Chapter Four
Adrian
I shouldn’t go to his next game. Rip was only being nice when he invited me.
But I didn’t have much chance to dwell on my invitation, as I spied Rob DeVine waiting outside my tiny office as I exited the elevator.
“Well?” he demanded. “What else did Tremaine want? I heard you two were talking for a while after I left.”
Being the unpopular kid, early on I’d learned to hide my emotions, so it wasn’t a strain to hedge the truth.
“Nothing, really. He was just briefing me on what he planned to say at the interview, the upcoming games…stuff like that.”
DeVine studied me, his eyes assessing. “You know, we’d love to get a more personal side of Ripley Tremaine.
As one of the few ‘out’ players in the NHL”—he made quote marks with his fingers—“it would be interesting to get his perspective on the league’s handling of gay players, like if he feels they could do more, and what he hopes for the future—for the league and himself personally.
” A smirk tipped up the corner of his lips.
“I’m sure you’d be able to answer that better than Louie could. ”
Annoyed, I worked my jaw but kept my cool. “Why? Because I’m gay?”
“Because the rumor mill has it that you two were hot and heavy at Slapshots after their last game. That’s not happening with Louie for sure.” He leaned closer. “Listen, I don’t care who you sleep with, but if it’s going to be a sports star, I’m gonna make sure the station gets something out of it.”
I so wanted to tell him to take his job and shove it, but with only a few months in, it would be career suicide to make an enemy out of someone as powerful as Rob DeVine.
Before Neil moved to the huge magazine conglomerate he was at now, he’d worked for Rob as his editorial assistant after graduating from college, and despite their twenty-year age difference, they’d become friends.
Neil had warned me that Rob was a tough son of a bitch and wouldn’t cut me any slack, but I didn’t care.
Truth was, I’d walk on nails to get in his good graces and get my foot in the door to the ultimate prize: anchor seat for the evening news.
He was hard and unforgiving, but I couldn’t deny that I was learning.
I forced a grin. “No worries. Rip invited me to their next game. I’ll make sure to get you all the stories you need.”
“Good man.” He clapped me hard on the shoulder, sending me staggering a few steps. Already a big guy at six feet three, DeVine had let the businessman lunches get to him, and was about thirty pounds overweight. “You know, Louie is pushing seventy-five and isn’t gonna be around forever.”
“And you know I’m really interested in hard news, not sports.”
“Pay your dues first, kid. You’re an intern. Do what I tell you, and it’ll all work out. Let’s see how you handle this assignment.”
I opened my mouth to answer him, then thought better of it and simply nodded. He walked away, and I took a seat in my chair, staring at the wall until the buzzing of my phone brought me out of my brain fog.
“Neil? What’s up?”
“You tell me.”
I spun in my chair. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I heard you and Rip got pretty fucking chummy.”
My face burned. “From whom? And since when do I answer to you about my personal life?”
“Since you decided to have one with my best friend,” he teased. “I have spies everywhere.”
I’d have liked to think he was kidding, but if it pertained to hockey and Ripley Tremaine, Neil didn’t joke.
He oversaw all the sports and entertainment news for his publications and had his finger on the pulse of both industries.
Had he already spoken to Rip? Did he know what a fool I’d made of myself?
“Oh, come on. I had a little too much to drink on an empty stomach, and we engaged in some harmless flirting. It didn’t mean anything. Rip was upset about his old boyfriend getting engaged.”
“So Rip does care. Dammit,” he swore. “I knew it bothered him.”
“He denied it?” It surprised me that he’d lie to Neil. To me, it was obvious how deeply Denis and Gordie’s announcement affected him.
“Yeah. Said it didn’t matter and his main concentration was playing the game and winning the Cup, but I know him. It had to hurt. Rip always wanted a family.”
Curious now, I hitched my chair forward. I was only a baby when Rip had come to live with us, and I didn’t know much about the circumstances leading to him becoming a surrogate brother.
“Let me ask you: what happened with his parents? You guys were older, and I grew up with him just always…there. Mom and Dad never wanted to talk about it.”
“I didn’t care why he lived with us because I always had my best friend with me.
” A sigh filled my ear. “Rip’s father was never in the picture, and his mom, Abby, was a waitress at Honey’s Diner on the south side of town.
We became friends at the playground and were in the weekend Pee Wee hockey league. ”
Annoyed, I grunted. “That’s surface shit I already know. I’m talking about the real stuff. Like why did he move in with us after his mom died?”
“Because he had no one else. From what Mom and Dad told me, his father was a deadbeat and took off before Rip was even born. His parents never married. Drinking and gambling with his friends were more important to his father than anything. Mom said Abby tried to give Rip everything she could to keep up with the other kids in school. At that point Dad wasn’t making much money, so she and Abby shared babysitting and would have potluck dinners the nights Dad worked at Legal Aid.
After Dad made partner at the firm, Abby tried to pull away, thinking Mom wouldn’t want to be friends with a single mother working as a waitress, getting by on lousy tips. ”
“Pride,” I mused.
“Yep. But you know Mom, she doesn’t understand the word ‘no.’ It’s why after Abby died in that robbery at the diner, Mom didn’t listen to the social workers who wanted to put Rip in foster care. She swooped in and took him, making the argument of what’s best for the child.”
“That’s sad. Did he ever try to find his father?”
“Not that I’m aware. He has no idea who he is. Far as I know, Abby never even told him his name. I once asked him, and he told me he couldn’t care less and to drop the subject. So I did.”
“I never knew,” I murmured, heart aching for what Rip must’ve gone through. “It must’ve been so hard for him.”
“He doesn’t like to talk about it, but yeah. Rip hasn’t had it easy, and he deserves the best. Don’t ever repeat this, but right from the start I didn’t like him and Denis together.”
