“That’s great. I’m proud of you.” He snapped his fingers, as if a thought had suddenly occurred to him. “Hey. Let me add you to a group chat I’m in. You remember that photoshoot I did forQueervolutionmagazine? It’s those guys. All pro athletes who are out. They’re discreet, too. They won’t say anything about the things that are discussed in the chat.”
I groaned. “Brayden. You know how I feel about group chats. The only ones I can deal with are team chats and the one we have with Mum and Dad.”
Already tapping at his phone, he brushed my words aside. “You can keep it muted. You just might find it useful. You know. These guys have been through some of the same things you might experience when you go back to England.”
“Fine.”
The next moment, my phone buzzed, and taking in Brayden’s expectant expression, I sighed, opening up the text thread I’d been added to.
Brayden:
Everyone, I’ve added my brother Jude to the chat. He’s a football player (soccer to those of you not from the UK) in the Premier League
Be nice or I’ll body check you *kiss emoji*
My phone buzzed in my hand, messages appearing on the screen.
Camden:
Good to have you here, mate. Reach out if you need anything
Brayden:
Camden plays rugby for Exeter
Cosmo:
Finally someone who might be as cool as me
The Cosmo guy followed up his message with a GIF of Bruce Willis inDie Hard, saying “Welcome to the party, pal.”
I typed out a quick reply.
Me:
Hi everyone. It’s good to meet you all. I should warn you that I’m usually a lurker in group chats, but thanks for having me
I added a couple of grinning emojis before exiting out of the chat and placing my phone down on the table. “Happy now?”
Brayden nodded. “Yeah. They’re a good bunch. One of them you might even know—Connor Bunton. He plays football for a League One team in England.”
I racked my brain. The name sounded familiar. “Oh, yeah. I think I know who you mean. I’ve never spoken to him, but I’m pretty sure he played on the same team as one of my teammates at some point.” I paused. “My former teammates, I mean.”
“Speaking of teammates, when do you need to be back? Please tell me you’re staying for the rest of the playoffs.”
“I am,” I assured him. “I’ve already had my medical clearance here, and they don’t need me for anything else until the end of the month. So I’ve got a bit of time still.”
“Good. Because when we win this thing—” He grinned, his eyes shining. “—it’s going to be the biggest celebration Calgary’s ever seen. You need to be here for it.”
“I will.”
We talked for another forty minutes or so, keeping the conversation light and easy, but eventually, Brayden sighed.
“I’d better go. I’ve got a team meeting in an hour, then I need to get an early night. Big day tomorrow.”
“Yeah, of course. Get some rest.” I stood to hug him goodbye. “I’m proud of you, you know. You and the team. Whatever happens.”
16
