Page 139 of Edging Coach
I sputtered. “I have precisely zero say in that. Hell, I can’t even get a guarantee I’ll be staying in Vancouver.”
“True.” His eyes glinted. “But you can have Jack lobby for me. As hard as he lobbied for you.”
I nearly argued with him. Pointed out that Jack wouldn’t do that—especially after we’d gotten involved. Jack had scruples. Jack knew how things would look if our relationship ever became public.So you’re just going to keep fucking in private? What kind of a life is that? Jack’s out. Does he really have to be a dirty little secret? Are you going to make him that way? Keep him that way?“Just fuck off. You have no idea what you’re talking about. People don’t like guys like you. Guys who try to push others down while climbing to the top.”
“You think I give a fuck what people think? When I’m inthe League, nothing will matter ever again. So, just do it. Get Jack to press for me to get called up. Then your secret is safe?—”
“Your beer’s getting warm.” Lous stepped around the corner from the bar area.
Somehow, against all odds, no one had come into this hallway before now.
Hairs rolled his eyes. “Always sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong. You think because you’re captain that?—”
“I know, because I’m captain, that blackmail is actually, you know, illegal.”
My former roommate’s eyes glinted again. “Not blackmail. A promise.”
“You think you don’t have skeletons in your closet? You’re not as pristine as you pretend to be. So fuck off, Hairs. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”
“Regret outing the queer and his lover, the coach? They’ll give me a freaking medal. Or a lot of money.” He pushed past both me and then Lous.
I sagged against the wall.
“Excuse me.” A woman wearing all bright pink with a white cowboy hat pushed past us and into one of the rooms.
Lous held my gaze. “Was he right?”
Jesus. Can I lie?Except I didn’t want to. “He’s…not wrong.”
“Right. You need to call…you know who. You need to figure out if you can ride this out or if you think Hairs is going to blab.”
“I don’t know him well enough.”
“This is only his second season here, so I don’t know either. Hard to get a feel for the, uh?—”
A toilet flushed.
He beckoned me to follow him. “Have your meal as if nothing’s wrong. Show Hairs he’s wrong.”
“Lous…”
“Nope. Not tonight.” He gestured with his chin. “And don’t go to Bluejay Avenue tonight. And I only know that place because I delivered some papers to him when Emil asked me to. I live in a townhouse close by.”
The woman in pink left her room and stopped short when she spotted us. “Didn’t know this bar would be such a popular spot. With hockey players, no less.” She grinned. “Go, Calgary.” Then she headed back into the eating area.
“Explains the cowboy hat.” Lous smiled. “Your beer really is getting warm. Maybe you want to order a new one?”
“Nah. One drink, one burger, one drive back to Vancouver. No visit to Blue Jay Avenue.”
Which was exactly what I did.
Back at my condo though, instead of Vancouver. Just for the night, until we sorted things out.
Once I was securely in my space, I called Jack.
CHAPTER 39
JACK
