My mind whirled. I should never have answered the phone. I felt like I couldn’t say no. And I wanted to.
Or did I?
To coach at The U? It would give me the ability to step back into the world of hockey without being the half blind, half deaf commentator.
“I have Hawk…”
“He’s a service animal. I should know, I purchased him. I made sure he could go wherever you wanted to go. Plus, there are teams actually taking in pups to train as service animals. So, Hawk is a non-issue, as they say.”
“You’ve thought of a response to every argument, haven’t you?”
“I am the same man you knew before you cut everyone and thing from your life, my friend.”
“Does the kid…”
“Know I’m calling you? No. I told him I would reach out to see what the university’s plans were since the season starts in a couple of weeks. That is all he knows.”
I pulled up the calendar on my phone and swore. “Move in is in a few days, Mikal.”
“I am aware. I have a boy to move in.”
“And you won’t tell me who he is or even what position he plays?”
“No. I need you to promise me you will not dig for info. I want your honest assessment of all the kids. I coached several of them. The whole lot of them are good boys.”
“Bullshit, Mikal. We were those boys, and we were so far from good…”
“Speak for yourself, Storm. I was a very good boy.”
“You’re the one who took me to that club…”
“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it, Daddy Sasha.” He paused, then said, “There’s a club in Manchester you’ll enjoy. Exclusive. Private. With the sort of events and members you’ll enjoy.”
“Are you seriously trying to sell me on a job with a kink club as an added benefit?”
“I can make sure you get that added to your contract if you want. Muncy required a membership to the local country club.”
“I don’t think a kink club would be viewed quite the same way.”
“Small-minded, closeted…”
“I agree, my friend.”
The line went quiet. The sound of paper rustling echoed from the speakers. He was waiting me out.
Finally, I said, “Tell the AD to call me.”
“Will you answer?”
I rolled my eyes, but held my tongue because he had a point.
“Yes. I’ll take the job. But I want there to be a stipulation that I be allowed out of my contract at the end of the season if it’s not a fit, and that I’ll be allowed to run my team as I see fit without any interference.”
“Done.”
“Oh, and you can pay for my membership to the kink club since you brought it up.”
“Also, done. You need a boy in your life. There is nothing like having a partner.”
