Chapter 18
Zane
“There he is,” Blake says to Holt.
The locker room is empty somehow. I can’t help but wonder how Blake managed to clear it out. Holt tries to stand, but Blake pushes him back down onto the bench. Holt looks nervous.
“We’re only here to talk,” I tell him. Holt looks at me, fear flickering in his eyes.
“Speak for yourself,” Leo snarks. “Did you know what your sister was up to? Were you in on it?” he asks Holt directly.
Holt looks confused, his eyes scanning the room as though searching for an exit, any way out.
“No one’s here, don’t worry,” Blake reassures him. “The team isn’t scheduled for practice, the coach already left, and I told the rest of the staff to take an extended break,” he explains.
This is a side of Blake I don’t see often, but when it comes to the people he cares about, he shows up without hesitation.
“I thought we were going to play some hockey, man. I didn’t do anything,” Holt says, looking at me with pleading eyes.
“But you know your sister did something, right?” I ask. He tilts his head. “After the party?”
“I know there was something about some girl at a party, but I didn’t really pay attention. She always has those gossip stories, man. I have no idea what she did, but I had nothing to do with it. I swear,” Holt insists, trying to defend himself.
“And how do we confirm that? How do we know you’re not lying? How do we know you’re not trying to go after Zane’s spot on the team? How do we know this isn’t some kind of revenge play?” Blake presses.
“What?” Holt says in shock. “I would never do anything to take his position. Not like that. I’m not even playing for the Grizzlies next year. I made a deal with the Ravens,” he explains.
Blake and I exchange a look, both surprised. Holt has shown up for the team at every game. I never would’ve guessed he planned to leave.
The fact that he no longer has ties to the Grizzlies makes it even harder to understand why he’d be involved in whatever mess his sister created.
“I’ve been a fan of yours since day one, you know that, Zane. I don’t know what she did, but I would never try to hurt you,” Holt says earnestly. “Definitely not by using your girl.”
“Can you text her?” Leo asks, and I watch closely, curious about where he’s going with this.
“Sure. What do you want me to say?” Holt replies as he reaches for his phone. The moment he unlocks it, Blake quickly snatches it from his hand and tosses it over to Leo.
“Can’t have you calling for help,” Blake says with a shrug when Holt gives him a confused look.
“What was her name again? Jessica?” Leo asks as he scrolls through Holt’s messages. “So the last thing you asked her was whether she was going to your aunt’s birthday party. That seems harmless,” he notes. “Let’s see how she responds to this,” he adds, typing a message and sending it.
“What did you ask her?” Holt asks nervously.
“I asked her what she did last night and why she lied,” Leo replies casually. Something in his tone tells me he didn’t phrase it exactly like that.
“I thought you guys had a good time at the party,” Holt says quietly. “Even your old friend Julian was there with his boyfriend,” he adds.
“Boyfriend? What do you mean?” I ask, confused. “Julian doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
“Maybe he hasn’t told you yet, but I know for a fact he does. I saw him kissing a guy before he left last night,” Holt explains.
“What guy?” Leo asks, just as confused as I am.
“The guy in the suit. He looked like some kind of businessman. I think his name was Rey or something like that,” Holt tries to recall.
“You mean Rex? Rex Chen?” Leo asks, visibly surprised.
“Yeah, I think that was his name. I remember thinking it sounded like something I’d name a dog,” Holt adds, which makes me chuckle despite everything.
Leo glances at me, clearly about to say something, when Holt’s phone buzzes.
JESSICA: Don’t worry about it. Wanted that girl to learn a lesson. All good.
JESSICA: Are you bringing anything to Aunt Sylvia’s place?
“I guess Holt is telling the truth,” I sigh as Leo hands him back his phone. “I’m sorry about all of this.”
“What happened for you to go full mafia psycho?” Holt asks, still confused as he looks between the three of us.
I explain everything to him, and by the time I finish, he looks genuinely shocked. His reaction feels sincere, which makes me feel bad for holding him in the locker room like this.
“Jessica has always been a bit of a bully. I’m sorry she hurt your girl like that,” he says, clearly meaning it. “Is there anything I can do?”
“I honestly can’t think of anything,” I reply.
“I swear I’m not leaving if you guys still need me, but I’ve been dying to pee for like an hour. Can I please use the bathroom?” Holt asks.
As soon as Blake nods, Holt rushes toward the far end of the locker room and pushes the bathroom door open with force.
