Chapter Text
The long lazy days of summer were behind them. It was the last full week before training camp started and Cliff and Luca were snuggled up on the couch with an iced tea, watching a movie. They weren’t excited that this uninterrupted time together was coming to an end. Cliff looked down at his buzzing phone. It was the group chat that he had with a few of his Boston team mates.
OG Bears
St. Simon
Hey @Cliff.
You alive man?
Carmichael
Yeah, know you shacked up this summer but we haven’t heard from you at all
Cliff
Hey guys
Yeah, I’m alive
Just enjoying a few more days in Ottawa before reality hits
Conners
Tale as old as time
Guy gets a beautiful boyfriend and forgets about his friends
Cliff
I know
Been a bad friend
Trying to be a good boyfriend though
St. Simon
I’m having a pre-season party on the 28th
Bring Luca
Want to meet him properly
Hammersmith
We are all bringing our wives
Except Conners
You have a new girl yet, bud?
Conners
No chronically single
But I’m still coming
Cliff flipped his phone around towards the gorgeous man, whose lap his head was currently in, to show him the conversation. He was totally on board. “I would love to meet your friends. You have met all of mine, already.” Cliff smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time he had taken anyone to one of the team parties. And now the most beautiful man he had ever seen, was his boyfriend. His boyfriend who would blend in with his friends, who would get along with the WAGs, who could talk hockey, who could discuss art, who was just perfect.
Cliff
Count us in
Can we bring anything?
St. Simon
Nothing at all
Having it catered
Any food restrictions for your man?
Cliff
Sounds good. No. Looking forward to it.
St. Simon
Come by any time after 5
When the movie ended, Luca started reading a book above him and scratching his fingers through Cliff’s hair. Cliff didn’t want to move to get something to occupy him so he let his mind drift.
___
The last eight weeks had been the best of Cliff’s life. Luca had agreed to be his boyfriend. They had hard launched their relationship to the world and the world (for the most part) loved and supported them. They talked and laughed and fucked until all they could do was sleep – wrapped in each other’s arms. Luca loved to snuggle into the crook of Cliff’s neck, pressing his nose into the soft spot behind his ear. At first, he was concerned that the beautiful man was going to suffocate himself, but over and over, that was where Cliff would find him when he woke up. And Cliff loved to wrap one of his big legs overtop of his man, effectively pinning him in place – claiming him.
Camp in Montreal was great. The kids were so happy to have the professional players, that they idolized, coaching them. The coaches loved the relaxed and fun atmosphere that was created by the camp founders. Lots of good hockey was played and the kids improved their skills – which was the goal. The coaches all teased Cliff relentlessly all week long. It was all in good fun though and Luca got a kick out of it. Cliff was unbothered, because he got to go home with Luca every night. He had never had someone to go home with before and now it was with the man of his dreams. Even if those dreams were relatively new to Cliff. He could take the ribbing and chirps from the well-meaning coaches, because he knew it was coming from a good place. At the Game Changers Camp there were more queer coaches than straight and the straight ones were allies of the highest degree. Even some of the older kids noticed the electricity between their 2 hockey coaches, that … and they had seen the online chaos that Cliff had caused right before camp started. The week flew by and, before they knew it, they were headed for Ottawa.
Cliff and Luca were both coaching there too, but Shane canceled Cliff’s accommodations because he was staying at Luca’s. It was Luca’s turn to be teased, because a lot of his team mates were coaching and just … around. Everyone wanted to see Luca happy and he obviously was - beaming every time he looked at Cliff. He had been told on numerous occasions that he must have inherited his “heart-eyes” from Rozanov. One evening, Bood hosted one of his famous BBQs for the coaches and the Centaurs that were hanging around Ottawa in early July. When Luca had responded that he and his boyfriend were attending, the RSVPs rolled in – everyone wanted to see them together. No one could believe that this was happening – Cliff the playboy and Luca the artist seemed like an odd pairing. But then after they saw them, it made sense. The way they were together, was like they belonged to each other.
