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On his drive home after the interview, his thoughts tumbled around his mind like clothes in a dryer.
Children’s yoga at his gym was such a good idea, and he hadn’t stopped thinking about it since he first met Chase and he mentioned how popular they could be, although he wanted to come up with a more inclusive name thanMommy and Me. Family Fitness? Boring. You and Your Kid Yoga? Too many words. This wasn’t his area of expertise, but he’d keep thinking about it. Maybe Chase had an idea for it.
Chase had trouble written all over him.
Well, trouble forTobias. He had seemed like a decent guy though, and Garrett certainly liked him.
But he was just so damn adorable. Andthatwas a problem.
With everything going on at home, he didn’t have the time or the energy to date. Like he hadn’t had the time or energy to date while he played in the NHL.
At this rate, he would keep making that excuse until he died alone one day.
“Quit it with the depressing thoughts, Moyer,” he said aloud to himself. “You won’t be in this situation forever.”
He was used to talking to himself, and he’d done it for years. Who else was he supposed to talk to while he stood between the pipes during a game or practice? It wasn’t like anyone else could hear him. It was only him and the net.
Sometimes he talked to himself, sometimes he talked to the net itself, but it was where he talked most. With other people, he talked as little as possible. He’d rather listen and take in information, giving him the time and brain space to say something only when necessary.
When he talked without thinking he tended to sound like an idiot, something he learned early in his career.
He figured out the trick to not embarrassing himself was to talk less. Way less of a chance he’d stick his foot in his mouth if he hardly ever opened it.
2
AFTER NEARLY TWO MONTHS of paperwork and waiting for backordered equipment to arrive, Chase was ready for his first day at Gym Rat Fitness, and he couldn’t have been more excited.
The nerves he had regarding working for one of his sports heroes took a backseat to wanting to do his best in this new position. Hopefully, he could turn this job into the career he’d always wanted.
Tobias met him at the gym early so they could organize all of the equipment in time for their first class.
A new shelving unit sat in the front of the gym next to the computer system and held all the yoga blocks and rolled mats they’d need, plus some towels to create extra padding for anyone who wanted it.
They spent the morning exchanging few words, Tobias likely because he wasn’t much of a talker, andChase because he was so jittery and excited he thought if he opened his mouth then nothing but gibberish would come out. He was doing his best not to embarrass himself on his first day.
Everything was ready by the time members started arriving for the class, most of them heading right to the stretch area to get ready. Chase kneeled on the floor as he straightened the stack of yoga blocks on the bottom shelf for the fourth time when he was approached by two familiar men.
One of them was a solidly built Asian man with a wide grin. He dragged a leaner man by the forearm until they were right in front of Chase.
“Hi! You’re Chase, right?” the first man said as he stood to greet them. “I’m Josh, and this is Riley.”
Josh threw his arm around Riley’s shoulders and reached out a hand to shake Chase’s. Chase shook it with a smile.
“Nice to meet you,” he said as he realized where he’d seen the pair before. “Although, I think I caught you two at the soccer game where I met Mr. Moyer.”
“Chase, I told you to call me Tobias,” Tobias said gruffly as he walked by the three of them. When he played hockey, Chase had always referred to him as Moyer when he talked about him, so it was weird using his first name.
“Right, sorry… Tobias,” he said, his cheeks heating ashe refocused on Josh and Riley. “You guys are cute. How long have you been together?”
He heard chuckles echoing in the space, and Chase noticed Riley tense, but he wasn’t sure why.
Josh answered him. “Oh, we’ve known each other since we were kids. Partners in crime, right, Ri?”
Riley opened his mouth, but said nothing.
“That’s so sweet,” Chase said.
