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It’s only at second glance that I realize it’s not a goalie jersey.
Munns walks toward me. I look past him. Everyone is grinning at me. I lift my gaze.
“Sinclair, would you be so kind as to get your ass off the bench? Thanks.” He pulls me up. “The club has decided that we want the Sexy Beast as our team captain. Here’s your new jersey, Sinclair. I know you’re the best man for the job, and I’m excited to take on the next season with you.”
Perplexed, I take the jersey, turn it over, and see my number 77 on it. I search for our coach’s gaze. Am I being pranked?
But Blake comes toward me, beaming. “I can’t imagine a better successor.”
The coach holds out his hand to me. “I know this is unusual, but when the team approached me, I spoke with the club’s management first before we got your hopes up. And after that it all took on a life of its own.” He grins.
“This isn’t a joke?” My voice is shaking way too much.
Sid comes over and hugs me. “Dude, you’re the captain. Accept it.”
The worries I came here with fall away, and complete euphoria fills me. My hands are shaking, and my knees can barely hold me up. This boundless joy is different from winning the Cup. The tension that’s lifted from us was a relief. We’d worked toward this as a team; we knew we had a chance. This is all on me. Every thought that led to this decision races through my mind. It’s completely unexpected and I feel unprepared. The trust the guys have placed in me is greater than I could ever have imagined. My mind can’t process what’s happening here.
“I . . . ” My voice is still shaking. Fuck. The lump in my throat turns into tears welling up in my eyes. “I didn’t expect this.”
Spears steps up beside me. “We were all impressed by how confidently you handled coming out this summer. And by how much you’ve always put the team first all these years. You’ve long since proven how worthy you are as captain. You’re resilient on a level none of us can even imagine. And you can keep a secret.” Everyone laughs. “If anyone’s going to lead us to our next Cup win, it’s you,” Spears explains.
I cling to the jersey as if it were a lifeline. Nodding, I scan the room. “You need to know that, as a gay player, I’m vulnerable. Before the article was published, I discussed this at length with my new management. Any mistakes I make will be attributed to the fact that I’m not a ‘real man.’ I want what’s best for the team. And even though it would be my biggest dream to be your captain, I won’t hold it against you if you decide to reconsider.”
Coach Denner nods. “We’re aware of these concerns and have discussed them.”
“And the team has decided that a family doesn’t back down when things get tough. A family sticks together, and in a family, everyone does what they do best. And we know your next role in this family is to be our captain.”
I can’t get any words out. I’m overwhelmed, and those damn tears are streaming down my face. I nod and cling to the jersey.
The team applauds. I’m hugged and squeezed. Sid plants a kiss on my temple and everyone cheers.
“I promise, I’ll do everything for this team.”
“We know that.” The coach nods at me. “Ah.” He lifts his chin and looks past me.
Over my shoulder, I catch a glimpse of the door, and for the second time today, I’m free-falling. “Parker?”
With an embarrassed grin, he walks toward me. “Did you accept?”
“You knew about it?”
He twists his mouth. “Yeah? I have an excellent relationship with Ricky.”
I pull him toward me and hug him.
“Is it okay that I’m here?” he whispers to me.
The guys pat us on our shoulders and call out suggestive comments.
No one deserves this much luck. My two pillars of support are united. Parker is here. And my hockey family invited him.
I’m not naïve enough to think that all my problems have disappeared or that the league will suddenly become an ally. But the people who really care about me are standing behind me. And Parker is in my arms.
“We’re exactly where we belong.”
He’s beaming. “That’s how I see it, too. Kiss?”
Of course, my teammates hear this and start chanting in unison. “Kiss, kiss, kiss.”
