Rusty laughed.“Yeah, that’s what I always said, but Cross’s bucks came in handy sometimes.Like, you know those new security cameras we got at the arena last year?”
“Yeah?”
“Cross had those put in when an ex-boyfriend was hassling me.I was pissed he spent money on me, but also grateful.So, like, if you came out and had the paps after you, maybe Cross or Edzie could help.”
Fatigue washed through me, weighing me down into the mattress.I leaned back and closed my eyes.“The paps won’t give a fuck about me.I’m a has-been.I might have a couple of seasons left in me here in the ECHL, but by now, I’m not news.‘Aging player is gay.’Who the fuck cares?”
“Whatever.Just saying.We queer players gotta stick together.”
“I guess you can tell them,” I agreed.“I can’t imagine someone like Scott Edison or Roger LaCroix is interested, but sure, if the topic comes up somewhere private, I guess.”
“I won’t out you to anyone else, promise.”
“Thanks.”
After a minute of silence, Rusty said, “Listen, Cross just got back from his game.You need anything else from me?”
“Fuck, no.Go get your man.”
“I hope his kids won.He’s a grumpy coach when they get smoked.”Rusty laughed.“Take care, Vally.”He ended the call.
I lay there, eyes closed, drowning in envy.Rusty had everything I wanted— talent that would take him to the top, as long as he avoided the kind of injury I’d had, and a boyfriend who stood behind him, even when Rusty was dressed in drag at an AHL party full of players.Maybe he hadn’t been a queer poster boy on purpose, but he’d brought the first fan rainbow banners to KigoElectric Arena in all the years I’d skated there.He’d made a difference.
What the fuck had I ever done?
Kicked my boyfriend in the nuts and scored a few goals in the AHL.
Gritting my teeth, I breathed through a moment of tight throat and aching chest.I had no right to feel sorry for myself.Okay, fresh start.No more quasi-stalking Miles.Time to stand on my own two feet.Starting tomorrow, I’d make some kind of difference too.
Chapter 6
Miles
Monday morning brought a pounding headache, and a phone that chimed nonstop when I turned it back on.All of Avery’s art stuff was safely locked in the storage unit, and after her long conversation with Rachel that I’d offered to cover the phone bill for, Avery had slept like the dead for going on eight hours.I, on the other hand, had been up and down all night, restless with the what-ifs and wishing I’d said something to Logan before he vanished into the night.
Most of the missed calls and texts on my phone were from media people.Clearly, some kind of video of the scene at the golf club had gone viral.I hoped Avery’s dad seemed as shitty in the clips as he actually was, but I didn’t have the energy to go look.I drank my coffee and scrolled through my lists, swiping left on text after text, until I hit one from my father.Or rather, a chain of six from my father.
Crap.
The last one was a bit passive aggressive.
Dad:~ Call your mother.You know she worries.
Translation, Dad was worried.He knew I’d call him back, not Mom.She still worked at the hospital and her shifts were erratic, which meant a call was taking a chance on either missing her or waking her, something I avoided except in extreme circumstances.I let Mom call me, which she hadn’t.
Putting Dad off never made things better, and while it was still early, my folks were on the east coast, three time zones later.I drained my cup, refilled it from the pot, and dialed.
“Miles.”Dad answered right away.“What kind of mess have you gotten into this time?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I hedged.
“This woman, your fiancée.There’s video out there of her saying she’s a lesbian.It sure doesn’t look good.”
I sighed.“Sheisa lesbian, Dad.She’s engaged to my best friend, Rachel.You remember Rachel?”
“The singer with the guitar?”
“The rock musician who’s currently on tour in Japan, yeah.”