As they lounged around on the patio in the humid July heat, Cliff found himself cornered by the other “Rooks”. They were protective of their own and needed to make sure he wasn’t going to hurt their Lulu. Cliff squirrelled that nickname away for another day. He assured them that his intentions were good and shortly thereafter Luca swooped in and saved him. They left Holmberg, Lapointe and Young at the picnic table and joined Roz, Hollzy, Troy and Harris around the firepit. It was a wonderful night with great people and great conversation. Cliff pulled Luca into his lap and nuzzled into his neck. There was nowhere else he’d rather be.
When camp finished, they spent a few days in Ottawa deciding what the rest of the summer would hold. Luca wasn’t planning on going to Switzerland this year so he was free for whatever and Cliff didn’t have any plans other than a quick visit to his mom’s place to see his sister and her family. When he had talked to his sister, she could tell how much Luca meant to him and insisted that he come too. She wanted to meet the man that made her baby brother sound so happy.
So, a few days later, they hopped into Cliff’s SUV and headed for Boston. Cliff needed to pick up a few things from his place before they headed to his mom’s – some things for the rest of their summer plans which included a cabin by the lake and a few gifts for the nieces and nephew. Luca was a bit nervous because he knew how much Cliff’s family means to him, but he was also excited to see another facet of the man he loved. He peppered Cliff with a thousand questions - he really wanted to make a good impression. Cliff just placed his big hand on his knee, rubbing gentle circles with his thumb and assured him that just being himself was enough. His family loved him and he loved Luca, therefore, they would love Luca too.
When they arrived at his mom’s place, Cliff was swarmed by his nieces. Sophie (his older sister), his nephew and his mom held back. After hugs and introductions, they all went inside for a lemonade. Sophie has 3 kids – Micah (10), Ava (8) and Emmy (6). The girls love their uncle Cliff. They love to climb on him and call him Uncle Jungle Gym. They also love to dress him up and paint his nails. He is their favourite grown-up and he spoils them rotten. Micah is quieter and more reserved. He has never warmed up to his uncle. Cliff struggles with it a lot, he wants to be as close with him as he is with the girls, but he just isn’t, no matter what he tries. Sophie had recently told him that Micah had been tested and was diagnosed with autism. It made things so much clearer, but not easier for Cliff. Micah, though, gravitated to Luca. Whether it was his quieter voice or calmer energy or the fact that he was obviously just good to his core, nobody but Micah knew why.
One evening, Luca was at the kitchen table drawing a picture of a princess for Emmy to hang on her wall. Micah was sitting right next to Luca, his hand resting on Luca’s forearm, watching intently. Sophie observed with rapt attention – he never touched anyone. When the princess was done, Luca quietly asked if Micah wanted a picture too. His eyes lit up. He asked for a julodis viridipes beetle. Luca went to grab his phone to look up a reference picture, but Micah just said “I will tell you what it looks like.” For the next 20 minutes, Luca and Micah sat with their heads tipped together. Micah describing and correcting while Luca sketched with his coloured pencils. When it was finished, Micah grabbed the picture and Luca’s hand and dragged him upstairs to the room he slept in. He pulled out a giant, dog-eared book of beetles and opened it to the page with his favourite beetle on it. Luca and Micah’s sketch was a carbon copy of the one in the book. Sophie and Cliff looked on with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.
The next evening everyone was curled up watching a movie in the den. The girls were sprawled out on the floor with pillows and stuffed animals everywhere. Luca was tucked into Cliff’s side on the couch and Micah, who had never even sat with his uncle before, was tucked into Luca’s side, playing with the hem of his shirt. It was a quiet picture of love and family. Cliff couldn’t help but kiss Luca on the top of his head. He looked up at him with those eyes and he kissed him again square on the lips.
As Cliff and Luca stood beside the car, saying goodbye to everyone, all the kids came over and gave hugs goodbye. Sophie pulled Cliff off to the side and told her baby brother that if he fumbled this, there would be hell to pay. This made Cliff laugh and throw up his hands in mock surrender. The guys promised to visit again soon and offered tickets for hockey games during the season. As they pulled out of the driveway, Cliff couldn’t help the tears that fell onto his cheeks. Luca turned, concern on his face and gave his hand a squeeze. Cliff tried and failed to put into words how much this visit meant, how much his family liked Luca and how much love he felt as he looked into those sparkly blue eyes.