Chapter 19
NINETEEN
ALEX (ALEXEY)
Aweek had passed since our run-in with Margot, and we were on the road and set to play the Blackhawks in Chicago tomorrow.
Margot had moved out, and I’d seen more of Julian with less sneaking around.
We hadn’t ventured out in public together, though.
This game would be my first one back from my injury.
We’d arrived in town earlier today and had the evening to relax, so Ace, Archer, Mason and Jett were meeting with some old buddies from ASU, Tyler Hodge and Rowan McKenzie, another power couple in the league, but on the defensive side.
I’d opted out of the meetup. There were more important tasks, like phoning my agent. I’d avoided it as long as I could.
I flopped onto my back on my bed and dialed Craig’s number as my pulse thundered like a locomotive ramming my chest. What would he think about it? Was he homophobic at all? The other queer guys had agents who knew about their sexualities before they signed them. I held my phone tightly to my ear.
“Hey, Alex. Nice to hear from you. It’s been a while.” He let out a sharp laugh. “You’re playing tomorrow, right?”
“I am.” I rubbed my sweaty palms along my sweatpants-covered thigh. “I’m looking forward to it.” The team doctor had given me a cortisone shot for my wrist a few days ago, just to be sure it didn’t impede my game.
“Great. So, what’s on your mind? You don’t call me unless there’s a reason.”
“There’s something you need to know, and I hope this doesn’t impact our relationship negatively.” I winced. What a way to start.
“Okay. Lay it on me.”
I had to just say it. “Craig, I’m, I’m queer and I’ve started dating Julian Mercer.” It was more than dating, but this would suffice. I clenched my free hand into a fist while he digested my statement.
The line was silent.
“Uh, Craig? Are you there?” Maybe he was so disgusted he hung up on me? I stared at my phone and then placed it on speaker.
“Yes, Alex. I’m here. I’m just stunned. It’s not something I hear every day from one of my athletes.” He choked on a laugh. “Are you serious?”
“I’m very serious.” Would he want to drop me now? I’d been with him from the very beginning. Hell, he knew Papa. My eyes popped open. He knows Papa. “Please, not a word of this to my father. I haven’t told him yet. Or hardly anyone, for that matter. We’re seeing each other in secret.”
“Alex, all our conversations are confidential. Even if they weren’t, I’d never reveal this to Sergey unless you consented.” He paused. “Julian Mercer is Grant’s son, correct?”
“He is.” Craig was shifting into agent mode.
His not asking me to find a new agent was encouraging.
I glanced out my tenth-floor hotel window into the setting sun, lighting up glass high-rises across the river.
“He’s also working as an operations assistant for the coaching staff to learn all he can about hockey and player development.
” Would he understand why this was important?
“Wait, he’s working with the coaching staff? Alex, that’s not allowed. You’re breaking franchise policy.”
“Yeah, I know.” Bingo. Of course, he got it. “It’s not like I planned it. It just sort of…happened.” I’d been unable to resist Julian’s feisty charms. The man had sparked my interest from the moment he’d propositioned me in the bathroom at Ocean Club.
“We signed a three-year no-trade contract at the end of last season. But breaking policy would nullify that clause. Are you aware that the team management could trade you if this gets out?”
“I’m aware, which is why, well, one reason we’re not public.” I huffed as my chest squeezed. “No one knows, except for those who need to.” I hopped off the bed. I needed to move and burn off some of this anxiety.
“How long have you been…” He released a loud exhale.
“What, queer or with Julian?” Pacing along the foot of the bed toward the door, I said, “I’ve probably been queer my entire life but hiding it.
I’ve been with Julian, formally, since our first preseason game.
We had to, uh, share a hotel room.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
It sounded ridiculous—like I’d turned gay because I shared a hotel room with a gay man.
“When you say queer, what are we talking about exactly? Are you gay? You were dating Margot Welch.”
I was tired of talking about Margot. She’d finally moved out of my house and wasn’t in my face anymore. “Yes, maybe I’m bisexual. I don’t know. Does it matter?” I twisted around and paced toward the window.
“I guess not, but if we take this public, the press will ask.”
“I’ll figure it out then. I’m not ready to take it public yet.” Stopping, I stared at the river, so far down below, the cars along the road beside it resembled ants crawling along, single file.
“Okay, explain your plan so I have something to work with.”
