“Let me start by saying your personal life is your own. I don’t care who you sleep with as long as it doesn’t affect this team.”
I shifted in my seat. “Okay. For the record, you knew I was bisexual before I signed.”
“Yes, I did. What I didn’t know was that you had a relationship with Williamson prior to him coming here.”
“That was a hundred years ago, back in juniors. We were kids.”
“Not according to this,” he said, sliding a newspaper across his desk. “Again, no one cares who anyone sleeps with as long as it stays out of my locker room and it doesn’t affect my team.”
Picking up the paper, I opened it and read the headline.Hockey’s New Power Couple.My thoughts went back to last night and the conversation I never expected to have with Heath. He still loved me, and this had to hurt. I’d stared at the ceiling for a long time last night, examining my feelings over everything he said. Expecting to find Luca’s name, I found Heath.Scanning the article,I wanted to destroy the asshole who had shared an old story between friends.
“Social media has gotten a hold of it, too,” Coach said. “Ryan says it’s blown up over there. It’s none of anyone’s business, but when they include the Nighthawks, I have to ask if any of this is true.”
I huffed out a breath as I read the article. “Heath and I have been friends since juniors. End of story.”
He visibly relaxed. “The press may ask about it tonight. Get with Ryan and let’s make sure we give them nothing to feed on.”
Shit. They were going to blow it up. That’s what they did. Sensationalize at the expense of others.
“When did this come out?”
“This morning.”
There was a chance he hadn’t seen it. “Are we finished, coach?”
“For now. You and Williamson need to get with Ryan before tonight.” I stood as he looked at his watch. “Let’s get everyone warmed up and out on the ice in fifteen.”
“Yes, Coach.” I swung the door open to find Heath standing there. I patted him on the shoulder. “Fifteen on the ice.”
“Hey, I’m sorry. I guess talking in the bar hadn’t been the best idea.”
“It’s okay. There’s nothing to tell, right?”
He breathed deeply, the sadness from last night gone. “Right. Nothing to tell.” He put his head down and went into Coach’s office, closing the door behind him.
Heading back to the workout room, I hit the weights before going out to warm up. Thinking it over, I headed back to grab my phone to text Luca when I was interrupted.
“Cap, Karlsson needed you on the ice.” I guess it would have to wait.
I was the last one off the ice after practice. Captain’s duties and all. Decker and Kozlow were already cooling down by the time Karlsson and I got there. They were all watching the big TV mounted on the wall. “What’s going on?”
Decker pointed to the television. “They’re saying an explosion caused the side of the building to collapse. It’s a senior complex.”
I watched in horror as the wide pan of the building came into view. I recognized it immediately. It was Edith’s building.
And Luca was supposed to be there.
Running to the locker room, I grabbed my phone from my locker and went to the location app. “Please don’t be there. Please don’t be there.”
When Luca’s location filled the screen, there it was. His blue dot was blinking from the exact location. Swiping off, I pressed his number. The call rang three times before he picked up.
“Axel?” The sound of his voice wasn’t right.
“Baby, are you okay? Where are you at Edith’s?”
“Basement. Building collapsed.” He coughed a dry hacking cough.
“I’m coming. I’m coming. Don’t hang up.”
