Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91914 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91914 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“So, why are we here, how dead is dead, and where do we need to hide the body?” Damon asks.
“One day that joke’s gonna backfire on you,” Jackson says. “Your client may actually reply ‘In the alley, super dead, and New Jersey. Because that’s the only appropriate place to dispose of bodies.’”
Damon huffs. “Jersey’s not that bad! Your and Maddox’s aversion to it, I swear to God.”
I take a deep breath, because the longer we sit here, the more antsy I’m getting, like that night at the bar with Maddox. “Miller and I are fucking,” I blurt.
Miller laughs. “And you make fun of the way I told my mom.”
I sigh. “Well, I don’t see you speaking up.”
Miller sits in the chair next to me, reaches over, and takes hold of my hand. “Talon and I are in a committed and serious relationship, but we have no idea how to come out or how it impacts Jackson’s career.”
Jackson leans forward to stare at me. “That’s why I’m here? Think about your own careers. I’ve already been through so much that I can handle anything.”
“No, they’re doing the right thing,” Damon says. “This will have repercussions on you and the Warriors.”
I don’t want to bring this up, because I didn’t want Jackson knowing about it, but it’s something we’re all gonna have to face. “Henderson warned me during the season that my bromance with Miller makes us look like the fag team and that I need to be careful of hanging out with Jackson too much.”
Jackson scowls. “You didn’t say anything. Who else on the team has been saying shit behind my back? I thought …” Hurt clouds his eyes. “I thought we were past all that—that we’d gotten past it during training camp. We won the fucking Super Bowl, and that’s still not good enough for these assholes?”
“To be fair, this was before the Super Bowl, but yeah … they’ve been good at hiding their disapproval. They caught on quick about keeping it from me too after I told a few of them to shut the fuck up. But this …” I squeeze Miller’s hand. “This could cause problems.”
“Henderson’s not the only one who’s going to say it either,” Damon says. “But I don’t see it as a reason to live in the closet. We just need to devise a coming-out strategy.”
“I don’t recommend getting photographed blowing each other.” Jackson winks. “Just sayin’.”
Damon agrees. “Let’s knock that one off the list.”
“What we talking here?” Miller asks. “Press conferences, TV interviews, what?”
Damon leans back in his chair. “Actually, I think a softer approach with you two would be better.”
I shift in my seat. “Softer how?”
“We wait until training camp and come out to the team and management first. If there are problems, one of them might leak it, but we can deal with that as it happens. There have been gay men in sports for years, where teams have known and the rumor mill has worked overtime, but it’s never been exposed. Build a team of people you trust who know so you have support when it comes out. If it leaks, it leaks, and we can control what is said or be ready to defend if it’s something we don’t like. I also think a print interview would be better than an on-air press conference like Soren and Strömberg.” Damon smiles. “And I know just the guy to do it.”
“Who?” I ask.
“Strömberg’s boyfriend is a journalist. Come to the Stanley Cup final in Jersey with us, and we’ll introduce you.”
I look over at Miller who seems a little stunned. I nudge him. “You okay?”
He nods but doesn’t appear any calmer. He was fine a minute ago, wasn’t he? Now he looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Before he can respond, Damon cuts in.
“We’ll take this at your pace, guys. Talon, I’m gonna need to have access to your agent so we can work out something together. Until then, keep doing what you’re doing. Train and focus on the upcoming season. I promise we’ll make it work.”
* * *
“I don’t understand hockey,” I say. “Skating is hard enough. Who decided to add sticks and a disc and call it a sport?”
Miller leans in and speaks quietly. “Shh. There’s nothing scarier than hockey fans, and I’m too pretty to get beaten up.”
“Pfft. You could kick all their asses.”
He slinks down in his seat. “You’re horrible, and I’m embarrassed to be seen with you.”
“Aww. If there wasn’t so many people around, I’d kiss you, you big sweet giant, you.”
We’re here at the arena early, and we’re the first of Damon’s posse to arrive. The stands fill with buzzing energy and a need to be victorious. The anticipation and the atmosphere is slightly different than the football crowd, but it still fills me with the adrenaline high of chasing a win.