This man is far too good for Nick. Nick almost leans up to kiss his cheek, but now that the mask is in place he doesn’t want to rock the boat.
The panic attack he’ll have when he gets home is going tosuck.
No one seems to have noticed they were gone when they get back. Nick’s eyes automatically find Sunny, who’s comparing arm tattoos with Casey and Hugsy. Marlowe is admiring Joel’s painted nails, while Spencer and Picard seem to be having a conversation that’s mostly hand gestures and half-finished sentences.
“What the fuck?” Nick remarks, gesturing towards the pair as he and Matt approach.
“They’re goalie bonding,” Casey explains without missing a beat.
Nick blinks. He hadn’t realized Spencer had been a goalie. That…
That tracks, actually.
“Cute.” He looks around the room, then raises his voice. “Anyone else want another drink?”
A cheer goes up, led largely by his teammates. Nick can still salvage this night. He’ll buy another round, then maybe suggest they head down to the main bar—get the single guys set up flirting with some girls, then head on home with a vague implication that he’s taking their waitress with him.
He knows the drill by now. He just hates the pit it opens up in his stomach every time.
Chapter Twenty-One
NOT QUITE A HAT-TRICK: IS TRIX’S TIME AT NEVADA COMING TO AN END?
We have yet to see any huge moves so far in this pre-playoffs trade period, though several negotiations appear to be underway in the final 48hrs. However, eyes in Vegas are not on the trade deadline, but instead the end of the season—and their captain, Nick Tiernan.
Tiernan is unlikely to be traded before the deadline—he has a no-trade clause in his three-year contract, and nothing suggests he is looking to break that on his own terms. That contract expires at the end of this season, and several unnamed sources report that the Nevada front office is not yet convinced they’re going to be offering an extension.
While the Dragons are all set to clinch a playoffs spot this year, one could argue that is largely down to the incredible young talent on the team. If they were looking to rebuild and take the franchise in a different direction, this would be the time to do it. Tiernan’s glory days are past him already, and some think it might be time to cut that deadweight and move on to greener pastures.
—CrossCheck, February 28th, 2023
True to his word, Sunny doesn’t say anything. Not even to Nick himself, which Nick was honestly kind of expecting, but surely Sunny has questions? Either he doesn’t care to ask or he thinks it’s not his place, and Nick isn’t brave enough to bring it up himself. The uncertainty isn’t helping his game, no matter how badly he tries to lock it down and put the mask on. It’s always wild this time of year, with playoffs almost in reach and every team desperate to claim a spot while they can. Nick can’t afford to be anything less than perfect right now.
He really should clear the air with Sunny.
Trying to imagine how that conversation might go—how he might evenbeginto talk about it—Nick returns to the locker room after a team practice and discovers a new calendar notification on his phone. He’s got a meeting with Jazz scheduled for after lunch, apparently. He frowns to himself, wondering what she could need to talk to him about. There aren’t any team-related issues going on that he’s aware of.
Unlesshe’sthe issue?
His pulse quickens as he imagines a dozen scenarios, each worse than the last. What if Sunny told front office about him and Matt, or the paparazzi caught them somehow? What if Connor’s been outed, and he’s said something about Nick, and it’s all over the news and he hasn’t seen it yet?
No. He shakes his head. If that were the case, his phone would be ringing off the hook.
Whatever it is, it can’t have hit the public eye yet. But that doesn’t make it okay; dozens of dramas happen within hockey without ever making the newsfeeds.
He forces himself to eat lunch, letting his teammates’ conversations wash over him. Sunny doesn’t look like he’s secretly ratted his gay captain out to management. He looks a little tired, kinda strung-out, but at this point in the season, they all do. All thoughts of talking to him have flown from Nick’s head. He’s got bigger things to worry about now.
With no small amount of trepidation, he makes his way up to Jazz’s office, double-checking the calendar entry for any clues as to what it might be about. She’s given him nothing, justMeeting with Jazz.
It’s like getting a“we need to talk”text, but ten times worse, because she’s his boss.
“Hey, Trix!” The voice calling out to him has Nick swearing under his breath. He turns to see Bam-Bam has followed him from the locker room, a vicious glint in his eye. “In trouble with Mommy, huh?” he taunts. Squaring his shoulders, Nick draws on every ounce of attitude he’s so famous for on the ice.
“Does that mean you call TonyDaddy?” he retorts, smirking as Bam-Bam blanches.
“I don’t, but I bet you do,” the defenseman sneers. “While you’re on your knees for him. Gotta be the only reason they’ve kept you around so long.”
Hot anger floods through Nick’s veins and his hands clench at his sides. Before he can think of a response, Bam-Bam pushes on, taking two steps closer to him. “Must be hard finding time for that with your newboyfriendaround.”
