Page 7 of Reckless On Ice

“I’m sorry, Knox. It sounds like a horrible few years. Did it ever get better?”

“Not in high school, not with Ryder. I think once he established himself as a bully to ensure everyone knew we weren’t together, it was too hard to be anything else or risk that situation coming up again for him. We went to different colleges, thankfully, and the drama didn’t seem to follow me, so I finally got to breathe again and feel like myself with my team.”

“What do you mean by your team? Wasn't it the hockey team that was the problem in high school?” Lilah’s eyebrows knit together, and I realize my mistake.

“It was an asshole on the hockey team who started the whole thing, but when someone insinuates you’re gay, and you’re an athlete who by necessity has to spend a lot of time in the locker room with your team, word gets around. Ryderhelpfully pointed out one unfortunate incident in the locker room when my body wasn’t working in my favor, and I got a reputation for liking watching boys change. So, I had to change by myself, out of view of my team, or the rest of my gym class, all four years of school, to avoid anyone thinking I was looking at them. I didn’t want to make things weird for anyone. Or, weirder, because fuck, that was hard when the showers are communal and I’m the tallest guy on the team, trying to keep to myself.”

“God, that sounds awful,” Lilah says, twirling a coconut shrimp tail between her fingers. “I know people are the absolute worst, and kids are shit, but this sounds beyond bad. How did you make it through?”

I stare at my fingers twisting the stem of my once again empty glass. How real do I get, how raw, in my attempts to bare my soul now to make Ryder’s stupid, homophobic comments make sense? But the truth is, he should be the one explaining himself. I shouldn’t have to keep covering for him.

“One day at a time and with different friends, that’s how.” I pull the plate of shrimp toward me and pop one in my mouth, chewing quickly before finishing. “I hung out mostly with girls after that. And I dated a lot. You can believe my girlfriends didn’t care if I was obsessed with them. They liked a six-foot-six dude rushing to their defense, fussing over them, and ensuring they were okay if even the smallest thing happened. I got to continue being the concerned, caring friend I am as long as I channeled that energy to the proper recipients.So that’s why I’ve always had more female friends than male friends.”

“We are the superior sex, honestly,” Lilah says, raising her glass to me. “I’m glad you didn’t have to change, and you found people who accepted you for who you are.”

“Well, I didn’t even know who I was in high school, but that’s a story for another day. I think we got through the one that makes Ryder’s comments make sense. I won't ever excuse what he said because that was shitty and he’s an asshole, but if you were wondering why he would target me, of all people, now you know.”

Lilah’s eyes grow soft, melting into dark pools of whiskey as she looks at me. “Thanks for sharing that with me, Knox. I appreciate it, and I know it can't be easy to open yourself up to a stranger. I hope this means we’re friends now, and I’ll have a six-foot-six obsessed man at the ready should I need one.”

I roll my eyes playfully. “Of course. You think I’d dangle that bit of information in front of you and not be offering you the same, especially after asking you out and insisting it was just as friends?”

We both laugh, and I feel lighter now, thankfully. The server brings my third pink drink and another beer for Lilah, taking away our empty glasses and plates.

“I think you can have the upper hand with a carefully crafted statement that runs in a professional setting. He threw some serious shade. You're lucky enough to have a sports reporter as a new bestie who can make that happen.” Lilah’s grin isdiabolical, and her words are a balm to the part of me that much wants to see every mean person who had some part in hurting me get what’s coming to them, but that’s not for me to make happen. I don't believe in retribution. That’s what karma is for.

“I don’t think I need to say anything. There’s so much toxic masculinity in sports as it is, there’s no need to add any extra just to get views or rile people up. Making derogatory and inflammatory comments because someone needs to make others feel small to feel better about themselves is classic bullying behavior. It says more about the character of the person making the comments than who they are speaking about, regardless of the topic.”

“That’s a perfect shot across the bow without being a direct hit. We can use exactly that!” Lilah says excitedly, pulling up a notes app and beginning her article.

Looks like I’m making a statement after all.

Five

Ryder

“What the actual fuck?” I growl, pulling off the paper taped to my door. I scan it, unlock the door, and let myself in, my hands shaking in fury. An eviction notice? Really? Fordiscriminatory harassment,at that. When was I discriminatory to my landlord? I don’t think I’ve ever evenmetmy landlord to harass them.

I don’t have time for this. The season is picking up, and I need a solid, secure living situation. I can’t be looking for something now. This spot took weeks over the summer to find and a crew to move into. I don't have weeks. I have forty-eight hours.

I throw my gym bag on the couch and grabmy phone, dialing the number on the paper.

“Hello?”

“Is this Venman Properties?” I ask, trying like hell to keep the anger from my tone so I can get to the bottom of this.

“Yes, this is Jonathan Venman speaking,” he answers cautiously. “Who might this be?”

“This is Ryder Kingston. I came home to an eviction notice on my door at fifty-seven-oh-three Peachtree Street, and I wanted to understand what sort of discrimination and harassment you felt you’ve experienced for me to be evicted from this residence.”

“Ah, Mr. Kingston. We evicted you because we became aware of your homophobic statements made yesterday that put you in breach of your lease agreement. I served your eviction notice this morning. Section four, clause three of your agreement states that all tenants will abide by a code of conduct that includes tolerance of all sexualities and ways of life so as not to belittle or harass others in public or in private while a tenant. You clearly do not live by that code of conduct, and I am rescinding your tenancy.”

“You can’t be serious. You saw something that was taken out of context and put online without my consent. Where’s the outrage at my privacy that was breached?” I ask, my voice rising with my indignation. “I’m not homophobic,” I insist.

“Unfortunately, Mr. Kingston, your statements were telling and said more about your internalized biases than you may acknowledge. Regardless, that video was enough to revokeyour tenancy. This is a high-class establishment, and that sort of behavior is not tolerated by any of our tenants. You have forty-eight hours to leave the premises before further legal action is taken against you. Oh, and go Condors.”

He ends the call without so much as a goodbye, and I’m left holding the phone without the resolution I was hoping for. I'm realizing my reckless words from the other day while shooting the shit with the boys are having far-reaching consequences. That, and Knox Contraire is fucking up my life without even being a part of it this time.

“Motherfucker!” I shout. This is so fucked. What the hell am I supposed to do? I hit another number and wait as the phone rings.

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