Page 66 of Riding Pine
“Really? How did it work out?”
“I married my best friend, who I worked with after discovering I’m bisexual, so I’d say very well.”
Folding my hands together, I stare the man in the face and just unload it all.
“My contract says I can’t reveal my identity to anyone. Even if we were dating, and that’s bullshit because I met someone I really like. I mean, the sex is fire, and he’s like…I just really like him.” I heave in a breath, and the man waits patiently. “I told him who I was because I didn’t want us to start something with me lying. It felt wrong. That and I found out he plays hockey and should probably know who I am.”
The man I now notice has a New York hockey ball cap on, so he must be at least familiar with the game. “If you played hockey, would it bother you to break a stupid rule like no dating within the organization? Or a conflict of interest? Which to me would mean a coach and a player.” Jesus Christ, I’m on a roll, and the words keep coming. “Like, there have to be a lot of people doing this, right? How can you just tell someone if they have a connection with the leader of accounting that they can’t be together because they work in the same building? It’s just…not right.”
It’s only now that I realize I’m angry. Angry at the position I’m in and angry that jobs could have this kind of leverage over your entire life. I won’t let it. I’ll quit and walk away from playingSlappy even if it costs me money to do it. Falling in love is fucking scary enough as it is and having this hanging over us is a recipe for disaster.
“Well.” The kind man smiles. “My advice would be to speak to management, heck, or even to the owners if you don’t think it can be resolved at the level you’re at.”
“Do you think it’s wrong to control people’s lives like this?”
He chews on his lip, and those glacier-coloured eyes assess me. “I don’t think any career should control your personal life. Only if it interferes with your job, would I think they’d step in.”
“It doesn’t interfere with mine, but I wonder if it does his. He’s a hockey player, right? And he does stuff with his stick and punches people, but his teammates say he’s a good leader, and I know he is.”
“Can I ask if he’s a local player?”
I throw my hands in the air. “What the hell.” A strained laugh bubbles past my lips. “If I’m going to management with this, it’ll be out soon enough. He’s the captain of the Aspens. I’m Slappy the beaver. The mascot.”
“You’re Slappy?” The man smiles. “You’re an amazing entertainer. My husband and I love your routines.”
“Shit. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that either, but thank you. So you both like hockey?”
His lips quirk as he nods. “Yeah, you could say we both like hockey.”
“Maloney!” The order taker calls a name, and he waves.
“That’s me. I hope it helped to get that off your chest.”
“It did. Thank you.”
He leans across the table before standing and lowers his voice. “For what it’s worth, I’d go to the top of the chain with your boyfriend. Owners get the final say, and you shouldn’t have to compromise everything. But also…it has to stay out of his game and your performance.”
“Thanks for the talk, and I’ll do that.”
He nods again, and after he leaves, my order is called, and I go home without the bag of candy. Which is probably for the best, anyway. I ordered extra orange chicken, and now that I’ve unloaded to a complete stranger, I’m going to eat my food and fuck my boyfriend.
Maybe even in that order.
Then, I’m tracking down the highest level on this team and making an appointment.
nineteen
Lukas
The buzzer sounds for the second intermission, and it can’t come soon enough.
The team is quiet as we slog into the dressing room and brace ourselves for a lecture. When Coach Nix arrives, he stands in the middle of the room on the team logo and takes turns looking at all of us.
“I’m not about to call out individuals right now in this room because you know who you are. I suggest you think ofwhat your role is on this team and play like it. Play like a team, and we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
That’s all he says as he stalks into his office off the dressing room and quietly closes the door behind him.
“Listen, boys,” I start, and all heads swivel to me. “This isn’t our best showing, and I take some of the blame here. I made a mistake that cost us a goal, but I’m not letting it get me down. We’re better than these guys, and we can come back. It’s only three goals, and we’ve scored more than that in a period.”
