Page 112 of Two for Roughing

“We’ll have to keep it a secret.”

Damir frowned.

“So it’ll probably be better if I keep my distance in public. I can start hanging out with the rookies more. You could give an interview about…you know, me coming out, something where you can distance yourself publicly. And you’ll have to go home in the summer to keep up appearances, and if we don’t make the playoffs, you could be gone a long time. I don’t need exclusivity, I guess. You probably have someone in Russia—”

“I need exclusivity,” Damir broke in, indignant.

“Oh.”

“And I won’t be giving any interviews distancing myself either. Kilian, where is this coming from?”

Kilian pursed his lips. They were chapped. Damir ought to buy him some lip balm. Maybe some gloss while he was at it.

“Your religion, and Russia. I can’t…I don’t want to put you in danger. If that means we can’t be together in public, I can live with it.”

“I can’t.”

“But how…”

“I’ve been thinking about this,” Damir admitted. “Ever since the article about you was released. You’re right about it not being a good idea to go back to Russia if the world knows we’re more than friends. But my agent is looking into options for me. I’m applying for a green card so I can stay year-round no matter what happens with my contract in two years. In five years, I could naturalize.”

“Oh, that’s what you meant about your agent. Fucking Ketchup, psyching me out.” After a moment, a look of shocked disgust crossed Kilian’s face. “Wait, you want to become an American?”

“My options are slightly limited.”

“I guess. But why?”

“Because—” Damir reached for Kilian’s hands. “—watching you, watching other men in the league being who they are openly, made me realize I can’t settle for less. It will be harder, certainly, and it will come with a cost, but I would regret it forever if I didn’t.”

Kilian ran his thumb along the joint of Damir’s. “That’s…big. For us. I don’t want you to regret choosing me if it means you lose so much.”

It was a lot to invest in a new relationship. Especially since neither of them were experienced when it came to romance.

Damir nodded slowly. “I understand your concerns. I think of it more as…I would do this someday anyway. I don’t want to be alone forever, and I don’t want to be with someone on Russia’s terms, or on the terms of many Muslims while we’re at it. Wanting to be with you made me realize the truth of that. I called my agent and started working on the green card before I knew you felt the same way.”

An inelegant snort escaped from Kilian. “I can’t believe you didn’t realize how into you I am. I’ve begged for your cock on multiple occasions.”

“I thought you were just a needy slut.”

Kilian drew in a sharp breath. “Don’t turn me on right now. We’re having a serious conversation.”

“You started it.”

Kilian pinched the meaty part of Damir’s hand at the base of his thumb joint.

Damir pulled away. “Ow!”

“So what are the rules?” Kilian asked. “How do we play this?”

Damir sighed. “Until the green card is sorted, we should be discreet in public. We don’t have to pretend not to be friends or anything, but…well, you know what’s happening in American politics.”

Kilian grimaced. “Right. Okay, sounds doable. But what if being more open once you have the green card means you don’t get citizenship if things keep on getting worse in the States?”

Damir shrugged. “By the time I’m eligible, they’ll have elections again. Who knows what will happen then? If all else fails, I could try to get traded to Canada.”

“I don’t want to play on different teams.” A distinct whine entered Kilian’s voice. “Can’t you marry me to get Canadian citizenship?”

“Now who’s putting a lot on a new relationship?”