Intrigued, I had to ask. “Why?”
I could almost see Neil’s shrug through the phone. “Guy’s too loud. Too full of himself. Everything’s always got to be about him. Always looking for the camera, no matter what he does. Rip isn’t like that. Professionally, he’s a team player. Personally, he’s sensitive. Caring.”
I thought about it. “Yeah, I can see that. So you can understand why he offered me his spare room.”
Neil laughed out loud. “Okay, you got me. Just be careful, is all I’m saying. Rip is vulnerable right now and might not be making the best decisions.”
“And I’m not a good decision, is that what you’re saying?” I rushed to finish my response. “Never mind. Look. I haven’t seen or spoken to Rip since your college graduation. Don’t worry. He still thinks of me as a little kid. Like a brother, he said.”
“Fine. Look, Lisa’s sick now, but as soon as she’s better, come for a weekend. We need to catch up. I miss my baby brother, and the kids want to see their uncle.”
I rolled my eyes. Neil dwelled too much on the baby part and didn’t want to acknowledge that I was grown-up and capable. My desk phone buzzed. “Uh, yeah. Sure. Of course. Give them all a kiss for me. I gotta go.”
I ended the call and picked up my desk phone. “Channel 8 News, Adrian Hunt speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hey, kiddo. How you doin’?” Louie Rozner’s voice boomed out, bringing a smile to my face.
“Louie. How are you? How’s the ankle?”
“Like crap. Broken in two places. Got twisted up when I slammed into the guard rail, and the air bag went off, it broke my nose and fractured my eye socket. I look like I went three rounds with George Foreman.”
Despite not knowing who that was, I winced in sympathy. “Ouch. I didn’t know about your face, only your ankle. Did they say how long you’ll be in the hospital?”
“Not yet. My doctor’s coming in this afternoon. Listen, I saw the spot you did with Rip Tremaine.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Yeah, not too good, I know, but I’ll get better, I promise.”
“Nah, don’t sweat it, you were fine,” he reassured. “But I didn’t know you and Rip were friends. How’d that happen?”
“Long story, but we grew up together.” Hopefully, my casual answer would be enough.
“Well, Rob told me you’re gonna have an exclusive sit-down with him. You up for it?”
With Louie, I felt I could be honest. “I’m not sure. I hope so.”
“Listen, kid. I know sports isn’t really your thing, but this could be something good to cut your teeth on.”
As much as I liked Louie, I wasn’t sure what he was thinking. “How so? A simple interview?”
“First of all, never think of an interview as simple. You never know what can happen—they might drop a tidbit no one else knows or give inside info on the team. It’s all how you draw the answers out of them and how comfortable you make them feel with you.
” He chuckled. “And from what I heard, you and Tremaine got pretty comfy after the spot you did.”
I blew out a frustrated sigh and rubbed my face. “I swear I’ve told this story so many times, I need to print it out. We grew up together. He’s best friends with my brother.”
“Uh-huh. You and him ever go out? Like on a date?”
“What? No. We’re complete opposites.”
“I dunno. He had a look in his eye when you were doin’ your bit.” He cackled. “Like he wouldn’t mind gettin’ a major penalty for getting too close to you. You ever hear of spearing? How about butt-ending?”
“Not you too, Louie,” I groaned. “Now I know you’re making this shit up.”
“I swear they’re real.” He howled. “I’m not kiddin’. Look it up.”
If there were room for me to crawl under my desk, I would’ve, and even knowing there wasn’t, I seriously contemplated wedging myself beneath it. “Why is everyone trying to get me to hook up with Rip? It’s not going to happen.”
“There’s no harm in flirting with the guy. Rip’s a huge hockey star. Bein’ with him could be good for your career. It’ll get your name out there. That’s all I’m sayin’. Think about it.”
“Dammit. Can’t a guy get ahead on merit?”
“Sure, but it’s a hell of a lot easier when you got somethin’ else to smooth the path.
I know you wanna do the hard news, kid, but I gotta tell you, I don’t see that happenin’ for a while.
” I winced at the gentleness in his voice because he was speaking the truth from his heart and trying to let me down easy.
And Louie was someone I trusted and respected.
“Sterling Forest’s in the anchor seat, and he’s not goin’ nowhere.
At least for now. I know he’d like to go national at some point—all these anchor guys do. ”
When Louie talked, though he was a sports guy, people in the news industry listened.
On 9/11, he’d been in a news van on his way to Kings Stadium in Brooklyn to do soccer interviews but had stayed in the city to give on-the-scene reporting of the unfolding disaster.
He’d won an Emmy for that segment, and I soaked up every piece of advice he offered.
I pinched my eyes shut and put my head in my hands.
“I know, but that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I can’t give it up.”
“And you shouldn’t. But us two work good together. And I can help you gain some confidence.”
My cheeks burned at his insight. “I don’t know why the camera trips me up. I’m fine until I see that light, and then…” I trailed off, unsure if I’d shot myself in the foot by showing my vulnerability.
“You’re still learning. It’ll happen. And don’t worry if you screw up. It’s all part of the learnin’ process. You’re gonna do good, kid. Don’t worry. You’re still young. There’s plenty of time. Now, if you got a sec, here’s how I think you should handle the interview.”
I grabbed a pen and pad and started scribbling, nodding my head at his words. “Rip invited me to their next game and the practice session.” I didn’t mention the dinner, figuring Louie would just keep razzing me.
“Perfect. You can pick up valuable information from the players during their practice. Go early, keep your eyes and ears open for team dynamics, especially Rip and Denis. It can’t be easy playing with your former lover, and now that Denis is engaged, it could make it extra tense.
Might make for a good interview when the time comes. ”
As much as I valued Louie’s help, I swore I wouldn’t make my career on abusing a friend’s trust.