Chapter 40
DEVON
Our captain took me aside the next night. Not Lous—Wheels. Karim fucking Khoury. Because I played for Vancouver. For now, anyway.
I appreciated he chose to do it away from the others.
“There’s no shame in taking the night off,” Wheels said. “Yesterday was…intense.”
As I gazed into his dark-brown eyes, I saw only compassion. Much as I had with Lous when he’d rubbed my shoulder yesterday before taking off to get to practice. The wait for Jack to leave Emil’s office had been interminable.
The wait for the press conference had been interminable.
The press conference had been interminable.
We’d gone back to my hotel. We’d ordered room service, and then we’d crawled into bed—naked—and had a nap.
Much like we had done repeatedly in Tofino. Only there we’d been giving his body a chance to heal. Yesterday had been about me.
“I’m okay,” I told Karim. “Really. My head’s in the game. You know, if I have something to prove—”
“You don’t.”
“I do. I really do. I need to show that I can focus—even if I have a gay lover. I don’t want the naysayers claiming I’m too wrapped up in Jack.”
“It shouldn’t matter what other people think—especially the homophobic assholes whose opinion matters less than zero.” Wheels held my gaze.
Something in the way he spoke let me know he had some experience—even peripheral. When people spewed hate, sometimes bystanders in the vicinity got hit as well. As witnessing Emil who took flak and Lous who had felt the need to come out in order to support Jack and me. Talk about brave…
“Look, if I get out there and things aren’t going well, I’ll talk to Coach.”
“You give me a signal and I’ll talk to Coach. I have a solid relationship with him.”
In my mind, of course, I wondered if that meant they were somehow involved. Jesus. Not every guy is screwing his coach. Like…how many teams in the League? And probably not a single one with your interesting predicament. “You shouldn’t have to run interference for me.”
“I’m protecting my team. In the end, that’s all that matters. If that means you get cared for as well, I’m okay with that. Look, I’m going to be honest.”
Oh shit. Nothing good ever comes of that. It means he might’ve been lying to me at any point until now. “Sure.”
“You’ve got so much fucking potential. Like they said at the press conference today—Toronto’s loss is our gain. Make those fuckers regret ever trading you. Hell, if they’re smart, they already realize it.”
“That simple?”
“Yep. Truly that simple.” He leaned in so we were mere inches away. He squeezed my shoulder. “Play your best damn game.”
I blinked. “Thank you.”
“I’d like to think there’s a reason they made me captain.”
I sniffed as I nodded. “Yeah. That.”
We headed into the locker room where several guys gave me enthusiastic waves. We’d practiced this morning—and a couple of them had given me high fives—but this felt more real. We were heading out to a game. Nothing was more important than a game.
Well, except Jack.
Two guys wouldn’t look me in the eye. That stung, but truthfully, if only two were going to be this way, I could deal.
I’d deal.
As we warmed up, a few fans who were already in the stands waved.
When we took to the ice though, and my name was announced, I could’ve sworn the crowd was just a little bit louder.
Or maybe that was my imagination.
But as the national anthem played, and I was able to look out over the crowd, I saw a bunch of the team’s special-edition pride jerseys. And a few fans waving rainbow flags.
I struggled not to tear up. Vancouver was a more accepting town than many others.
That said, we still had homophobes, and some of those bigots were also hockey fans.
Those things intersected. As did most things in life.
And racists. Lous faced some of that—overt and underhanded.
Most fans knew they’d be in trouble if they used slurs, but there was always talk of how good he was—especially because he was one of them.
Like somehow Black kids shouldn’t be capable hockey players.
The anthem ended, and I pointedly didn’t look out over where Jack was in the stands.
He’d wanted to stay away—for fear of drawing attention to himself.
I told him I needed him.
He bought a seat in the nosebleed section and wore an IceHawks hat. He also had the second keycard to my hotel room and promised he’d be waiting there.
I’d wanted him to stay and greet me, but he insisted now wasn’t the time—too much attention. He was right, of course. Hockey first. Especially since he’d given up everything for me.
In the end, I managed two assists, which was way beyond what was expected of me. I had real chemistry with Ricky and Tays. The third line center and left winger had amazing timing, and I hoped we’d get more ice time together.
