“Ew.”
“Condoms and lube are in the nightstand,” I said.
Pulling the door closed, I heard Mel’s voice float out. “Thank you.”
I smiled. Melvin Garvin, the massive, bearded, hockey defenseman, science nerd, and part time bouncer at a titty bar, was completely smitten with David Perez, a tiny, sweet, shy-by-day, power-bottom-by-night drag queen.
David’s drag queen troupe had gotten into one of the big drag theaters and everyone who was anyone was going. We were all proud of him—Honey Bottom had really helped him learn who he was, who he wanted to be and where he was going in life.
Shocking us, he was going to be a pediatrician. He would make the best doctor though, because he was so unassuming and gentle.
At least until he pulled on Honey Bottom. Then he was a damn riot.
The bar was actually down the street from our dorm. Bollock’s was a low-key gay bar—most everyone from the dorms drank there, but they catered to the LGBTQ crowd. There was a drag queen night, which was how Mel the Mountain had met David.
At three in the afternoon, there were several couples scattered around at the tables in the dark corners—four same sex and two mixed, two lonely businessmen at the counter and the bartender, Alexei. I hopped up onto the stool at the end and smiled at Alexei as he walked over.
“What are you doing here before finals, Aaron?” he asked, grabbing a beer glass.
“I cannot study anymore, man,” I said. “I just can’t. I want to sit and stare at the television for a few minutes and drink a beer.”
“Beer I can do,” he said, and pulled the handle to pour a perfect Dogfish Head Ale and place it in front of me.
Taking a sip, I let out a breath. “Three more exams. That’s it. I’m done. How about you? Any luck?”
His face fell almost instantly and I regretted asking. “I don’t know, man. I think they’re going to put my waivers up, either over the summer or at the beginning of the season.”
“That’s not a death sentence,” I said.
“I’m twenty-six,” he said. “Most guys retire at thirty. I’ll be forced out. Who is going to pick me up when that lousy bastard won’t let me play because he was stupid enough to hit on my mother?”
“I really wish it hadn’t colored every interaction.”
He sighed. “Me too. But, hey. I make good money here and Ian is happy to work around my schedules.”
“Training camps this summer?”
“Yes, three. One is Sweden and the team is picking up the tab. It’s the reason I have any hope. They keep paying for my camps.”
“Just remember, all you need is one scout and one game.” I toasted him with my beer and took a sip.
“True.” He nodded. “Are you going to the show tonight?”
“With Drew and Caspian, you know it,” I said.
“You and Drew hooking up?”
“Uh…no.”
What Iwasdoing was covering up for Drew and his unethical hooking up with his teacher. I loved the guy like a brother, but the hooking up with the teacher was such a bad idea. Even if they weren’t actually teacher and student, there was an ethical line there.
Alexei raised an eyebrow and I drew an ‘X’ over my heart. “Drew is like a brother. I wouldn’t ever be able to hook up with him.”
“If you say so.” Alexei laughed and walked down the bar.
I felt really bad for Alexei. He’d graduated my freshman year with a business degree and a spot in the NHL—and went for it. He’d played one game on the NHL ice, three years ago, and hadn’t seen the ice at Nassau since. His coach was an asshole. I just hoped someone picked up his waivers. He deserved at least a chance on the big ice.
I really wanted Mel to get picked up, too. As much as I knew he wanted to be a scientist, he was poetry on skates. Couldn’t walk up the stairs on a good day without tripping, but watching him skate was shocking, and in a good way.
