Page 22 of Cross Checks

Coach Hoss sighed and looked out over the ice. “It was, but I got to talk to a solid therapist while I was in rehab for the bad habits. I didn’t have to stick to substances. He listened to me when I finally opened up about being gay.”

“But coming out publicly, that couldn’t happen in a rehab facility. Could it?”

“Well, I guess I could have contacted some wet-behind-the-ears reporter, but I waited until I was out of rehab.”

“And then?” I asked.

“At first, I just stopped hiding it, but when the Cougars decided to take a chance on me, this old rival walked through the door. He was my new boss.”

My eyes opened wide. “Coach Z?”

“You bet, and the first time he saw me here in Cold Pines, I was wearing an old mascot uniform they don’t use anymore.”

I laughed. “I remember that. It was hilarious.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Coach Hoss rubbed his chin. “You were already here, Taylor. Damn, you look so young. That must mean I’m getting old.”

“You and Coach Z are a good couple.”

“Oh, thanks. You know, Pete and I go way back. The reporters wrote stories about our rivalry, and he always got under my skin.”

I nodded and encouraged him to keep telling his story. You rarely got to hear such a grand love story straight from one of the sources.

“I always secretly admired him,” Coach Hoss said, “and that worried me when the Cougars hired him. How could I hide that bulge in my jeans while I was supposed to be his sworn rival.”

I laughed out loud.

“You know most of the rest. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other, and eventually, we shared our new status with the team.”

“You make it all sound so easy.”

Coach Hoss reached up and raked his fingers through his hair. “Not easy. Coming out in professional hockey is still a pretty new thing. We both thought we were taking a big risk, but hiding wasn’t an option anymore. We discussed buying a cabin up north in the woods if everything went pear-shaped.”

“Always good to have a backup plan.”

“You’re not kidding, but then it all went well. It surprised us. Our players—that would mean you, Eddie, Jensen, and the rest—accepted us with open arms.”

“And in town?” I asked.

He laughed. “You should have seen those old, grizzled fishermen at Lou’s. One day, I was there with Pete. He had a beer, and I drank my usual post-rehab Diet Coke. Those old guys usually talked about fishing or the weather, and they are hard of hearing, so half the bar could hear their words.”

I grinned. I’d seen the guys he described, and they always made me smile. They represented the heritage of Cold Pines. It first came into existence as a fishing village.

“The particular day, they started talking about Pete and me,” continued Coach Hoss. “I was ready to bury my head in my hands, but you know what? It was all good stuff. I remember a specific line that has stayed with me. ‘If those two can find happiness in this tough world, good for them.’”

I wanted to applaud. The story reassured me. I probably had nothing to fear in Cold Pines.

Coach Hoss clapped a thick, heavy hand on my shoulder. “So that’s my story, and I’m confident you’ll find your way, Taylor. Just remember, if you need help, you’re not alone. Consider Pete and me on your side, and I bet most, if not all, of your teammates would go to bat for you, too.”

“Damn, thanks, Coach. This has been helpful. I like that you’re more than just the guy who slams us with impossible drills on the ice.”

He grinned. “All of that and more.”

After my heart-to-heart with Coach Hoss, I caught up with Jensen. He was still lingering in the locker room, his gear half-packed.

“Hey, bud, what’s up? You look like you lost your best hockey stick.”

He looked up and tried to offer a small smile. “Nah, I was just thinking about Beth. We had another date last night.”

---