Page 80 of Don't Puck Up
"I know," he said. “I understand why you had to hide now, and I’m so fucking sorry you went through that. I’m so happy Kam had your back, but I wish I could have had it too. I’m here for you, man. Anything you need.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, beyond grateful that I had people in my life who cared. I slid my hand into Kam’s and gestured to the exit. We said our goodbyes, and as we were leaving, I asked, “Hey, Hux, you liked Locke, right?”
“Yeah, he seemed like a good guy. Why?”
“You’ll be seeing more of him. We’re, ah… dating.” I cleared my throat and waited for his reaction, but I didn’t have to wait long.
Hux’s grin split his lips and he held his fist out for me to bump. “Congrats, Chris. I’m happy for the three of you.”
“See you ’round, Hux.” I nodded at Monroe and added, “Thank you. For everything you said.”
twenty-five
Minns
“Enter,” Coach said gruffly after I knocked on the door. I opened it and saw that Keeley was already waiting inside. She didn’t look impressed at my casual getup of sweats and a hoodie, but she’d soon understand why.
“Morning, Coach. Keeley, thanks for being here,” I said.
“You want to explain to me what the hell is going on, Minns?” Coach started, his tone gruff and more than a little annoyed. He hadn’t looked at me yet, his focus still on his computer. When he did look at me, he added, “I know you’ve been through a lot this season, but cutting out of a series of games is going to earn you a fine.”
I pulled back the hood, unzipped my hoodie, and let it slip off my shoulders. I’d foregone a T-shirt so, along with the black eye and bruised jaw, they could see that my ribs were a mottled black-and-blue where my brothers had kicked me. My sweats were riding low enough on my hips that the top of the boot mark from where my brother had stomped on my groin—and missed all the important parts, thankfully—was clearly visible above the elastic of my boxer briefs, even with my tattoos.
“I apologize. I hadn’t intended for this to happen, but it did,” I said bluntly but with as much modesty as I could muster.
“Howdid that happen?” Keeley asked warily. “Do you need me to do damage control, because, Chris, I have to say, you’re already riding a fine line here with the team.”
I huffed and shook my head. “Wow, yeah, thanks. I’m peachy, as you can see.”
Keeley sighed. “I’m sorry, Chris. You’re right. Are you okay?”
“A couple of cracked ribs and a broken eye socket as well as bruises. I’ll be good to go as soon as the doc gives me clearance.”
“That won’t be for a few weeks yet,” Coach warned.
“How did it happen, Chris?” Keeley asked, gently this time.
“For once, this—” I gestured to basically all of me “—wasn’t because I was a stupid fucking idiot. Well, actually, that’s debatable, but I didn’t provoke anyone in the way you’re thinking.” I slipped my hoodie back on and zipped it up, then eased into the empty guest chair Coach had in his office.
“Start at the beginning, son,” Coach encouraged in that Texan drawl of his.
“Two years ago or so, Hux, my wife Kamirah, and I started seeing one another. We kept it strictly casual and secret. It ended when TMZ caught Hux leaving my house. But it wasn’t Kam with him that night. It was me.”
Keeley groaned, and Coach clenched his jaw, biting back a comment. I hated reopening old wounds, but they needed the full story. I hadn’t confided in them then. I wanted to right my wrongs now, including making it clear that the lame-ass statement I’d instructed my agent to release months after the fact wasn’t enough.
“I screwed things up with Hux, and I made a mess for you, Keeley, and the team. For that, I’m sorry. I was so deeply in the closet that I couldn’t see past what I needed to do to keep myself safe. I couldn’t risk word getting out about our relationship with Hux, or my sexuality.”
“So the statement that your agent released…,” Keeley started.
“Was me trying to cover my ass without giving anything away. Yeah,” I explained.
“You’ve patched things up with Hux,” Coach stated.
I nodded. “He’s a good man. Hux respected my wishes not to say anything to anyone despite the press looking terrible for him. I hold him in the highest regard.”
“Good,” Keeley noted. “There’s nothing in the rules, because, well… the NHL has never envisioned it, but I can’t see management wanting teammates to date, Chris.”
“I know. We’re not together, and we won’t ever be again. He met Cara and Monroe overseas, and I think he realized how much better he deserved than what I could give him. He’s happy, and I’m truly happy for him.” I paused, thinking about what I’d put him through, then added, “He also now knows why I couldn’t stand up for him that night or since. We’re still repairing the damage my actions did to our friendship, but I know we’ll get there.”