Page 49 of Hooking the Captain
“Who knows with those fuckers?” Butcher chuckled. “But my turkey deserves only the best when it comes to sides.”
I laughed at his ridiculousness and then shrugged off my coat and draped it on the back of the couch.
The guys were trading stories about their best goals and most epic saves as I grabbed a bottle of beer.
“Remember that game against the Panthers last season?” Orlov exclaimed. “I swear, that shootout was going to give me a heart attack!”
Friberg chimed in, “And who could forget Nyström’s hat trick against the Capitals? Man, that was legendary!”
Laughter erupted as I joined in to reminisce about our greatest moments on the ice until Butcher called us to eat.
Once we were all seated at the table, which had a line of food down the middle, hockey talk continued. Between bites of turkey and forkfuls of stuffing, we exchanged stories of achievements and near misses, basking in the shared bond that went beyond the locker room.
As the night wore on, and our bellies approached the point of no return, Sexton suggested, “Hey, why don’t we keep the celebration going? There’s a new nightclub downtown that’s supposed to be epic.”
The idea caught fire, and soon we piled into rideshares. The anticipation of a night out with the guys had me excited and nervous at the same time.
It wasn’t the first time I’d gone out with the guys for a night of drinking, but knowing I was going to a club where some of my friends might meet women to hook up with made me feel lonely despite being with a group of friends. Usually, being with my friends didn’t bother me, but maybe my nervousness was because Ford had texted me earlier and my phone felt like it was burning a hole in my pocket. My fingers itched to text him back, to tell him I missed him too and wished we were together under the stars in the back of my truck again.
But I didn’t text him.
Instead, I ignored the device. When we pulled up to the club, I got out with my friends and we made our way to the door. The bouncers waved us to the front of the line, and without having to pay a cover, they let us in, celebrity style.
The Catalyst pulsed with music as we entered. People turned and gawked, some giving us high fives and handshakes. We were used to it, especially in Boston since everyone was more or less a fan.
“Coop!” a guy shouted as I passed. “When will you be back?”
“Soon,” I replied with a smile and continued to follow my teammates, who were making a beeline for the bar.
A woman with long brown hair looked me up and down as I walked past her and then she gave me a bright smile. I returned her smile, but man, she was going to be disappointed if she approached me and I had to turn her down.
Once everyone had a drink, we stood off to the side while my friends looked out at the dance floor. The thumping of the music reverberated through the dimly lit nightclub. Strobe lights flickered, casting fleeting shadows on the people on the dance floor. I sipped my drink, and since I’d had a few at Butcher’s, it only added to the relaxation I was feeling. The brunette who had given me a once-over approached.
“Hi.” She beamed.
“Hi,” I replied.
She looked at the drink in my hand and bit her lip. I knew what she wanted and while I didn’t mind buying her a cocktail, that would be as far as it would go. But before I could offer, Sexton slid in beside us.
“Coop!” he shouted. “Ready to go dance?” He started to gyrate his hips, causing me to chuckle.
“Nah, man. I’m good, but maybe she does.”
I pointed to the brunette and Sexton moved forward and awkwardly began dancing with her. I stepped back and watched the two move to the beat, thankful I didn’t have to let her down gently.
Kingston emerged beside me as I took a step back to give the new couple space to dance. He clapped me on the back, and I turned, offering a grin.
“Hey, man. Enjoying the club?” I asked.
“It’s not really my scene. I prefer something a bit different.”
I raised an eyebrow as I took another sip of my drink. “Different? More chill?”
That was what I preferred and why I loved going for a beer at The Whispering Flask, though I hadn’t been in a long time since I had been out of town for the summer and then got hurt. The guys had continued to invite me out, but since I’d been on narcotics, I never went since I couldn’t drink. Pills and alcohol weren’t a good match.
Kingston hesitated, eyes flickering as if he were debating whether to share a secret. Finally, he sighed and leaned closer, his voice barely audible above the music. “I’ll let you in on something.” He paused and then said, “I’m into guys, Coop. I prefer a place where I can dance with people who share my preferences, you know?”
I blinked, absorbing the revelation. The club suddenly seemed quieter, the chaos less intense. Baylor Kingston was gay? It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him I was too, but since I didn’t know him all that well, I didn’t. The fear of the wrong people finding out stopped me.