Vancouver won. By three points.
Two Nashville players made a point of giving me nods. Of approval, I chose to believe.
“You want to go out?” Wheels held my gaze.
“Uh…no. I’m going to take a pass.”
“You just look like you need a drink. Or at least an ear and—” He rolled his eyes. “He’s waiting for you at the hotel. Or are you driving to Abbotsford?”
Heat raced to my cheeks.
“All good. Have fun.” With that, he disappeared.
Several members of the media were waiting for me.
So was a member of Vancouver’s public-relations team. Clearly she’d step in if needed. Leila might be petite, but she knew her stuff and—most importantly—didn’t take any shit.
From anyone.
A reporter I recognized from the National News stepped forward with a microphone. She offered what I hoped was a genuine smile. “Two assists? That was great.”
“Uh, thank you.”
“You seemed to have supporters in the stands. Did that surprise you?”
I shook my head. “Hockey fans are loyal to Vancouver. I hope they see me as an asset to the team.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “I mean, after you came out yesterday. And with your coach, no less.”
“Sometimes we can’t choose who we love. He never gave me preferential treatment, and I never asked for it.”
“Was he here tonight? We couldn’t see him?”
I glanced toward Leila
She gave a slight nod.
“I know if he were coaching—which I know he won’t and that’s a shame—that I’d be supporting him in every way I can.
He doesn’t want me distracted. Which is why I was able to nail two assists.
I’m optimistic that I can keep helping Vancouver win.
Because at the end of the day, Vancouver’s fans deserve a Cup. ”
Leila signaled an end. “We’re good here. Devon’s tired and needs to rest up.”
Corinne lowered her mic and her camera person clearly turned the thing off. The reporter grinned. “Doubt you’ll be getting much sleep tonight.”
“Out of line, Corinne.” Leila glared. Corinne glared back.
Yeah, okay. There’s a story here, and I’m so not getting between two women who look that angry. Hell, I wouldn’t step between two guys who looked ready to throw down. Unless I was witnessing an unfair fight. I figured these two were evenly matched.
The woman who’d held the camera rolled her eyes at me—assuring me this was an ongoing battle.
“I need to be on my way. Thank you all.”
Another reporter appeared a little miffed at my abrupt departure, but his attention soon riveted to Leila and Corinne who really did appear like they wanted to tear each other limb from limb.
Is that wise for our team’s PR person? Oh well, she had plenty of experience, so I trusted she knew what she was doing.
Fatima, the lovely person who’d helped me on my first night, was there to escort me to a random side door.
No one was outside, so I managed to slip away unnoticed.
With my Vancouver Whitecaps hat, I blended in.
Vancouver, but not hockey. I silently made a promise to go to a game this summer.
Because I’d be sticking around this summer.
Because apparently Jack didn’t have anyone waiting for him anywhere else.
We were about to become each other’s entire worlds.
Mikey would forgive me. Hell, I’d buy him a ticket to come out and visit.
I’d also keep up the friendships I’d made. I needed people outside the rink I could count on—and who knew I’d have their backs. Lous, Claus, and Wheels were three guys I intended to keep in touch with.
The walk to the hotel didn’t take much time as my long strides ate up the distance.
Apparently there had been a musical at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and a rock concert at BC Place.
Whoever planned to have those three events on one night hadn’t been thinking clearly.
The sidewalks were jammed as it appeared the concert and the game both got out at the same time. God only knew about the musical.
Traffic was everywhere—very reminiscent of my time in Toronto. The big city. The big leagues.
Does this mean I’ve made it? Like really made it?
Crisse. That was a thought.
Time would tell.
But I was here now. I’d made it this far, and it looked like I might stay here.
And by some miracle, on top of it all, the most amazing man I’d ever met was waiting for me in a hotel room.
I stepped out of the flow of traffic and took out my phone.
Be there soon.
I’m all yours when you get here. (wink emoji)
lol Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you’ve been all mine for a while.
Uh-huh. So what are you going to do with me?
Guess you’ll find out, won’t you?
Then I pocketed my phone, smiled to mself, and walked faster toward our hotel.