Joe was brave enough to be the first Canning to file for a divorce, even though he’d admitted to me how embarrassed he was about it, and how it made him feel like a failure.
Jess churns through both boyfriends and careers like she’s trying to set a Guinness Book record. But we don’t judge her. Not much, anyway.
And me? For twenty-two years I dated only women, until life decided to throw me a curveball. I fell in love with another man and I embraced that. Being bisexual isn’t a walk in the park. Trust me—I learned the hard way last summer that not everyone in this world is as open-minded and supportive as my family. But I chose happiness over other people’s skewed opinions and cruel judgments. I choseWes.
But now I have to hide that choice. I have to pretend that Ryan Wesley isn’t my soulmate. I have to look at goddamn Instagram pictures of him dancing with hot chicks and pretend I’m not jealous.
Wish I was there too,I text back. Because it’s true. I wish it wasmeat that charity benefit with him tonight.
“Canning?”
I spin around in surprise, instinctively tucking my phone into my pocket just in case Wes’s name is visible on thedisplay. Which pisses me off even more, because there I go hiding again.
Coby Frazier, one of the assistant coaches on my major juniors team, walks up to me with a warm smile. He’s tailed by Bryan Gilles, an associate coach for one of my boss’s other teams. Gilles is a quiet French-Canadian with a full beard and a love for plaid—the parka he’s wearing tonight is actually plaid-patterned and the tails of the shirt under his coat? Also plaid.
“So youdoexist outside the arena,” Frazier teases. He slaps my shoulder in greeting. So does Gilles, who nods at me. “You got a hot date?”
I shake my head. “My date canceled at the last minute. And then I was going to catch the movie anyway, but apparently it’s not playing here anymore.”
“You should watchMorph-Bots,” Frazier urges. “We just got out of the seven o’clock show. It was fucking awesome. I can’t believe the shit they’re doing with CGI these days.”
I shrug. “I’m not into the whole robots fighting other robots craze. Always end up falling asleep.”
Frazier grins. “How about cold beers and hot girls? You into that? Gilles and me are heading to the bar—come with us, eh?”
Since I moved to Toronto and started my new coaching job, my colleagues have showered me with invitations.Come out for beers, man. Let’s grab some grub. Come over for a barbecue this week, the wife would love to have ya.
I’ve turned down most of the invites, because if I can’t bring Wes, what’s the point? Besides, it’s a lot easier to hide the fact that you like dick if you keep everyone around you at a distance.
Tonight, I don’t say no, because beers with the boys soundslike a great distraction. It’s either that or go back to my empty condo and stalk Wes on Instagram all night.
“Sure, I’m down,” I tell the guys.
My phone buzzes in my pocket before I even finish my sentence. This time I ignore it, and follow Frazier and Gilles down the sidewalk toward the bar.
EIGHT
WES
“No one knows?Really?” Kristine/Kai gapes at me in our quiet nook in the corner of the ballroom. After nearly an hour on the dance floor, we finally decided to take a breather and now we’re rehydrating. Or rather, dehydrating, because my scotch and her cosmo ain’t exactly helping our daily water intake.
“No one,” I confirm.
She shakes her head in disbelief, and her mane of dark curls falls over one bare shoulder. “Not a single one of your teammates?”
“Nope.”
“But everyone on your college team totally knew you were gay.” She lowers her voice at the last word, her gaze flitting around to make sure nobody can overhear us.
“That was college,” I say quietly. “The NHL is a whole different ball game, baby.”
“Puck game, you mean.”
I grin. “Puck game,” I echo.
Kai takes a sip of her drink. “That sucks, Ryan.” Shesounds dismayed now. “Do you really think it would be a big deal if it came out?”
“The media would be all over it, hon. You know that.”
