Page 48 of Defensive Zone

Maybe we can share the news with them then, together.

Chapter Sixteen

Carter

After I drop Zach off at the Thunder practice facility, I make my way over to Lincoln Park. There’s a gym that I started going to last year, which is the one where Nate works. I met him through Blaine’s fiancé, Alex, as they usually attend the games together and Zach’s comp seats are next to Blaine’s. We struck up a conversation when I mentioned needing a gym in Chicago that was more advanced than the one in Zach’s building, and Nate, being a personal trainer himself, hooked me up with a membership. But I haven’t been here since before we left for Hawaii last year, and I also haven’t worked out once during the off-season.

Oops.

But I’ve had a valid reason. Zach needed me, and I wasn’t going to break my word and leave him, even if it was only to go to the gym. This is the first day I’ve been apart from him since I got here, and I’m itching out of my skin to get back to him.

“A workout will be good for you,” I say to myself as I park Zach’s SUV in the gym’s parking lot.

The off-season is supposed to be for relaxing and going a little easier on yourself after pushing hard during the season, but I know if I let myself relax too much, it will be ten times harder when I need to start upping my training regime to get ready for the next one.

“He’s going to be busy, and you need to do a workout. Blow jobs and frotting do not abs make.” I roll my eyes at myself and snort.

They really should, though. That would be epic.

I’m about to switch the ignition off when a name flashes on the screen with an incoming call. Picking up my phone from the center console, I swipe to answer and bring it to my ear as I turn the engine off.

“Hey, Hayden. You good?” I greet my agent.

“All good here, bud. How are you? How’s the big guy?”

We’ve not spoken since I landed in Chicago, only exchanging texts touching briefly on Zach’s recovery.

“He’s doing good at the minute. His wrist is healing up nicely, but he’s still struggling with the headaches.”

Hayden sighs. “Oh, fuck, really? I was hoping they would have eased up by now.”

“Yeah, me too. I think if anything’s going to keep him on IR, it’ll be these damn migraines.”

Zach was placed on the team’s Long-Term Injured Reserve List as he was going to miss at least ten games and twenty-four calendar days of the season with his broken wrist. While I know the Thunder are hoping to get him back in a few weeks, if these headaches don’t subside, he could potentially be out for the rest of the season.

I’m worried about him. And if there was ever a time I wished to be proven wrong, it’s now.

“Damn, that sucks. But how about you? Are you holding up all right?”

A smile tugs at my lips. If I ignore the fact Zach’s hurting and my last season was the worst I’ve ever had, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

Ghosting my fingers over my bottom lip, I’m pretty sure he can sense the smile in my voice when I say, “I’m really good.”

“Oh, boy,” Hayden chortles. “Come on, tell me everything. That sounded like a ‘getting laid often’ kinda good. Who is she?”

“He,” I quickly correct, then grimace. We haven’t exactly discussed what we’re going to tell people, or if we’re telling people at all right now.

There’s a beat of silence before Hayden’s laughter filters through the line. “Fuckin’ hell, Lockwood. Finally, fuckingfinally! I have been waiting for this day to come for years.”

A swarm of embarrassment floods my veins. “Don’t tell me you knew, too.”

“It wasn’t so much as knowing; more like I had this feeling there was something going on between you two. Let’s face it, you spend more time together than a married couple does. I mean, shit, you were together more than I was with my ex-wife. I always assumed you were either having a secret relationship, or it was some unrequited love and the other was in denial.”

Sighing, I rest my head against the headrest and close my eyes. I know Hayden means well and his words are not meant to hurt me, but knowing that other people seemed to know about Zach’s feelings for me while I had no clue makes me feel like the biggest asshole.

“It seems everyone knew except me,” I say, echoing my thoughts.

“Hey, sometimes it’s all about divine timing, right? At least you know now, but…” He trails off. “Do I need to startapproaching your contract from a different angle? You know the trade window opens soon…”

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