He laughed as he gave me a thumbs-up.
I caught Lous’s gaze just as I rose.
“Don’t do anything reckless.” Again, Lous spoke very softly. Barely audible above the music and din of conversation in the bar.
Claus shot his gaze to mine.
I smiled. “All good.” Then I slowly made my way down the stairs.
The washrooms in the bar were individual rooms as opposed to communal spaces. Which made choosing a place for the confrontation tough.
As I arrived in the hallway, Hairs emerged from one of the rooms. At least he was using a paper towel. I wasn’t convinced he always washed his hands.
Right…and that’s what you’re focusing on?I cleared my throat.
A slow, lazy grin appeared. “Ah, so you need to piss? Do you need me to hold your limp dick?”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s really the best you’ve got?”
He shrugged. “What else do I need?”
“I don’t know…a personality? Some humanity?”
His face hardened with his dark-brown eyes glinting in the low light. “Problem? Devs the deviant?”
“Jesus fucking Christ. We’re well into the twenty-first century. That kind of?—”
He grinned. “Yeah, I know you’re a queer. I followed you to the gay bar in Toronto where you met your ‘friend’.” Fucker used air quotes.
“Not that I owe you an explanation—or that it’s any of your business—but Mickey is really just a friend. And why the fuck were you following me? What kind of bullshit is that? Kind of pathetic, really.” I wanted to question why he was in the queer community of Church Street in Toronto. Although maybe he had just followed me for what, shits and giggles?Or he’d always planned for this moment.
“I know about you and Coach Showalter. Two queers in a pod. I’m just waiting to drop that bomb on the reporter in Vancouver.”
“Like you called the one working for that sleazy tabloid in Toronto?”
He shrugged. “Phone calls are legal. I just suggested you might let loose in Toronto. I didn’t figure you’d be stupid enough to bring your fuck buddy back to your hotel with you. Or that you’d later be hugging him in public.”
“Mickey is just a friend.”
“ButJackis more than that.” Again, with the sly grin.
“Even if we were together, what possible business is it of yours?”
“Favors. He pushed for you to get called up.”
Startled, I momentarily lost my words. Jack had been with me in Tofino. He couldn’t have lobbied for me. We hadn’t known Cederqvist was even injured. And Jack wouldn’t have pushed for me anyway. Wouldn’t have advocated for me morethan anyone else. I wasn’t vain, but even I saw that I was the best left defenseman on the team. Pells was good, sure, but he wasn’t as good as me.
Jack had even said so?—
Shit.
No. Don’t doubt yourself. That’s what this fucker wants. He?—
“You realize he’s screwing Lous as well, right?”
Don’t fall for the bait. Of course Jack and Lous aren’t fucking.I knew that deep in my soul. I loved Jack. He loved me. He was giving up his career as a coach.For me. “I’d watch the accusations you’re leveling about someone who is way smarter than you are.” I gave a derisive snort. “No one is going to believe you. No one is going to give a shit about you.”Except when it comes out later about me and Jack, and this fucker is proven correct, there’s going to be a reckoning.I straightened my spine. “What do you want?”
“A spot in Vancouver.”