Page 5 of Hooking the Captain

“Another negroni and …” I looked at Hayden for his order.

“I’ll have the same. Thanks.”

“So, how have you been?” I squeezed his shoulder.

“Good, man. Working and teaching.”

My brow furrowed. “Teaching?”

The only job I knew he had wasThe Hub.

“I teach photojournalism at Hawkins University.”

“Oh wow, that’s cool.”

The bartender placed our drinks in front of us, and Hayden reached for his wallet.

“I got it,” I stated and then said to Mike, “Add them to my tab.”

The bartender nodded, and Hayden said, “Thanks. You didn’t need to do that.”

“Not a problem.”

We each took a sip of the herby cocktail and then Hayden asked, “What about you? I have to admit I haven’t been keeping up with hockey as much since—” He took a breath and continued. “I’ve been covering basketball and baseball instead.”

I gave him a tight smile because while Jonah’s death had been hard on me, I couldn’t imagine the pain Hayden had gone through. “Things are good. Made captain this season when Umstatt was traded to the Stars.”

“I saw you sporting that C on your jersey last night. Congrats.”

“Thanks. So”—I rubbed the back of my neck nervously—“there’s something I need to pick your brain about.”

He cocked his head slightly. “Okay?”

I looked around, worried someone nearby would overhear. “Not here.”

“All right …?”

“You still don’t smoke?” It was a weird question and I knew it, but I wanted us to go outside and away from anyone who could hear.

“What?” He blinked.

“Just go with it and follow me outside, okay?”

“All right.”

We downed our drinks in a hurry and then walked back to the table where my friends were. “Hayden needs a smoke. We’ll be back.”

We made our way through the restaurant and into the chilly outdoors as snow fell from the sky.

“I’ll make this quick since it’s freezing out here.” I motioned for Hayden to move down the sidewalk away from the door. “I didn’t think I’d do this tonight, but it’s been eating at me for a long time and I just …”

Fuck. Could I do it? Could I tell another person something I’d kept hidden for so long?

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I looked up at the inky sky. “I’ve never told anyone this.”

“Whatever it is, I’m here for you, man.”