Page 4 of Hooking the Captain
And I knew just the place to do that.
2
COOP
The beachat Lake Winnipesaukee was packed.
Five of the guys I played with on the Bruins and I had booked a four-bedroom cottage over Memorial Day weekend for a little fun to celebrate the start of summer.
I threw a football around with Orlov and Nyström, while Butcher grilled beef short ribs for us and chatted with Friberg and Sexton. Stepping back, I threw the ball to Orlov as he rushed down the shore to catch the pass. He caught it without a problem and then tossed it to Nyström.
“I’m going to grab a beer. Do you two want one?” I called out to my friends. The late May sun had warmed my bare skin and made me thirsty.
They both yelled they did, so I walked back toward our spot where the others were.
“Damn, Coop. I didn’t know you could throw a spiral like that,” Butcher praised as I neared. “You could play for the Patriots with an arm like that.”
“Trying to get rid of me?” I teased.
He chuckled. “Nah, man. You’re the best center in the NHL.”
I glanced at Friberg, who also played center on the team. He shrugged and said in his Scandinavian accent, “He’s right.”
“I’ll take it, since I have 304 career goals.” I mocked brushing off my shoulder with a smirk and then reached into the cooler, pulling out three bottles of beer.
“Yeah, yeah.” Sexton waved me off with a grin. “We were all there.”
I’d always been athletic, but hockey was my real passion. Dartmouth gave me a full ride scholarship so I played there for two years before being drafted by the Bruins. This past season, I’d become team captain after the previous one was traded to the Stars, and then I had hit a major milestone in my career.
Leaving them to the grilling, I turned toward where Orlov and Nyström were still passing the football back and forth. Out of the corner of my eye, a guy caught my attention as he tossed a frisbee with his friends. He was tall with short brown hair, had a toned athletic build with a hard chest and rippled abs. I couldn’t help but watch him, my mouth watering at how hot he was.
My hockey friends were the closest thing I had to brothers. We’d gotten close over the years, some more than others, depending on how long we’d played together. We would go out after games, hang out at each other’s places, have Friendsgiving every year, and take trips together to have a good time. However, my buddies didn’t know a major thing about me:
That I was gay.
I’d never shared my secret with anyone except my friend Hayden. I’d only felt comfortable confessing my secret to him because I knew he’d understand how I felt, and he wasn’t in my hockey circle of friends. Not only was Hayden gay, but he had dated a friend and teammate of mine who had been in the closet. But before Jonah had been ready to come out to the team and the world, he’d died in a car crash. I hadn’t wanted to go to my grave without at least one person knowing what I desired most, and I remembered the relief that had come with telling Hayden.
I kept lookingat the entry of the hidden bar in the back of The Whispering Flask, a speakeasy-inspired restaurant, for Hayden. I’d invited him out because not only had we not hung out since Jonah’s death three years ago, but I also needed to get something off my chest. The shitty thing was that I wasn’t alone. Butcher, Sexton, Orlov, and Nyström had invited themselves along when I’d told them I was going out for a drink.
Once I spotted Hayden, I flagged him over to our table and stood to greet him with a handshake. “Glad you could make it.”
“Me too,” he replied.
I made the introductions. “Guys, this is my good friend, Hayden. I’m sure you know Butcher, Sexton, Orlov, and Nyström.”
“Of course.” Hayden shook their hands. “Got some good shots of your fight, Butcher.”
Butcher balked. “Shots?”
“Hayden works forThe Hub,” I explained.
“You invited the press?” Orlov inquired in his Russian accent. His words might have sounded harsh, but his faint smile made it clear he wasn't upset.
“Not here for work, but I was promised there would be drinking,” Hayden replied.
“Hell yeah,” I bellowed. “Let’s go to the bar.”
Hayden followed me and immediately the bartender came over despite the number of people bellied up to the bartop because he was a fan. “What can I get you, Coop?” he asked.
