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“Fuck off, Baps.” He nudged Henri’s shoulder with his own, and they watched the rest of the Ravens/Steelers game as if either of them at all knew or cared what was going on.

Henri couldn’t say it, but he appreciated everything Everett had done for him tonight. It seemed a silly thing to say out loud. Thanks for sitting with me. Thanks for telling me I’m good at my job. Thanks for asking about my parents. Thanks for distracting me when things got heavy. Such simple things, but they meant the world to him because he didn’t know when the last time anyone had done any of those things for him, let alone all of them at once.

So he sat with Everett and watched the stupid football game. Let his American captain explain the sport he didn’t seem to understand much better than Henri did. And when they finished their beers, Henri reluctantly got up to leave.

“I’ve taken up too much of your evening,” he said. “I should⁠—”

“No you didn’t. What the fuck else was I going to do?”

Henri was sure there was a lot he could’ve done. There were other teammates hanging out elsewhere in the hotel, at the very least. Sitting with the sad French-Canadian would be low on anyone’s list.

“Still,” Henri said and hoped that was enough.

“Next time you need a drink after a game, lemme know.” He took out his own phone and swiped a few times before asking, “What’s your number, Baps?”

“Uh…” Henri hesitated until Everett arched an eyebrow at him, and then he told him, watching Everett type in each number carefully. “I don’t do this every time we lose,” he said.

Everett shrugged and pocketed his phone. “Wanna know something crazy? We can also drink if we win. I’m gonna head to bed. Get some sleep, babe. Early flight.” He winked as he passed by, clapping Henri on one shoulder and dragging his hand all the way across his back to the other before letting go.

When Henri got back to his hotel room and tucked himself into bed, he closed all the articles and videos he’d pulled up of the game. Instead, he texted his dad, then put on some music and went to sleep.

CHAPTER 19

Dylan (October 2023)

Hey you should invite your dad to hang out with the team before the game

My parents do it sometimes when we’re in Carolina

This is Dylan btw

Everett

From hockey

Baptiste

I figured

... Are there Dylan Everetts I might know that aren't from hockey?

Maybe just wanted to be sure you knew it was the right one

But you should invite your dad

Dads are lucky btw we always win when parents visit the locker room

Always?

Well I don’t know the actual statistics on that

But I can tell you the win feels way better

Does the loss feel worse?

Babe we'll win

I personally guarantee that I’ll score