If Harrison was surprised, he hid it well. Gesturing to the camera, he sat back. “Go right ahead.”
Leaning forward, Jamie ran a hand over his mustache.
He could have kept his mouth shut. It was what was expected of him. But Jamie couldn’t stand the thought that there were people out there in the world looking at the pictures, reading the articles and coming to the wrong conclusions about him or Tyler. Jamie couldn’t handle anyone thinking that Tyler was dispensable, that he was anything less thaneverythingto Jamie.
“By now, I’m sure most people have seen the photos and articles online,” Jamie began, looking into the camera, “of an altercation involving myself and another individual at a club.” He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease some of the tension in his head. “It was not my intention to harm anyone. I know hockey is a physical sport, and there is a time and a place on the ice for fighting. I want to be clear: I do not condone fighting outside of the hockey rink. I was trying to deescalate a situation where a stranger was trying to hurt someone important to me.” His hands flexed on his legs, smoothing them over his thighs. “I’ve seen what’s being said online about myself and the man I’m proud to call my partner, and I just have one thing to say in response: He means the world to me, and he is a part of the Muskies family.”
Jamie sat back in the chair, suddenly aware of the silence in the room. His face was hot and his heartbeat hammered in his ears.
Harrison gave him an appraising nod. “Thank you, Jamie, for shedding some light on this situation.” To the cameras, the older man added: “In the time we live in, we in the media have anincreased responsibility to decide which stories are the ones worth being told.”
Jamie sat there, dazed and a little bit numb. He was swept up in a wave of relief and adrenaline, and he could feel sweat trailing down his back.
“Any last words for the Muskies fans out there?”
He cleared his throat, trying to bring his mind back to hockey. “We’ve got an amazing group of guys in the room who are putting in the work and bringing their best every day. And as their captain, I’m going to get out there and leave everything I have on the ice tomorrow and bring home a win for our fans.”
“We appreciate you taking the time to sit down with us. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do out there tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
“We’re out!” The producer behind the camera called out. The same rush of people came forward, unclipping the mic and moving lights out of the way. Sharon hovered by the door, tapping away on her tablet, an unreadable expression on her face.
Jamie was still in a bit of a daze as Harrison pulled him to the corner of the room and handed him a bottle of water. “You alright?”
Jamie took the water gratefully, unscrewing the cap and guzzling half of it. “Fine. Might have given the team another headache to deal with, but I needed to say something.”
Harrison nodded. “It was great. From where I’m standing, I think you did the right thing.”
“Thanks.” Jamie looked over at Sharon again. “I probably need to go face the music.”
Laughing, Harrison shook Jamie’s hand. “Good luck out there, Sully.”
Jamie returned the handshake, and walked over to Sharon. She gestured to the door. They walked silently down the hallway side by side, back in the direction of the Muskies locker room.
At least thirty seconds passed, and Jamie was about to crawl out of his skin. “Well?”
Beside him, Sharon snorted, obviously amused.
“Aren’t you going to say something? About what I said back there?”
“No.”
Jamie threw his hands up. “No?”
Sharon stopped short of the locker room door, and turned to face him. “No, Jamie. There’s nothing more to say. You defended a single parent back there. You stood up for him and for his son. It was a beautiful display of your character and integrity. Myself and the team will stand by you, and your partner.”
“I…” Jamie began. He let out a breath. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “Now get in there and do your captain thing. The show is just getting started.”
“Listen up, boys! Sully’s got something to say!” Mitchy shouted. Around them, players fell quiet. Someone turned off the music.
Jamie stood up in front of his stall. He was already in his pads and skates, ready to go out on the ice for a short practice before their families joined them.
“I just want to thank all of you guys for showing up and working your bags off this year,” Jamie said, raising his voice to fill the room. “And I want to thank you for trusting me. I know I’ve sucked this year–” He waved away the loud protests, shaking his head. “No, really, boys, I’ve been brutal out there.” The room broke out into chuckles at that. “I was trying to do more than my job. Trying to play like someone I’m not. But now, I’m back, and I’m fucking ready. We’ve got a great chance here to show our fans and the league what we’re about. Minnesota is coming into this game thinking they’re going to catch us on our heels. But fuck that!”
“Fuck that!” The guys echoed.
