And now I've done it in front of others – in front of men he's trying to impress.
His eyes narrow at me and I know I'm in for it.
“Ethan. A word.”
He stares at me and I realize I have to get up before he can. For a moment, I consider making a run for it – blaming Coach and curfew and heading for the door as quickly as I can.
But the reprieve will only be momentary. Before I'm even at the hotel, my phone will be full of him, full of his hatred. If I don't answer, it will spill over – onto Jack, into interviews withThe Neutral Zone...
It's better to just accept it now.
I stand and make space for him, then follow him toward the back hallway of the bar. He grips my arm tightly above the elbow and marches me along. For a moment, I feel like a naughty child.
OramI a naughty child?
As we near the fire exit, he pushes me into the wall, stepping into my space.
“Was that game not humiliation enough for one night? Now you're here, antagonizing me in front of business partnersIlined up for you? First they had to watch you defend that fucking nancy boy and nowthis?”
In my mind, I travel back, to all the other times when his strong body overpowered mine. Now, I look down at him, red-faced and wrinkled, and wonder if I'll everstopfeeling like that little boy.
“We are going to go back out there and you are going to hear therest of their proposal. You are going to charm them. Am I understood?”
I nod silently and follow him back to the table. As he sits, I notice how frail he’s become, how much effort he has to put into scooting into the corner of the booth.
I return to my seat, forcing a smile for the men at the table.
“Apologies. My father needed to update me on a few business dealings. Tell me more about this campaign.”
The younger man starts talking, while the older man – perhapshisfather? – seems distracted, glancing between me and Dad.
“Well, we all know Jamie Carter’s been getting a ton of press for you guys up there in Minnesota. But I think you can agree that it hasn’t all beengoodpress. There are a lot of hockey fans who aren’t exactly thrilled to see him as the new face of the sport.”
Thenew face of the sport? Please. The official NHL Instagram account hasn’t posted about himoncethis season, in spite of the amazing start he’s had.
Unfortunately, they seem to be waiting for input from me.
“So what’s your idea?”
Honestly, it’s ballsy to sit a captain down and shit talk one of his players, even in a sport as straight as hockey. What do theythinkI’ll say?Yes, that kid who’s scoring enormous numbers of points is clearly bad for my team.
Yeah fucking right.
“Well, we certainly can’t call him out explicitly. But we were thinking we could film you – sweaty, maybe dirty. Grown out stubble, shirtless. Then the tagline – Hockey: It’s For Real Men.”
It couldn’t sound more like gay porn if it tried.
I look at my phone, attempting to look shocked at the time.
“Oh, darn. We've got curfew at midnight – early flight tomorrow. I'll have to head out, but don't let that put a damper on the party.”
I pull out my wallet and slide a stack of notes to my father.
“I hope this will cover a few more rounds for you all.”
Turning to Logan Sportswear Senior, I offer him abusiness card.
“Why don't you send along the details so we can talk?”
