“I didn’t say absolutelynone. But it’s going to be next to impossible to keep things going when one person wants something and the other is totally against it. Trust me, you don’t have to be the gay guy in class to figure that out.”
He was right. I realized just then how few open gay people I’d ever discussed the topic with. Maybe I’d gone to him hoping like hell that he would have the answers I needed but knowing deep down that it wouldn’t be so easy.
“Thanks anyway,” I said, as we got up from the table.
“No problem. You know, I’ve always wanted to date a hockey player. I might have to go find myself one. What’s Ryan Detenbeck doing? Or Braxton Wilson?”
I smiled. “I don’t know, but I’ll be glad to send them your best.”
“I can’t tell you the things I’d like to do with a godly hockey player. Hey, can I ask you something?”
“What’s that?”
“What’s it like to shower with all those hockey players? Like, how do you stop yourself from getting an erection?”
I couldn’t help laughing again. This Austin Gunn kid was the same outside the classroom as he was in it.
“I don’t know, dude,” I said. “I just try to think real hard…and keep the water ice cold.”
“That’s the only way I would ever survive that, hon.”
Despite the laughter, I found it hard not to feel a little depressed. I mean, Austin hadn’t meant to burst my balloon. He was just being honest. In a weird way, that was still more valuable than anything.
Just before we parted ways, I said, “You won’t go around saying anything about my friend and his boyfriend, will you?”
He eyed me with that same cheeky look he’d worn through most of our meeting.
“Oh hon, it’s not for me or anyone else to out you. You’ve got to do it in your own way and in your own good time.”
This time, I didn’t bother correcting him.
36
KAYDEN
Igot news so good I nearly pissed my pants when I heard it. I was contacted by a scout from an NHL team. Like,theNational Hockey League. A guy named Leon Purvis who once played for the Leafs himself. Anyway, Leon said he’d been watching the Larkin Lions ever since the team really caught fire early in the season. Said he’d really admired our ability to keep up the heat.
Leon said he’d never seen a young player with my grit and determination. He said I have what it takes to make it big, and he didn’t want to see my talent wasted. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to act like the arrogant prick Erik De Ruiter has made me out to be, but I can’t help my excitement. Anyway, this Leon Purvis dude said I would be a great fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs but couldn’t commit to anything yet, though I was “on the radar.” I would have to keep up the exceptional performance—his words, not mine—and the final decision would come down to team executives on draft day.
He then said between him and me that he thought my chances of getting drafted were excellent. Even the idea of the NHL taking notice infused a new energy into me, and I couldbarely sit or hold a thought in my head. For a moment, I even forgot about the shit going on between Erik and me.
I sure hadn’t anticipated my boyfriend’s reaction, though.
“You’re serious?” he asked.
The total lack of enthusiasm and spirit in his voice told me loud and clear he didn’t really mean that. “You know how these things work,” I said. “A scout wouldn’t be coming to me about this directly unless I had a serious chance.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, dude. You could be in for a serious letdown.”
“Come on, I’m not getting ahead of myself. I know it’s not ironclad. And sure, I would start at the bottom of the minors, but I can work my way up to the big leagues in no time. They’ve seen how I’ve turned the Larkin Lions around.”
“Howweturned the Larkin Lions around.”
“You know what I mean, bro. How I turned the Larkin Lions around.”
His eyes fell shut and he shook his head a little like I was impossible. Nothing I said would please him.
“All I’m saying is that I’ve made a huge contribution to this hockey team. It’s being noticed. Aren’t you happy to hear that?”
