EVAN
It might not have beenas obvious to everyone else as it was to me, but I could tell Perry was fading. He didn’t love people, so tournaments were a little slice of hell for him. I did my best to stay close whenever I could and to touch him, if possible. Skin to skin was best for him so I held his hand whenever it was appropriate.
I could feel Channing watching us as we got ready to play them. His interest in my boyfriend was annoying but given my own history, and the fact I was always willing to be shared, I didn’t think it was my place to say anything.
He could be as curious as he wanted. Perry was my guy, so I wasn’t worried anything would happen without a conversation. The middle of a tournament against my idol was no time to worry about it, either.
When one of the Darren twins made a snide remark about me and Perry—I didn’t know which one it was because I hadn’t figured out how to tell them apart—I managed to bite my tongue. We hadn’t even thrown the first stone of the game, so I was a bit worried I might be bleeding by the end of it.
The second time it happened, I turned to say something to him, but a hand landed heavy on my shoulder.
“Let me deal with it,” a low voice rumbled, and I looked over my shoulder to see Channing there glowering at his own teammate. I noticed Perry, also glowering, his gaze fixed on Channing’s hand, still on my shoulder.
“Fine,” I said, turning slightly so he had to let go of me. “But if he mouths off to Perry?—”
“He won’t.”
I wasn’t going to hold him to that. It seemed the Darren twins had miles of attitude and for whatever reason, they had decided they didn’t like our team.
Channing asked the ump for a five-minute delay, which was granted, and he pulled the offending twin off the ice.
Four minutes later, he returned without the twin, another man in tow.
“What the hell is going on?” Perry asked.
“Whichever twin that was said some unkind things,” I explained. “Channing overheard and pulled him aside. That’s all I know.”
And it was all I had time to explain because the ump was calling us over.
“There has been a last-minute substitution due to illness,” the ump informed us. “Jason Darren has left the tournament and the venue. He will be replaced by the team’s alternate, Michael Denning.”
Jason’s brother made a noise and Channing turned to him. “You can play if you keep your mouth shut,” he said, voice flat. “Otherwise I’ll pull you too, and we’ll play with three.” He arched an eyebrow at the ump, who shrugged.
“Your call,” the ump said. “But I won’t hesitate to pull him myself, if he breaches etiquette one more time. Your team already has a verbal warning. I’d hate to force a game concession due to breach of sportsmanship, but I will.”
“Understood,” Channing said, glaring at Cameron Darren.
Cameron shrugged, but also gave the slightest of nods.
“Very well. Shall we get this game started?” the ump asked.
“Yes, thank you.” Channing turned to go but I stopped him.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I said to Channing as everyone dispersed. “We’re big boys. We don’t care what he thinks of us.”
“While I appreciate you saying you would put up with him, there is no reason for it. If he can’t observe the spirit of the sport here, he doesn’t have to play. If he thinks I’ll let him get away with it because he can deliver a stone down the ice, he can think again.” Channing smiled at me, and I about swallowed my tongue. “He can grow up, or he can find another team.”
Behind us, Cameron snorted.
“Something funny?” Channing asked over his shoulder.
“You can’t play three in the Olympics,” Cameron snapped.
“Watch me.”
“There are rules.”
Channing’s stunning smile turned sharp and dangerous, which only made him more appealing. “Who says you and your brother have to be on the team? I’m sure I can find other curlers with not just the skills needed, but the attitude as well.”
