“I’m…” Niko hesitated, and Jett offered a smile of encouragement. “I respect the hell out of you, Fraser. Sometimes I slip into the mindset of hiding who I am without meaning to, but playing with you so far has been eye-opening.”
Jett turned and gave him his full attention because he could tell Niko was trying to tell him something.
Niko sighed like he was trying to relieve pressure. “I might be…a little gay.”
Grinning, Jett raised an eyebrow. “Just a little?”
That earned him an elbow to the chest and strained laughter.
“Okay, I’m more than a little gay. Sorry if it’s difficult for me to say it out loud.”
Their quiet laughter echoed through the empty locker room, and Jett found himself swinging a casual arm over Niko’s shoulder again.
“We got you, buddy. Don’t ever feel like you have to hide who you are on this team. The guys are bigger divas than me when it comes to inclusion, and they don’t take shit from the lingering homophobes in the league. They’ll seriously lose their shit if they find out their rookie is gay. You couldn’t ask for better friends, but I won’t tell anyone if it makes you uncomfortable.”
Being gay in the NHL was more accepted these days. Discrimination wasn’t just frowned upon—it was taken seriously and punished if reported. Players from big cities often had an easier time, but for others like Niko, who came from smaller, more conservative towns, it was still a struggle.
It could take a while to build trust, but Jett knew he would get there.
“I don’t care if you tell the guys.” Niko sighed again, and his posture relaxed, as if the tension had drained from his body. “I didn’t know how to say it, but I wanted to tell you first.”
Jett yanked him closer and dug his knuckles into Niko’s head, laughing when he cried out and squirmed.
“Thanks for trusting me, rookie. Don’t be shy to ask me for advice, but stay away from Wolf. He’s the worst wingman ever—don’t ask. Just listen, absorb and make sure to keep it in mind when he offers to find you a date.”
Niko shoved him away, and Jett was pleased to see his cheeks flushed from laughter and smiling. It cleared the sullen air he had gathered around himself since showing up for camp.
“Don’t ask Wolf for help. Noted.”
Jett stopped harassing him so he could finish lacing his skates and took a second to message Arlo. He wanted to talk to him about the Mike situation since his name had been mentioned in the texting barrage, which was still ongoing.
He tried not to let his heart sink when he read the hateful messages, but it hurt. It was impossible that he had anything to do with Mike getting thrown off the team, but guilt was his constant friend, and it always showed up even when he didn’t need it to.
He sent screenshots to Arlo just in case Mikehadn’tcontacted him and put his phone away so he could get on the ice and warm up.
He didn’t make it two steps away from the bench he was sitting on when the door to the hall burst open, and Arlo strode inside, panting heavily.
“You.”
Jett pointed a finger at himself. “Me?”
He wasn’t expecting it, but he wasn't upset when Arlo charged at him and wrapped him in a hug. Mini Killinger wasn’t as broad as Big Killinger, and he didn’t smell the same or have the deep voice, but damn it felt good.
“I thought you might be here,” said Arlo, drawing far enough away so their eyes could meet. “I started getting messages two hours ago from Mike, and I knew he would be coming after you too, so I wanted to see you and make sure you’re okay.”
Jett blinked, taking time to allow his brain to process what was happening.
“Who’s the stalker now?” Jett asked. “How did you find me?”
“The tracking app I enabled on your phone when you weren’t looking,” Arlo replied sarcastically. “Also, irrelevant. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Bullshit.” Arlo let go of him and stepped back so he could fold his arms and try to look intimidating. “You and Harrison deserve each other. You’re the biggest bunch of bullshitters I’ve ever met.”
Jett thought he had mastered the art of hiding his anxiety, but not when it came to Arlo…or Harrison. Hell, even Ryan was catching on to him.
"I'm alone," Jett said, then immediately winced. He hadn't meant to let that slip. "I mean—I'm fine. I can handle it. You didn't have to come all this way. I know you’ve got practice and everything."
