I’d barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Coach’s face, imagined his rejection. I imagined Greer’s neutral expression as he told me I was being traded to Toronto.
Marco was already awake when the alarm went off at six. We got ready in silence, moving through our morning routine on autopilot. Made coffee. Showered. Dressed in business casual clothing appropriate for meeting with the GM.
We’d set up the meeting with Coach Wilson and Douglas Greer for eight—before the team arrived for practice, before anyone else was around. Private. Controlled.
The drive to the facility was quiet. Marco drove this time, his hands tight on the wheel, his jaw set.
The practice facility was nearly empty at 7:40 a.m. A few staff members, the trainers, but only a couple of players. We made our way to Coach Wilson’s office, our footsteps muffled by the rubber in the empty locker room.
The door stood open. Coach Wilson sat behind his desk, and Greer occupied a chair across from him. Both looked up when we appeared in the doorway.
“Étienne. Marco.” Coach gestured to the two empty chairs. “Come in. Close the door.”
I did, the click of the latch sounding unnaturally loud in the quiet office.
We sat. Marco’s knee pressed against mine, a contact so brief to be hardly noticeable, but I felt it.
“So,” Coach Wilson said, his expression neutral but not unkind. “What’s this about?”
I looked at Marco. He looked back at me. We’d agreed he’d start. He wanted to be the one to say it first, after seventeen years of hiding.
“Coach. Mr. Greer.” Marco’s voice was steady. “We wanted to tell you something before we tell the team. Before it becomes public.”
“Okay,” Greer said, leaning back in his chair. “We’re listening.”
Marco took a breath. “Étienne and I are in a relationship. And we’re planning to come out publicly on Tuesday.”
Silence.
Coach Wilson’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes flickered.
Greer sat forward. “And you’re sure about this?” Greer’s tone wasn’t hostile, just cautious. “About going public?”
“Yes,” Marco said firmly. “We’ve been hiding long enough. We’re done.”
Coach Wilson ran a hand over his face. “Okay. First things first—thank you for telling us directly. That matters. Shows respect for the organization.”
“Second, your personal lives are your own business,” Greer said. “As long as it stays that way. But if this affects your performance on the ice, if it becomes a distraction that costs us games, then it becomes my business. Understood?”
I took a breath and chose my words carefully. “Mr. Greer, I understand what you’re saying. But with respect, some things aren’t in our control. We can control our preparation, our focus, our effort. But we can’t control whether reporters camp outside the arena. We can’t control what our teammates say or do in the locker room. We can’t control social media or what people post about us.”
Marco leaned forward slightly. “When other players get married or have kids, there’s media attention. Sometimes it’s a distraction. But those players aren’t judged on the distraction—they’re judged on their play. We’re asking for the same standard.”
Greer studied us both. “Fair point. And I’ll take it into account. But my job is to put the best team on the ice and win games. If this situation hurts the team’s ability to do that, I have to act. That’s not personal. It’s business.”
Greer’s eyes held mine for a beat longer, making sure the message landed.
“Understood, sir,” I said. “If I can be frank, I believe this will improve my performance. I know I’ve been underplaying. I know you’re in talks to trade me. But once this is out there and off my mind, I’ll be better. Please, just give me a little more time to prove myself.”
Greer consider it for a moment before replying, “Okay, but I’ll have my eye on you. Now, we need to prepare. Media strategy, security protocols, PR response. This is going to be a circus, especially at first. The team needs to be ready. You need to be ready.”
“We know,” Marco said. “That’s why we want to tell the team today. After practice. We want them to hear it from us directly, before it becomes public.”
Greer nodded. “That’s the right call. When exactly are you going public?”
“Tuesday afternoon,” I said. “We’ll post on social media—joint statement, same photo on both our accounts.”
“New Year’s Eve game the next day,” Coach said, thinking it through. “First game as an openly out couple. That’s going to be intense.”
