Page 36 of Total Assist (For Puck’s Sake #13)

DASAN

Just as I’m opening my door to let Felton and Willits in, my phone rings. Interesting. I wave them in and answer.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Mr. Ukiah. This is Sylvan Vishan.”

I roll my eyes. As if I don’t have his number programmed into my phone. However, I play along. “Hello, Mr. Vishan. How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you. I trust you are as well?”

“Very well.”

“Good. I know you just left the arena, but if you’re still in the area, I’d appreciate it if you’d join us for a quick meeting.”

A frown pinches my face. “Sure, no problem. Now?”

“If you don’t mind.”

I glance at my friends. “Yeah. I’ll head over.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ukiah.”

“Thanks. See you in a bit.”

I end the call and stare at the window, trying to determine what this is about. Have I pissed someone off lately? It can’t be Ren’s new advocacy program because I’d have heard from Ren when the meeting was scheduled.

Shively and I have been far too careful, so I can’t imagine it’s him. But… who the fuck knows? “I have to head back to the arena real quick. Hang out. I’ll be right back.”

“Everything all right?” Willits asks.

I shrug. “I think so, but we’ll see.”

Felton frowns but doesn’t say anything. I put my shoes back on and slip into my parka to head back to the arena. I’m sure he was one of the guys in the stands during practice. Why did he wait until I was home to ask for a meeting?

My drive isn’t long. The building is silent when I let myself in. We have a few conference rooms, though only one is actually used for meetings so I know right where I’m going. My knock is answered immediately.

As soon as I open the door and see Shively sitting stiffly in the chair, my gut clenches. Fuck. However, I offer the room a smile as I come inside, not giving anything away. I don’t know what this is about. Not for sure.

That is, not until I step up to the table and Shively looks at me, on the verge of a panic attack. My gaze falls on the images in front of him. More specifically, the one of us kissing at the airport.

“Okay, good. You know,” I say and reach for Shively. “Up. Come here.”

Shively jumps to his feet and moves toward me. I take him into my arms and murmur into his ear, “Take a breath, Shiv. Focus on breathing right now. Ignore everything else. Just breathe.”

Now that he’s on his feet, I don’t miss the way everyone shifts in their seats at seeing how he’s trembling. His breathing is loud and shallow. He’s not doing well.

I gently move my fingers against the back of his head, massaging his scalp. “That’s it. Another deep breath. Good. Let it out slowly. Perfect, Shiv. That’s it.”

His grip on me doesn’t loosen. It tightens instead.

The calmer his breathing, likely the clearer his mind gets as we work through his panic.

However, the clearer his mind, the more tense his body becomes.

Panic is a fog of intense emotion with a physiological effect, and once that fog clears, the weight of the situation settles a little heavier.

I continue to ignore everyone in the room and let them bear witness to me working Shively through this near panic attack. While it isn’t something that should be shared with them, the way they approached this situation has left me no other choice.

Then again, there’s a very good chance that they addressed it delicately. Shively has been on the verge of panicking about being caught since the beginning of our relationship. He had no warning, and maybe some warning would have helped him prepare for the confrontation.

When I’m sure he’s going to be okay, I shift us so I can look at the faces around the table. I hadn’t truly acknowledged their presence once I realized Shively wasn’t doing okay.

“Hello,” I greet belatedly.

Edries grins, amused.

Sylvan bows his head slightly. “I didn’t want to interrupt, but do you need a moment?”

Shively minutely shakes his head.

“We’re good, thanks. I’m guessing that you haven’t called us in here about watching us practice,” I answer.

“We watched you practice to see if you were being treated differently than your teammates,” Marta Adams, my favorite HR lady, informs me. “You haven’t been.”

“I know,” I say, frowning.

“In light of the situation, we wanted to see it firsthand,” Sylvan says.

“You wanted to gather a case,” I correct, nodding. “That’s fine. So you see that I’m not treated any differently. Now what?”

“This isn’t appropriate for the workplace,” Banks informs me.

“I agree. That’s why no one has been aware or even guessed at our relationship because it’s not appropriate for the workplace,” I say.

It’s clear he wasn’t expecting that remark since Banks simply blinks at me.

Marta smirks but turns her attention away.

