my forehead against his “then we’ll be like Romeo and Juliet, without all the death. I don’t care what your dad thinks or anyone else for that matter, I’m not going anywhere. Even if you want me to leave, too bad you’re stuck with me” I said with a smile

He started to calm down a little “Did we make a mistake rushing into everything?”

“I don’t think so, I’m beyond happy to have you as my boyfriend. If you ask me it was something I should’ve done the second you came out” I ran my hand through his hair “We haven’t regretted it one moment before today, why should we let other people’s opinions stop us?”

He nodded his head and pushed me away a bit “I’m happy too.” I could see the gears in his mind begin to turn “I don’t want to go home yet, can I come over your house for a while?” he asked still sniffling

“Of course” I said finally turning the key “You’re always welcome at my place”

He nodded and took out his phone to call his mom. Judging by the length of the call, I think his mom agreed it was best if he was out of the house for a while.

“So did you tell your dad about us?” Eli quietly asked

“Yeah, don’t worry he said it might take him a little while but that he’s cool with it. He even said that my mom tried to tell him we would wind up together” I said laughing “You know she left me this note, kinda like a mini will, and lectured me that our souls belonged together” I heard him giggle a little

“So what do you think? Are our souls meant to be together?”

“It sure feels that way” I said finally pulling into the driveway. I could feel my heart beat grow faster and faster “Eli.”

“Yeah?” He turned to me and I looked into those beautiful blue eyes. His cheeks were still a little red from working so hard, and yet he still looked so amazing.

“I love you” I said surprising us both

“I love you too Jamie” he said pulling me in for a kiss.

I ran my hand through his hair again “Ew, you’re so sweaty”. He punched me in the arm and ran out of the car before I could retaliate.

“Do you have to ruin every nice moment we have?”

“It’s my life goal” I said laughing. We walked into the door and the normal chaos halted when my sisters saw who I bought home “What are you guys staring at? It’s just Eli”

“He’s not just Eli anymore” one of them argued

“Oh please, we all grew up around him. Nothing’s changed” I fought back

“Except now you two kiss, or have you always done that?” Jess teased

“I wish” Eli joked jumping in

They all laughed and went back to what they were doing “Well if he’s just Eli then can I tell him he smells like shit” the youngest one shouted.

Eli began to blush a little “No, you can’t” I spit. I turned towards him “Come on you can borrow some clothes and use the shower in my room.” Jess rolled her eyes and stared at me “Get your mind out of the gutter Jessica” I said pulling Eli up stairs.

I picked out some older clothes I thought would fit him and tossed them to him.

He gave me an odd look “No peeking today either”

“I swear you assume I’m the biggest perv. I can wait” I said reaching out for him

He let me pull him in “If there weren’t 4 people downstairs you wouldn’t have to” he teased

I jokingly slid my hands down to his hips “That’s a weak excuse” I said letting him go

He turned around and gave me a sarcastic smile before going into the bathroom. I laid on my bed and listened to him sing in the shower. He was good at a lot of things, but singing definitely wasn’t one of them. Finally Eli came out of the bathroom only wearing pants.

“You gave me too small a shirt you jerk” he yelled throwing back the shirt I gave him “You did that on purpose”

I laughed a little “trust me if I did that on purpose I would’ve given you too small of pants” I teased back

He rolled his eyes “You’re such a pig you know that?”

I rummaged through my drawers and found him a better shirt to wear “What can I say? I think you’re gorgeous”

He blushed a little and hugged me from behind “I love you”

“Ew stop, you’re still wet” I said laughing and handing him the new shirt

He unraveled the shirt and stared at me “Really?” he said unamused. It was an old WWE divas shirts, one of the ones with the women in bikinis on them.

“What? It’s all I got that will fit you, unless you want one that’ll be way too long on you.” I shrugged “What can I say? I used to think I liked girls”

He leaned in and kissed me “Get me a real shirt before I whip you with this one”

“Ohhh kinky” I teased. Eli twirled the shirt and held it back “Alright! Alright! I’ll find you something” I ripped apart my drawers before finally finding my old hockey shirt “Here, it might be a little too big on you, but I guess it beats the other options. “

He smiled and put it on “Yes it does” he turned away and I couldn’t help but laugh at seeing my name on his back “Ugh Jamie!” he groaned “What’s the matter with this one?”

I started laughing even more “Nothing, it’s just weird to see you with my last name on your back”

He once more rolled his eyes “I hate you”

I walked up and hugged him “Well that sucks because I love you” I said still laughing. I fell back on my bed pulling him down with me. I turned onto my side and so did he. I thought of what Stephanie said to me back at the rink. “You know when I say I’m not going anywhere, I mean it right?”

