“Of course not. He’s Erik. He’d rather chew glass than have a conversation about feelings that someone else doesn’t initiate. Even then, there would be glass chewing.” Tyler’s expression turned serious. “But he knows something’s going on, and if you don’t tell him, it’ll become a whole thing. He’ll start worrying, and a worried Erik is a hovering Erik, and a hovering Erik on a road trip is a very large Scandinavian man staring at you in silence from across a hotel room, which I can confirm from experience is deeply unsettling.”
I laughed despite myself. “Fair point.”
“On top of all that, if it gets out and you weren’t the one to tell him, he’ll get his feelings hurt. Think about how Erik would be with hurt feelings. On behalf of all of Tampa, please talk to him. Today. He’ll be great about it. The man gave a speech about love that made half the team cry.”
“It didn’t make half the team cry.”
“Kowalski teared up. I saw it. He’ll deny it to his grave, but I saw it.”
I sucked in a breath, then let it out slowly.
“Okay. I’ll talk to Erik.”
“Good.” Tyler stood and extended his hand. I took it, and he pulled me to my feet and into a hug, the firm, unwavering kind that said everything without needing words.
When he pulled back, his eyes were suspiciously bright.
“Don’t you dare tell anyone I got emotional,” he said.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I have a reputation.”
“As what?”
“A stoic, emotionally unavailable hockey robot.”
“Nobody thinks that about you, Ty.”
“Murph does.”
“Murph thinks butterflies are government surveillance drones. His opinions don’t count.”
Tyler laughed, clapped me on the shoulder, and headed for the door. He paused with his hand on the frame.
“Hey, Cap?”
“Yeah?”
“Bring him to a game. I want to meet the guy who turned my captain into a human sunbeam.”
Then he was gone, and I was alone in the film room with Coach’s diagrams and a heart that felt three sizes bigger than it had an hour ago.
I couldn’t pull my phone out of my pocket fast enough.
Me: I told Tyler.
Jacks: And?
Me: He said he’s been waiting for this conversation for weeks.
Jacks: Called it. What else?
Me: He said I could be in love with a fire hydrant and nothing would change.
Jacks: I’m offended by the fire hydrant comparison but moved by the sentiment.
Me: He wants to meet you.
