Page 130 of Brace and Chase

Why do people care?

Why do people suck?

“I have a contact at the office of the parent company who owns this online tabloid. They’re putting the story out tonight. Right before the game starts.”

“You’ve been all over the news recently,” Charlie murmurs. “People know you’re playing again tonight.”

“Whatever,” I mumble.

“Not whatever,” Silas screeches. “You went viral, Santa. That’s nothing to scoff at.”

I resist the urge to scoff at him just to make a point. It’s not worth it and he’s just trying to help... hopefully. I’d really hate to find out he has an issue with same-sex couples. He’s employed by the wrong people if he does.

“So what now?” I ask.

The panic is there, of course it is. Worries about tonight’s game, about the team, about Gab... All of them flit through my mind.

But I’m not a powerful man.

Not when it comes to anything other than hockey.

So yeah, I’m gonna defer to the person in the room who’s educated in dealing with this sort of bullshit.

“It’s coming out; I can’t stop it.”

“Yes, I know,” I tell him slowly. “I did not expect you to,” I clarify. “I mean, what are we gonna do about it?”

“Okay,” he says, kinda loudly. His eyes are so wide I’m a little scared he’s gonna injure himself, and he does jump a little in place, but then seems to settle. “You need to tell Gab. She’s the one everyone’s gonna look at to respond first.”

I was afraid he was going to say that.

“It’s my job to tell you you should absolutely tell her because she’s your employer. So that’s what I suggest.”

“What else?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Then we’re gonna make a plan on what you’re going to say. I would recommend you two go to the press conference after—they’re gonna ask for you no question—but I know you won’t want to do that, so?—”

“I will do it,” I interrupt.

He seems to short-circuit then, and Charlie steps out of my arms to round on me.

“No.” There’s no room for argument in his eyes, but I know better.

“Yes, I am. I am not going to let them do this to us and then not respond,” I argue.

That takes all the wind out of Charlie’s sails.

“You do not have to go with me if you do not want to,” I whisper and step closer, my voice thick with emotion. “If everyone is suddenly interested in me because of my injury then this is my problem and?—”

“Just shut up,” he snaps at me. “I’m doing it with you,” he says like it’s final.

“Okay.” Silas’s voice reminds me he’s in the room. “You have five hours until you need to be here to get ready for warmups, so I suggest you go home, talk about it, then come back and we can put a plan together with Gab.”

I nod and Charlie thanks Silas, then we walk out of there and back to the meeting room where everyone is.

“We’re gonna have to tell the team too,” Charlie mumbles.

“I know,” I whisper back. And that’s what scares me the most.

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