He began to smile “Oh yeah? Not even if I become the worst boyfriend ever?” he began to play with my hair

“I don’t think that’s even possible” I said returning the smile “It’s scary how much I love you, it’s like even after immediately leaving you I already start missing you”

His smile grew a bit wider “I get that too, but the absolute worst is when I walk by a classroom and see you, but can’t say hi”

“Just walk in next time, I’m sure the teacher won’t care”

“Yeah, you’re almost always sleeping anyway” he teased combing my hair up and over my forehead. I shook my head and let my hair fall back down “Stop, I like it like that” he whined

“Nope” I said pulling my head away from him “you’re stuck with it like this”

“I swear I’m gonna cut it in your sleep one day” My hair wasn’t that long, it’s like Justin Bieber’s from back in 2010

I grabbed my head “No, I need it”

“Yup because it hides your identity so well” Eli mocked grabbing my hand back

Suddenly there was a knock on my door, Eli shuffled away to put some more room in-between us “Come in” I yelled. My dad opened the door and stood in the doorway “Oh hey dad, I didn’t think you’d be home so early.”

“Hey boys” he said unsure if he should step fully into the room or not “the boss gave us off early since it’s a Saturday” I know my dad enjoys getting to spend time with us, but the more time off the less money he makes.

“Hey Mr. Free” Eli gleefully said sitting up

My dad walked over and shook his hand “Cheerful as always, Elijah” he said with a laugh “good to see somethings never change” Eli blushed a little and my dad gave me a weird look, I could tell he was focusing on the remains of the face paint.

“Love makes people do weird things” I said before he had a chance to comment

He slapped my foot “Maybe you’ll turn my kid into a good boy afterall” he said looking at Eli

“Sorry Mr. Free, I’m not a miracle worker” he joked placing his hand on top of mine

My dad stared at our hands for a moment. I couldn’t help but laugh a little at his reaction “Sorry, I’m just…adjusting”

“I know, it’s okay” I said calmly

“You’re doing better than my dad” Eli added

“Is big Mike not taking it that well?” My dad asked sitting on the corner of the bed

“Nope, he’s not our biggest fan” Eli sighed turning towards me

I gripped Eli’s hand tightly “Then fuck him, we don’t care”

“Language Jamie” My dad commanded staring at me “Besides that’s Eli’s father, whether you like it or not, his opinion is going to matter. Just give him time. I’m sure he’ll come around. Parents get wrapped up in dreams for their children, they picture what their future house will look like, their car, their wife, hell even their children. He’s probably just figuring out how to cope with it all.” He softened his gaze and looked at Eli “In the mean time you’re always welcome here”

Eli smiled and nodded “Thanks Mr. Free” I could tell he really needed to hear that

“Your mom’s still cool with it right?” My dad asked hoping that Eli’s home life wasn’t too bad

“Yup, she swears shes always known I’m gay, and that we were gonna wind up together” Eli said squeezing my hand

“Moms are weird like that” my dad said laughing “Jamie’s swore the same thing, I’m beginning to think they planned this.” I nodded in agreement to what he was saying. “Anyway dinners ready if you guys want to come eat.” The 3 of us headed down and joined the girls who were not so patiently waiting for us. Every now and then they would watch us to see how we acted, but for the most part they just treated him like they used to. Being an only child I think Eli forgot what the chaos of a full house was like. He seemed so entertained by every story they told, or little way they helped or hurt each other.

“So did you win today?” Jess asked turning towards Eli

He gave her a confused look, then realized what she was talking about “Oh, yeah, we won in overtime” She nodded her head in approval

“He scored the first goal, and got an assist on the game winner” Eli elbowed me for bragging “what? I can’t be proud?” I teased

“It’s just the first game, it’s no big deal” Eli was always so humble about everything he did, he could carry a team to the Stanley Cup and still claim his role wasn’t any more important than his teammates’.

I returned the elbow from before “Oh please you say that about everything” he elbowed back in retaliation and we went back and forth for a few moments, before he hit me a little too hard.

“Are you guys really that couple?” Jess asked already unimpressed by our tricks

“Beats how they used to be when they were younger” my dad added “Remember the time you guys broke the kitchen window washing dishes?”

We all started laughing and my sisters who were too young to remember gave us a confused look “We were trying to see who could get a utensil in the sink from the farthest distance, I tried to get it from the length of the room and sent a spoon right through the window” I said laughing

“Oh boy” my dad sighed from laughing so hard “Your mother was so mad at you for that”

My youngest sister gave us a confused look “Was mom mad often?”

I discretely grabbed Eli’s hand from his side and gently rubbed it “Nope, almost never”

“Oh I don’t remember her that well” My youngest sister confessed

“Me neither” the second youngest added

I could tell my dad was trying to think of ways to describe her but kept coming up short. “Imagine like all of you 4 put together into one woman” I finally said “that’s what mom was like”

My oldest sister nodded in agreement “and she had Jamie’s hard headed and persistent spirit”

They all started laughing “She did have that” my dad said looking back on the past.

Eli rubbed my hand “I remember when she used to take us out for ice cream after games” he said starting to get nostalgic “She was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met” For the first time it struck me that he might miss her too. I laid my head on his shoulder briefly “Jamie really does remind me a lot of her”

I couldn’t help but smile at memories of the past. Almost all of the most important people in my life were in that room, and I got the feeling mom was right there with us.