Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Duster

Following Tye's statement to the press, Moss spends the remainder of the day dealing with the ramifications that apparently come with publicly being in a gay relationship with an NHL player. The first thing that he does is FaceTime his parents.

"Hi," Moss says when they appear on his phone screen. He really doesn't feel like talking with them right now, but he also wants to get the conversation over with. There is still an inkling burning in the back of his head telling him that they only want to be involved in his life now that they know he's with Tye.

They both at least have the decency to have a guilty look on their faces. "Hi, Mo. How are you doing, honey?" His mom asks. Neither of them have bothered to ask how he's been for the longest time. The fact that it took him being in a relationship with a hockey player for them to check in with him makes his stomach twist and his heart feel heavy with sadness.

"I'm fine, thanks. How are you guys?" The conversation feels very awkward and forced, practically the opposite of how Tye's call with his parents went. Moss is happy that Tye doesn't have to be here to witness this.

"We're doing well." There's a long pause after his mom answers. Moss isn't sure if he's supposed to fill the silence or wait for his parents to question him. Thankfully, his dad is the one who continues the conversation. "So—how long have you and Tye been together?"

Moss fills them in on how he and Tye met and eventually got together. They don't really interrupt much throughout his retelling of their relationship. He's not sure what to make of their lack of contribution during this.

"Well now it makes sense why the two of you wanted to get dinner together in Detroit," his mom tries to joke, but all three of them clearly still feel uncomfortable. Moss gives her a forced smile in acknowledgement. She clears her throat and tilts her head down before looking over at her husband and then back at the phone. Running a hand through her hair, his mom sighs and says, "We should've noticed sooner, Mo. Your father and I have been talking since you made your relationship public....We haven't been fair to you." Moss is surprised to hear his mom admit that to him, but braces himself for whatever else she has to say.

"It seems that we may have been paying more attention to your brothers than we have to you. I'm so sorry, baby." His mom is choked up as she gets the words out. Tears are forming in her eyes and she lifts her reading glasses up to wipe at them before they fall. His dad finally speaks for the first time since asking how long he and Tye have been together. "You're just as much part of this family as Shane and Eli are," he says with an arm around his wife. "It was unacceptable of us to give your brothers more attention just because they play hockey. I hope you are able to forgive us at some point, son."

Moss is shocked at what he is hearing. They are saying all of the right things and yet, he still feels skeptical about their intentions. "I can't say that being ignored for the past however many months will be easy to forget, but I appreciate the apologies." His mom covers a sob with a hand making him feel a little guilty. For a brief moment, he considers telling them that everything is okay and they are completely forgiven. However, he needs to stand up for himself. He moves forward with telling them what is currently going through his mind. "If we're all being honest right now, I do want to say that it kind of sucks that it took me being in a relationship with a hockey player for you guys to reach out to me. You've only really cared about Shane and Elly for a while now, but I'm suddenly visible again just because I'm dating their teammate. Do you know what I mean?"

Nervously clenching his hands together, Moss waits for his parents' reactions to what he just admitted. He can't think of the last time he was ever this honest with either of them and his heart races thinking about how they will respond to his openness. His mom is looking down at her lap and her shoulders shake as she cries quietly. Meanwhile, his dad's arm wraps tighter around her as he whispers something into her ear that Moss can't quite make out. He's still grateful that Tye doesn't have to be here for this conversation, but he desperately wants the same comfort that his parents are providing each other at this moment.