18. Letter
Letter
Splash,
A big, muscly man? Well, I have to work out every single day, and I’m on a pretty strict game plan, so I’d say I’m in the best shape of my life at the moment.
I’ll leave you to look at the enclosure and let me know what you think.
I know you said you didn’t want to see me yet, so I thought I’d send you a sneak peek.
Honestly, I almost didn’t send it. I probably took about fifty shots before I found one that didn’t make me look like a total tool, and even now, I’m sitting here wondering if it’s too much.
It’s weird, I can skate in front of twenty thousand people without blinking, but the idea of you looking at this makes me more nervous than a rookie on opening night.
I hope I’m at least close to what you were picturing, or at the very least, worth the “trouble” you mentioned.
I’m not just a hockey player; I’m an openly gay hockey player, which is what the cameras love to focus on. That’s the version of me that comes up on the ice, always smiling, always perfect, playing the role they want me to play.
My team, the Tidal Teals, has my back no matter what, and they don’t care about me being gay; to them, I am just Jackson the defenseman, which is a breath of fresh air compared to how the media focuses on it.
Wow, look at us getting down to the heavy shit!
When I’m on the ice, I feel completely free.
I feel like that’s my true purpose. Knowing that the man on my right always has my back is the main reason I love the game so much.
As for my anger, I try to leave it all at the gym; I keep personal shit off the ice as much as possible, though sometimes it bleeds through.
Everyone has secrets, Splash, and that’s ok—as long as they don’t overtake your life.
Why are you asking about that, anyway? I hope everything wherever you are is as ok as it can be… shit, talk about being vague!
A child? Did I say that? Oh! I must have mentioned Willow.
She’s my teammate, Logan’s little girl, and she is so damn cute.
I would literally do anything for that kid.
Don’t worry, I don’t have any children of my own…
none that I know of, anyway! I’m home right now in this big, empty house, and honestly, there’s no one of any interest to even consider asking to come home with me.
No one but a certain soldier who is thousands of miles away and doesn’t even know my voice yet.
Jackson
PS — I did not bake the enclosed batch! I promise!