“No, I left him in the room at the club, after planning to meet up here. I had to go home to Hawk this morning. It’s rare I leave him behind. I do okay without him for short stints, but he’d been alone all night, which makes him anxious.”
“A buddy of mine has a cousin whose wife raises and trains dogs down in Texas…”
“Julie?”
“You know Jules?”
“She trained Hawk.”
“Small fucking world. My buddy Hayden is married to Foster’s cousin.” He paused, rubbing his hands together as he stared at the driveway again. “So there was nothing that indicated to you that there was an issue?“
“Not a fucking thing. When I saw he was here, I surprised him, but he kissed me. We talked about having some food, maybe spending the day getting to know each other a little better… but no, there was nothing that made me think he was upset.”
His phone buzzed on the table, and I couldn’t help myself, I glanced down at the device, but it lay face down on the outdoorcoffee table that sat in front of us. He picked up and flipped it over, then heaved a sigh.
“Was that him?”
“Do you have a court order?”
I wanted to smart off and punch the fucker, but I held myself back by running my tongue over my teeth and sucking at them.
He huffed a laugh, “You got it bad, my friend. I won’t lie and say it wasn’t him, but that’s all you’re getting. It’s him, and he made it home.”
“Thank you. That’s all I needed. Now I can haunt the club hoping to see him again since I was too caught up in him to get his fucking number.”
Ewen stared at me as if he wanted to say more, but if he did, he decided against it. He stood, then gripped my shoulder. “I’m getting some food. Why don’t you come inside…”
“No thanks. I’m gonna head home…”
“There’s an email and text message blast going out to all locations and will be posted on the website, reminding people of the anonymity clause in their membership contracts.”
“You don’t have…”
“Yeah we do. The membership includes musicians, actors, pro sports players, politicians, military service members, you name it, we’ve got it. It’s why you won’t get in without ditching your phone and since we have the whole club under video surveillance, other than the inside of the bathrooms and private suites, we’ll know if someone is filming.”
“I appreciate it. I don’t care if people know what I’m into if they’re in the lifestyle or community, but I don’t want to become canon fodder for the gossip sites and grocery store rags,” I explained.
He laughed, “I understand completely. That’s how Gavin feels as well.”
“I’m outta the loop on hockey news. Is the kid out publicly?”
Ewen smiled and said, “You couldn’t keep Gavin Samuelson in a closet if you tried.”
I laughed, standing to shake the man’s hand as I said, “Good for him. It’s about time professional sports and the fans understand that liking dick doesn’t make you weak or less of a man.”
“I couldn’t agree more. I have some friends who were SEALs and another who was an Army doctor during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell…”
“Stupidest shit ever,” I said. As if liking the same sex keeps you from shooting at the enemy. “I’m gonna head out. I’ll see you soon. If the boy asks for my number…”
Ewen shook my hand again, patting me on the back. “I’ll give it to him since I have your permission.”
“Thanks.”
I turned for my truck. This debacle wasnothow I wanted this day to go.
“Well, Hawk, I think I fucked that up royally.”
Hawk made a snuffling noise as he walked along beside me. When I looked down at him, those expressive brows of his told me I worded that sentence wrong.
