Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
ALEX (ALEXEY)
Grant finalized Julian’s new position within a week, ending the trade negotiations and leaving me with the team I loved.
Okay, and the man I loved. We’d held meetings with the coaching staff and the team to announce our relationship internally and Julian’s new position.
Everyone accepted the news well, and no one was overly surprised.
In the background, I’d worked with Jessica in PR to set up a presser where I would come out publicly with Julian at my side.
Jessica had also felt it suitable for Julian to present himself to the reporters as the successor to his father’s legacy.
Today, we had a home game against Anaheim in the evening, and the PR team scheduled our presser for the early afternoon.
I’d attended countless of these, but this one could prove the most critical.
Wearing my best blue suit, I met Julian and Grant in the hallway at the door leading into our media room.
“Hey, Julian.” Grabbing his elbow, I kissed his cheek. “Ready for this?” I glanced at Grant.
With the edge of his lips rising, Grant gave a slight nod.
“I’m ready.” Julian glanced at his father. “Jessica worked me over with questions until I almost passed out.”
“That’s her job, son.” Grant squeezed his shoulder. “I’m glad we could work things out for you, Alex. It’s clear you love my son, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy.”
Julian beamed at his father. “Because I haven’t been.”
Jessica opened the door from inside the room. “Okay, ready?”
“Yes.” Grant strolled into the room with Julian and me following.
Coach Henderson already sat at a table on the stage. Chairs and microphones stood ready for each of us. More than likely, Coach had already fielded the game-related questions.
Grant sat beside Coach while Julian dropped in next to his father and I took the chair on the end. I ran my gaze across the reporters in chairs, some with pen and paper while others used electronic pads.
Grant cleared his throat. “You may have seen my son around the organization, working with our coaching staff.” He angled toward Julian.
“Today I wanted to announce that he’s here for a reason.
He’s learning hockey from the ground up, first working with our coaching staff and players, and soon, his mentoring will include scouting.
” He paused. “Julian will be my successor.”
The room filled with murmurs as the reporters shifted in their chairs.
“Julian graduated from Harvard last year with an MBA, so he understands business. But it’s the nuance of running a hockey organization that he’s learning hands-on.
” With a slight grin, Grant shifted his gaze to me.
“It was while working with the team that he met our team captain, Alex Volkov.” Covering his mic, he looked at me and said, “Your turn.”
As my heart pounded in my throat, I trailed my gaze over the reporters.
I’d spoken to them so many times, but to give them reasons behind wins or losses.
Even though I’d rehearsed what I wanted to say, it seemed stupid now.
I should just use the tact I had with my parents.
“As Mr. Mercer said, I met Julian while mentoring him. You could say it was a volatile arrangement at first, but it paid off.” I grabbed Julian’s hand while it rested on the table.
“We, uh, we fell in love and today, we’re going public with our relationship.
We felt it necessary, given our positions with the team and…
just in case you see us out and about.” I winked at Julian.
Hands rose, and reporters shouted, with a man asking, “Alex Volkov, are you saying you’re gay?”
“I’m saying I’m in love with the wonderful man sitting next to me.
A friend told me it doesn’t matter what gender you fall in love with, only that you fight for your love.
” I glanced at Jessica, standing offstage, and she swiped under her eye.
I couldn’t fault her for what happened. She and Stephanie had only done their jobs and protected the organization.
“So…you’re dating the owner’s son.” A man called out.
“Not dating, boyfriends.” Julian lifted his head high and squeezed my hand.
“Let me say this. I’m working hard to fill my dad’s shoes, and I think with all the mentoring I’ve received from Coach Henderson and Alex here, I’ve learned to love this sport as much as they do.
” He smiled at me. “I’m sure Alex will teach me even more, but hopefully we can have conversations that don’t revolve around hockey sometimes? ”
Chuckling filled the room.
“We’ll see.” With my heart light, I kissed the back of his hand. “Questions?”
More hands rose, and they fired questions at us, mostly regarding organizational changes and this evening’s game. It seemed hockey players coming out as queer wasn’t the popular news item it used to be. I had my teammates to thank for that. They’d paved the way for me.
With two minutes left in the third period, we’d come back from behind to tie the game. The Ducks were good this year, and it showed. As I sat on the bench between Big Hopkins and Jarvis, I leaned into Hopkins. “I don’t want this going into overtime.”
“Why, you got a hot date with Julian tonight?” Hopkins snickered.
