Page 24 of Sportsball is for Lovers

“Hockey romance.”

I stare at him. “What?”

“She writes contemporary queer romance novels about a hockey team,” he says, like I’m dumb. “She’s also written baseball books and a few novels about basketball players.”

“People read that stuff?” I can’t believe that.

“They go nuts for it.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “Why do people watch hockey on TV?”

“It’s a fast-paced game with supremely talented athletes in the prime of their careers,” I tell him.

“Okay,” he says, waving a hand. “Now add a love story to it.”

I blink.

“It’s dynamite. Instant sales.”

“So she just…”

Yoni raises his eyebrows. “She still has a day job, but between you and me, it’s more for the peace of mind than the income. She could totally do this as a full-time gig. She’s just not ready to take that leap.”

“And you help her?” Even though he’s tried to explain it, I’ve never understood exactly what he does as her assistant.

“I create graphics, monitor ads, administer her shop, update her website, mail out her books, schedule everything…” He shrugs. “It’s a job, but I like her, and I like being useful.”

“You don’t want… more?”

He has a biochemistry degree and did a semester and a half of dental school before dropping out. That was four years ago. Since then, he met and married Elliott, and as happy as I am that my brother’s found his forever partner, I can’t help wondering if getting off the corporate merry-go-round is holding him back.

Both of our parents are very into education. Our dad is a high school principal and our mother is a dentist. There was never a question of if we were going to college; we were going, it was final. The only question was where.

I went to a small liberal arts college in Northern California, and Yoni did undergrad in upstate New York before moving to Boston for dentistry school. After he dropped out, he stayed, rather than going back to Tacoma where our parents live or joining me in Denver.

I mean, I guess I get it. He has a life there. Friends. A partner who is now his spouse.

I wish I could be as happy as he is.

“I like the way things are now,” Yoni says. “It works for me. It’s not for everyone. It doesn’t have to be. It’s good for me.”

Shaking my head, I meet his eyes. “You’re happy, I’m happy. End of story.”

“What about you?” My brother tilts his head. “You happy?”

Lifting my gin and tonic to my lips, I sip my drink and think over his innocent question.

“I think I’m about to lose my job,” I finally admit.

“Why would you say that? You’re a great reporter,” he says.

“The winds of change.” I shrug. “I like Denver, but I’m not attached to the city. After the season’s up, I’ll start putting out feelers. See what’s out there.”

“Come to Boston,” he suggests.

I smile tightly. “Yeah, maybe.”