She clears her throat. “Regardless of your feelings on the situation, Banks, they are not breaking policy, and there has been no hint as to or suspicion of their relationship anywhere that hockey is the key theme.”

Okay, so we have Marta in our corner. Cool. Banks is not. I look at Chase to determine whether PR is for or against, and he appears rather indifferent. Even when I meet his eyes, there’s no indication that he cares one way or the other.

Sylvan doesn’t look overly pissed. He’s still eyeing Shively, likely concerned. Edries looks more amused than anything.

“Regardless , workplace fraternization is against policy,” Banks argues.

“You’re always in a hurry to fire people, with or without backlash,” Marta says, disapproval heavy in her voice.

Shively flinches then picks his head up to look at the room.

“You can fire me if you want. In fact, I’ll quit.

I’ll use whatever reason you give me. I want this relationship more than my job,” he says, his voice even.

His hands are still digging into my back, so I know he’s still working through some shit.

“There’s no need for that,” Edries says, and I’m surprised when everyone at the table looks at him.

It’s obvious from their expressions that he hadn’t made his position on this clear one way or another.

“As someone who has experienced meeting a partner in the most unlikely places, I understand why you chose to risk your careers for your relationship. Some people are worth the risk.”

“I agree,” I say and hug Shively to me.

“We already have one couple on this team,” Edries says, “and Winnipeg is stronger for it. Felton Badcock is in a much better place, and his game has only improved since being with Ren. I understand that there were some other circumstances removed from his life to facilitate this change, but I think we can all recognize that Felton’s improved headspace is in large part due to the support of his partner, yes? ”

Banks is the only one who doesn’t agree. There’s always someone with a stick up their ass in every company.

“Look around at the other franchises who have members of their teams involved. Buffalo has a stupidly amazing starting line that could tear apart the league if the rest of their team could live up to the type of gameplay that the trio does. Max, much like Felton but on a larger scale, has turned his shit around with Deryke’s presence in his life.

He’s not only taken gold at the last two All-Stars Games, but he’s on the verge of breaking a hockey record that hasn’t been outdone in more than two decades.

He’s not only in a better headspace, but his gameplay has improved tenfold. ”

“He’s hockey goals for wingmen,” I say, nodding.

“I don’t know how much you keep up with other teams, but Arizona recently announced that two members of their team—Etna Yreka and Keno Edgewood—are getting married.

Their games haven’t suffered but improved.

I’m sure that there could be a very interesting case study regarding this trend, but as a whole, there hasn’t been a negative impact on any team. ”

“With all due respect, Mr. Franklin, that’s not the same thing,” Banks says. “Those are teammates on level playing ground. This is a coach and a player subordinate to him.”

“In that case, I’ll go on record stating that there’s never been nor will there be any quid pro quo,” I tell him. “Which is only further evidenced by the fact that you’ve been watching practices. I’d wager a guess you’ve been paying very close attention to our games, so you know that’s the case.”

Marta nods resolutely. “Correct.”

“So the question is, are we really willing to lose our coach or one of our best players for falling in love?” Edries asks.

I feel Shively’s sharp inhale, though he doesn’t speak. Not in response to the question, anyway. “I meant what I said. I’ll leave Winnipeg before I end this relationship.”

Edries nods approvingly. “No need. With HR being aware that there is no policy against the situation, I, as owner of the team, am not going to approve any consequences.”

A part of me wonders if that’s how teams work. Does the owner truly have a say in everything? I mean, they do own the team, right?

Banks is obviously not thrilled. He sits back in his chair and crosses his arms.

“Very well,” Sylvan says, fighting a smile. “We will pretend this conversation didn’t happen, and you will continue with hockey as if you’re not together.”

“However, the secret is out,” Chase says, speaking for the first time.

“Which means two things—you need to come clean to your team and prepare for any backlash. Regardless of the fact that we are supposedly in possession of the only copies of these images, I wouldn’t be surprised if more surface in the near future, exposing your relationship.

Someone is following you and has noted that Dasan stays at your house, Shively.

It’s only conjecture at this point given the majority of these photos, but nonetheless, they’re out there, watching and waiting for a slip-up. ”

“Do you want us to make an announcement, either obvious or subtle, before that happens?” I ask.