Hard Contact - An LGBTQ Roleplay

Chapter 12

Summary:

Caleb gets to see a whole other side of Blake Watson when he comes to visit the family for the first time.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Blake

Living in a small town meant noticing the small things, like when an unknown car pulled into the driveway and a man not fitting the typical small town description climbed out. Blake watched from the window, chugging a bottle of water. He'd been arranging the back porch ever since he'd gotten home, moving tables and setting up the grill for the perfect evening dinner. His father had suggested that it might rain and Blake had feared for his dad's life with the look his mother had sent his way. The man now stood on the porch grilling the steaks that the youngest son had picked up that afternoon. The backyard was Susan's pride and joy as a stay at home mom. It had become her happy place in the midst of raising three kids and taking care of a small town to boot (her name featured prominently on every volunteer project the community had ever thought up). When she'd moved back into the professional world and taken over the town's gardening needs, her own yard had never suffered. Showing it off might have been her ultimate reason for having invited Caleb in the first place. But Blake knew better, knew her ulterior motives.

At the knock, Blake hesitated, wondering if the man would just leave if he didn't answer. It was his mother's look as she passed by with a tray of asparagus that had him on his feet and opening the front door. He greeted the forward in what was essentially workout gear, the spine of his t-shirt dark with sweat and his curls gone wild. Set to work since the second he'd stepped in the door, he'd been kept from the shower and looked the furthest thing from presentable. Caleb, on the other hand, cleaned up nicely. Blake hadn't been privy to seeing the forward in more than his hockey kit and sweatpants. The professional look worked on him. The trainer nodded his approval and leaned against the jamb of the door. "Must admit, I thought you'd bail." He shrugged and almost beckoned Caleb inside but was stopped by the noise of feet hitting hard wood. Blake held up a hand and mere seconds later was scooping up a blur of color before a little girl could barrel into his legs. With blonde curls much like his own, the child stared on in wonder at the new guest. "Who's that, Uncle Blake?" With a smirk, the trainer casually replied, "No one worth knowing," before reprimanding his niece for not washing up as her dad had told her. She scampered away the second her feet were on the floor.

"Word of warning. There are four of those here. So watch your mouth and play nice." Blake's brother and family were joining them for dinner, his four munchkins ranging from age two to eleven running around the house like they owned the place. His very pregnant sister-in-law was already sitting out on the porch. The second his brother had started having kids, he hadn't bothered to stop. His older brother was his mother's wet dream coming true. Grandchildren galore. "Get in here," Blake muttered, already leaving the door in his wake. There was no place that he felt more comfortable than in his parents' home. While his training office came with doubt and his own home with emptiness, this house was bursting with good memories and people that had supported his career every step of the way. Two stories of house and a false third that held the attic had been the epitome of his childhood. It felt odd to share the space with Caleb, too personal given that no NHL player had ever stepped foot in this place. He glanced over his shoulder at the forward scooting into the place awkwardly, pleased to have the upper hand.

"Dining room," Blake supplied suddenly, pointing to the space holding their dining room table. He gestured to a few other rooms and hallways, naming each one of them in turn until Caleb had gotten as grand a tour as the man was going to give. "My bedroom is at the top and that's... about it. Everyone's in the backyard but if you want to chill here for a bit, get used to things, mom told me I had to offer that option." You wouldn't think he was thirty given how well he took instruction from his mother but here he was obeying her every word. A culture shock sounded brilliant to him. The kids alone would be frightening for the forward that had backed out of a few child friendly events since starting his career with the Devils. He eyed Caleb, unsure if he had siblings to produce nieces and nephews. Their relationship up to that point hadn't exactly been research worthy. His medical files told Blake everything he needed to know.