“Maybe we were a little hard on him,” Leo sighs, running a hand behind his neck.
“Is there anything we can do about Jessica? Spin the story back to the truth? Get her to confess or something?” Blake asks.
“My team is already all over her socials as we speak. She’ll crack before Monday. I’m sure she’ll have an apology statement up soon,” Leo explains.
In the distance, I hear footsteps approaching, and Holt returns.
“Sorry about this, man,” Blake says as he pulls Holt into a brief hug.
“I’m sorry for what my sister did,” Holt replies. “Promise me you’ll come to my goodbye party?”
“We’ll be there,” I tell him before we all turn and leave the locker room.
“Do you think Gwen will be ok after all of this?” Blake asks as we walk down the hallway toward the parking lot.
“She’s tough. She’ll be fine,” I confirm. “I just hate seeing her hurt like this. She didn’t deserve it.”
“It’s not your fault, man,” Leo says, giving me a reassuring slap on the back. “Do you think Holt was telling the truth about Julian?”
“I don’t see why he’d lie about that,” I reply, thinking it through. “But do you really think Julian is with Rex? And that Rex is gay too?”
“Why don’t you call him?” Blake suggests, glancing at his phone. I can’t help but wonder if he’s texting one of the many girls he’s been seeing.
“Maybe we should,” Leo agrees.
“I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you later, ok?” Blake says as he heads toward his car.
I get into Leo’s car, and once he starts the engine, he calls Julian.
“Hey, man,” Julian says after four rings. “How are you?”
“I’m good. I’m here with Zane. How are you?” Leo replies.
“Hey, Zane. I’m good too just been busy,” Julian answers with a slight, nervous chuckle.
“Busy dating someone special?” Leo implies, and even through the silence, I can tell it catches Julian off guard.
“You already know, don’t you?” Julian asks, his voice dropping almost to a whisper.
“Why didn’t you tell us? You know we don’t care if you’re straight, gay, or bi,” I say.
“I only came to terms with it recently,” Julian sighs. “And besides, I really didn’t expect to fall for… well, you know.”
“For Rex,” Leo adds.
“I know he hurt you pretty badly and that he did some really stupid things with the bakery, but I promise he’s a good guy,” Julian begins to defend Rex. “I swear I didn’t want to fall for him. I tried to avoid it, but I couldn’t. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“I believe you,” Leo says, and I glance at him, just as surprised as Julian sounds.
“You do?” Julian asks.
“I’ve worked with him for almost a decade. Of course I do. He messed up big time, and we’re basically enemies now, but deep down, his heart is good. It’s just buried… very, very deep,” Leo explains. “Super deep.”
“Maybe we should all have dinner sometime,” Julian suggests.
“We’re not there yet,” Leo replies. “But maybe someday,” he adds. I can hear the relief in Julian’s silence. “You’re always welcome, though,” Leo continues.
“What’s new with you two?” Julian asks next. “Besides the situation with Zane’s girlfriend. I saw you’ve got your team on her, Leo. Smart move,” he adds, his tone shifting back to the sharp, confident Julian we used to know, the one who always had a handle on social media.
“I missed you, man,” I say quietly.
“Tell me about it,” Julian replies. “It’s fun dating a businessman, but sometimes the business talk gets so boring,” he complains, making me laugh.
“Maybe you should talk to Tess. She seems to be an expert at avoiding boring business talk,” I joke.
“I saw you and Tess at the party, Leo. You two make a great couple. I’m glad it worked out,” Julian says, and I can practically see Leo’s guard soften.
“Thanks, man. Look, we’ve got to go for now, but don’t be a stranger, ok? Come by the apartment, the bakery, the office, anywhere,” Leo suggests.
“I will. See you guys soon,” Julian says before hanging up.
“I’m not that surprised Julian is gay. I feel like he might’ve even told me one night when we were drunk, but I definitely didn’t expect him to be dating Rex,” Leo sighs, leaning back in his chair.
“He never even seemed to like Rex. He was always annoyed whenever Rex came around while we were hanging out.”
“Do you think you’ll ever be able to have a friendly dinner with Rex after everything?” I ask. “Now that he’s Julian’s boyfriend and all.”
“I’d like to think so. My girlfriend is teaching me the importance of forgiveness. I might not have a choice,” Leo says, and I laugh. “Let’s get out of here.”