“There is no plan.” After pursing my lips, I said, “I mean, Julian’s looking into alternate jobs he can take and I…I’ll speak with my parents eventually, but that’s as far as we’ve gotten.” I sounded like the dumb athlete waiting for his agent to fix a disastrous mess he’d made.
“You said only people who matter knew. Tell me who they are.”
“Mason Hopkins and Jett Jarvis, who, by the way, will support us. Then Margot knows, my sister, and Julian told his ex-boyfriend.” For two people involved in a secret relationship, a lot of people knew.
“Jesus, Alex. Not very secret, is it?” He snickered.
“Okay, we’ll draft a statement in case you’re exposed for the PR team to use.
As far as your position on the team, that hinges on Julian and his negotiations with his father.
Should they pursue trading you, what teams are you interested in, so I can put out feelers? ”
I swallowed. Leave the team I won the Stanley Cup with? The men who’d become like brothers to me? “Check into teams that are close by, like Vegas or LA.” Then I could travel easier to see Julian. But how much would we see each other if they traded me?
“Yeah, sure. I’ll check into it.”
“Okay. Any other words of wisdom for me?” I fell onto the foot of the bed, my heart heavy. I was used to seeing Julian every day. It would be hard to leave him for another team.
“Just…keep your head down and don’t get caught. We need to get ahead of this with a full plan.”
“Okay.” My shoulders curled in. This sucked. I’d have to seriously consider telling my parents.
“Anything else?” he asked.
“No, that’s about it.” I fell onto the bed on my back, staring up at the ceiling. When would Julian sneak into my room? His father would fly in tomorrow for the game, so we might not spend tomorrow night together.
“Okay, I’ll update you with openings on other teams and think through the timing and plan of how you wish to go public.”
“I will.” I plopped the heel of my hand on my forehead. We were done. “Have a good evening, Craig.”
“You, too. Bye Alex, and don’t worry, we’ll work something out.”
“Thanks, bye.” I ended the call and sighed.
After the team dinner, in which I’d made eyes at Julian while he ate with the coaching staff, I waited for him to arrive. Tonight, like other nights, we’d end up in my room.
My phone chimed with a text message from him.
Julian
I’m on my way over. Be ready at the door.
With a smile crossing my face, I hopped off my bed, strode to the door and opened it, checking both ways down the hallway. Everyone was playing Call of Duty again, except me, of course.
Julian rounded the corner in his team sweats, biting his lip, and jogged toward me.
Opening the door wide, I stepped aside while he entered, then pushed it shut immediately.
“God, I thought the meetings would never end today.” Cupping my cheeks, he planted a hard kiss on my lips.
“They’re over, and it’s just you and me.” I snatched his hand and led him toward my bed. “I called my agent today.” As I crawled over it, he followed, sitting beside me at the headboard.
“Yeah? Was he surprised?” He crossed his legs, fished a bottle of lube from his pocket and set it on the bed.
“Shocked might be a better word.” Facing him, I mirrored him. We should talk about the genuine possibility of me being traded before we needed the lube he’d brought. “He’s checking nearby teams where I could play.”
“No, Alex. You can’t leave.” With his brows wrinkling, he took my hand and squeezed it. “When would we see each other?”
“Whenever we could. If I’m in Vegas, it’s only a half-hour flight to Phoenix.” But during the season, it would still be difficult to see each other unless he traveled to me. I watched him closely—the way a slight pout hung on his lips.
“I don’t like it, but if it’s our only choice, I guess we’ll have to make it work.
” He pushed me sideways and crawled over me, between my legs, lifting on his elbows.
“But right now, we’re together in the same damn hotel room and no one can bother us.
” With a smirk, he pressed his lips against mine in a teasing kiss.
“Have you thought more about bottoming for me?”
We’d spent the last week exploring it and I’d found it immensely pleasurable. My cock woke. “Yes.” I wanted to please him, and this was my moment. I nipped his lower lip. “What have you planned?” He always had ideas, good ones.
He rocked his hips and his half-mast cock pressed against mine.
As he curled his fingers into my hair, he said, “We can go basic, like missionary style. Then I can see your face as you fall apart.” With a chuckle, he said, “I know you’re pretty flexible, but no contortions necessary this first time. ”
“Contortions?” A soft laugh rumbled through me.
“Sounds good.” It was all I needed to know.
Grabbing his nape, I captured him in hungry kisses, lowering my free hand to his ass and grinding our hard cocks together.
A spark of sensation shot up my spine. Tonight, I’d give him all of me.
It would cement our relationship for the inevitable trade to come.