Page 28 of Offside Play (Love The Game #1)
Jude
“ H uh.” Cody shook his head as he stared down at his phone. I couldn’t work out what the expression on his face was. Happy? Sad? Pensive?
“What’s up?”
“Just Petrov and Davis.” He handed his phone over so I could see the messages on the screen.
Petrov:
You’re a good influence. We’re volunteering at a new summer camp. Last minute thing, but it’s been organised well
His message was followed by a selfie of him and Davis dressed in their hockey gear, both of them grinning and doing a thumbs up at the camera. Below that was a message from Davis.
Davis:
We used our celebrity status to get all four of the kids you’ve been coaching into the camp
I bit down on my lip. Now I understood Cody’s conflicted expression. Happy about the news, but I knew he missed hockey and coaching the kids.
Passing the phone back to him, I placed my hand on his thigh, rubbing gently. I wasn’t sure what to say, and he seemed lost in thought, so I decided to turn to someone much wiser than me. My agent .
On the pretence of going to get a glass of water, I left Cody on the sofa and slipped into the hallway.
Me:
EMERGENCY
It only took a few seconds for Rory to reply.
Rory:
Is this an actual emergency? Or is it like the time you thought you saw a poisonous snake that turned out to be a rubber chew toy?
Me:
If the snake had been real, it would’ve been an emergency
Rory:
Hmm
Me:
Whatever. This is an emergency. It’s Cody. He’s missing hockey and I don’t know how to make it better. I need your advice
There was a long pause while I waited for Rory to respond, pacing up and down in the hallway as I stared at my phone. Finally, I had a reply.
Rory:
Normally I’d tell you to use Google, but this time I think I might be able to help. Leave it with me
An hour or so later, when an impromptu wrestling match had turned into me getting my hand inside Cody’s shorts and ended with satisfactory hand jobs for us both, my phone buzzed again. I swiped it from the coffee table as fast as I could, scrolling to my messages.
“Oh.” It wasn’t a text from Rory, but an email. Although— “ Offside magazine just sent me the interview for approval.”
It hadn’t taken me long to decide that the interview was how I wanted to broach the subject of my sexuality with the public—not that it was really their business—and once Theo got the ball rolling, everything had been set up for a quick turnaround.
The interview would be up on the website before the season began, and the magazine article would follow in the next issue.
I opened the email attachment, my shoulders relaxing as I scanned through the questions and my responses.
As I’d wanted, they’d mainly focused on my move to Glevum, my recovery from injury, and my hopes and plans for the new season.
They’d added the part about my sexuality towards the end of the interview, in between questions about my move to Glevum.
You’ve been open about your sexuality with the club. How important was it to you to be upfront from the start?
It was very important to me. I didn’t want to begin this new chapter of my career hiding part of myself, and so I made the decision to let them know before we’d even agreed on a contract.
Have you found the reception at Glevum to be supportive?
Yes. The management, the staff, and the players have all been welcoming and supportive. And having Jordan Emery and Theo Lewin at the club, who opened the door for out LGBTQ+ players in the Premier League, made it easier for me to be open about who I am.
That’s good to hear. Anything else you’d like to add?
I guess I’d like to say that yes, I’m bisexual, but that’s just one aspect of who I am as a person. First and foremost, I’m a football player, and that’s what I hope people will focus on. I’m determined to prove to everyone at the club that they made the right choice in signing me.
“This is really good,” I murmured, leaning into Cody as we read through the rest of the interview together.
“I hope I get an okay reception when it’s published.
I mean, I’m realistic, and Jordan and Theo have spoken to me about some of the shit I can probably expect, but—” Cutting myself off, I shook my head.
“I just want people to understand that being bisexual is a part of who I am. I can’t change it, any more than I can change my eye colour or how quickly my hair grows.
It’s me, and they need to either accept that or find something else to be outraged about. ”
Cody pressed a soft kiss to the side of my face. “You’re you, and there’s nothing I’d want to change. I’m proud of you.”
The sincerity in his low voice did something to me. Throwing my phone down, I straddled his thighs, sliding my lips across his. “You’re amazing.”
“Mmm. Is that so?”
“It is. Best boyfriend I’ve ever had.”
“The only one you’ve ever had.”
There was that sexy growl again. Fucking hot. I leaned in to kiss him again, and then my phone buzzed.
“Fuck,” I breathed, yanking myself away from him. “I need to get that.”
“Good to know where I come on your list of priorities,” he muttered. Yeah, I was pissed off about the interruption, too, but if it was Rory?—
“Fuck, yes!” I fist-pumped the air as I scanned the long wall of text on my screen. “I have the best agent in the world.”
Cody’s brows lifted. “Any reason?”
“Well…” I tried to play it cool. “It turns out he’s got a mate who manages a hockey team.”
Cody stilled. Licking my lips, I continued, hoping this was as exciting as I’d originally thought, and not a huge mistake that my boyfriend was going to hate me for.
“Uh, so, the guy could use some advice. Apparently. He’s doing a youth training thing, and I dunno, it sounds like he might be having some issues. Rory thought maybe you could help him out. Y’know, since you’re an NHL player.”
“Rory said that?”
“Yeah, and he wants to know if I can put you in touch with his mate. He says to tell you there’s no pressure, but if you’re interested…
” Trailing off with a shrug, I attempted a smile as I eyed Cody cautiously.
His face was expressionless, and I had no idea what he was thinking.
Should I just carry on talking? Yeah. Best to get it all out.
Clearing my throat, I read the rest of the text. “The team’s Cheltenham Storm.” I blinked. “Wait. Cheltenham. That’s local.”
Cody’s lips twitched, and encouraged, I continued. “They play in the EIHL. Uh. The Elite Ice Hockey League.”
“I know what EIHL stands for.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah. Course you do.” Fucking hell, I was a babbling idiot when I was nervous. “So what do you think? Want me to give Rory your number to pass on to this guy?”
Cody was quiet for a long time, but eventually, he nodded.
When I’d showered and changed after completing the set of cardio exercises Glevum’s physio had given me to do, I found Cody sitting at the kitchen table with a notepad covered in scribbled writing.
Crossing to the fridge, I pulled out a carton of orange juice. “Want some?” I asked Cody.
He nodded, and I dipped down to kiss his cheek on my way to the cupboard that held the glasses. I noticed the words “Cheltenham Storm” written on the pad and stopped dead, forgetting all about our drinks.
“Did the guy call you while I was in the shower?”
“Yeah.” Cody glanced up at me, and I could see the cautious hope in his expression. Pulling out a chair next to him, I gave him my full attention.
“Tell me what happened.”
“Nosey,” he muttered, and smirked when I kicked him beneath the table.
“Alright. His name’s Ross Griffin, and he took over the team at the beginning of last season.
The team’s got a reputation for always finishing at the bottom of the league, but Ross is putting his own time and money into building them up.
He’s young, but he seems enthusiastic. Got a lot of ideas for improvement. ”
“What does he want you to do?”
“He wants me to watch the next youth training session. It’s the off-season, so most of the main team players aren’t around, but he’s got a couple helping out with the kids. He wants to develop a proper youth programme and thinks I might have some insights.”
A wide grin curved over my lips. “That’s great. Fuck, Cody. This is perfect. When?”
“Tomorrow afternoon, if I’m available.”
“You are.”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t get too excited. It’s just me giving him some advice. I might not even be able to help.”
“You will.” Leaning forwards, I pressed kisses to his mouth until he smiled. “This is gonna be amazing.”