“Yeah, he leaves for the road tomorrow.” I had plans to stay at his place tonight. It might be a week before we’d see each other again. I sighed. I didn’t want the game to be any longer than it had to be. We had enough shit to deal with after the game.
“Dude, it’s only an extra five minutes, max.” Hopkins shook his head. “I’ll probably sink a goal in thirty seconds.”
“You? What about me?” Jarvis leaned across me to give his husband a dirty look. “I’ve already scored two goals to your one.”
“Okay, I didn’t mean to start a couple’s fight.” A whistle blew on the ice after an Anaheim forward high-sticked one of our guys. I glanced at Coach, who gave me a curt nod. “Let’s go, boys. Power play.”
We hopped over the boards and hit the ice as our fourth line skated to the bench.
Big Hopkins stopped in the faceoff circle in the Ducks’ defensive zone, facing the Ducks’ center.
This was big. We could score here and finish it. I up-nodded at Jarvis. We had a system. Hopkins would push the puck to Jarvis while I’d set up for the goal. Hopkins rarely lost a faceoff.
I crouched in my position, watching the ref drop the puck.
Hopkins and the Ducks’ center fought for the puck, and then it zinged toward Jarvis.
As I sped toward the goalie, I glanced sideways. I’d pretend Jarvis was preparing for a hat trick.
The goalie shifted toward Jarvis.
With a fake, Jarvis rifled the puck at me and smiled.
The puck hit my blade, and I tossed it into the net, slipping over the goalie’s shoulder.
The horn blared and the lamp lit.
“Hell yes, that’s how it’s done.” Pumping my arm, I circled behind the net and skated into Hopkin’s and Jarvis’s arms.
“Good job.” A lighthearted laugh sprang from my throat, and I glanced at the owner’s box, where Julian was jumping up and down next to his father, who clapped.
Little Hopkins and Carlson joined us in the celly, with quick hugs and helmet taps.
“No way they’ll score now.” Carlson sniggered.
“Let’s take it home, boys.” As we parted, I skated toward the center of the ice. I’d soon be alone with Julian.
A month later and we were in New York and set to play against the Rangers, Papa’s old team.
I’d spoken with Tanya a few times since my coming out, and she’d informed me she’d been able to convince Mama to go to a few PFLAG meetings.
She’d also convinced me to keep my distance for now. It had been hard as hell.
While resting in my hotel room on my bed and doomscrolling Instagram reels, a phone call came through from Tanya. “Anno?” I set my phone on speaker as my pulse grew fast. It was no coincidence that she was calling tonight while I was in New York.
“Anno, Lyosha.” She inhaled deeply. “I, uh, I have Mama and Papa with me and we’re at your hotel lobby.”
“What?” I shot up straight. “How, uh, why?” She would have known where we were. We always stayed at the same hotel.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I was afraid they’d change their minds and not come at the last minute. I didn’t want to get your hopes up. Not with you having a game this evening.”
I checked the clock in the corner of my screen. Two hours remained before the bus left for the arena. With a hard swallow, I fought to control the rampant beating of my heart. “Okay. So…what do you—”
“Come down here and meet with us. The lobby bar only has one person in it,” she said.
“Uh, okay.” I scrambled off my bed. “I'll be right there.” I changed out of my team sweats and into a button-down shirt and jeans, and then threw a baseball cap over my head. I didn’t need anyone to recognize me.
After finding the hotel lobby, a dimly lit lounge doused in rich woods and rounded-backed leather chairs, I strode toward them, Mama and Tanya sitting around a small circular table while Papa scanned the art along the wall with his hands in the pockets of his trousers.
I dropped into a chair opposite them and rubbed my sweaty palms across my thighs. “Mama.” Biting my lower lip, I trailed my gaze over her lithe frame. It seemed ages ago since I came out to her and Papa. As usual, the conversation with them would all be in Russian.
She said, “Lyosha, I…I’ve prayed for you and for me. I want to understand, but it’s been hard.”
“Okay.” I glanced at Papa, who shot me a look and returned to his inspection of the wall art. Would he even talk to me today?
Tanya placed her hand on Mama’s knee and said, “Mama, tell him what you learned in your meetings.”
Mama nodded once and then swallowed. “I’ve learned that I need to support you. Even if I don’t agree with your lifestyle. It’s not a choice. It’s…Oh, Lyosha, you really love this man? This Julian Mercer?”