Page 36 of Icebreaker
"As am I, and I won't tolerate dragging my name through the mud to do that."
After practice, the locker room was unusually quiet, tension filling the air. While I undressed, whispers from another corner reached my ears.
"Did you see Axel at the press conference on TV during that whole Dante mess?" Tom, our backup goalie, tugged off a skate with a frown. "The guy was all over the place, and afterward, he couldn't keep his head in the game."
Rick, a rookie forward, tried to dampen the flames. "Come on, man. I was just a kid then, but even I could tell Dante was throwing him under the bus. The feeding frenzy of the media would have shaken anybody."
"Yeah, but now this thing with Quinn…I don't know." Tom laid out his skepticism in clear terms. "It feels like he's playing with fire. Quinn on his own is solid—killer slapshot—but facing more reporters digging around as young as he is? I'm not sure it sounds fair to me."
"Look, maybe Quinn hasn't been through the grinder like Axel, but he's got a good head on his shoulders, and he's an adult," Rick countered. He wrapped a towel around his waist and stood. "Axel's been a lot more focused lately, too. Quinn might be good for him."
Tom snorted. "Focused is one thing, but these stories can blow up overnight. One minute, it's just locker room whispers; the next, it's front-page news. If we get sucked into that, it will rock the team's vibe."
"Maybe it's about time we stopped feeding the drama and started backing our own guys," Rich shot back as he headed for the showers. They're not just faces on tabloid papers; they're our teammates. Everybody deserves a chance to be happy, right?"
Tom still looked skeptical, but he backed off a bit. "Yeah, happiness is good for everybody, but it can have a cost. I hope they're on solid ground, or we're all in for a long season."
I grunted and slammed my stick against my stall. The loud thunk echoed through the room. Heads turned, and wide, apprehensive eyes stared at me.
Quinn materialized at my shoulder, gently touching it. He soothed me with his appearance. "Don't let it get under your skin. The first time we agreed to explore together, we knew it wouldn't always be smooth sailing."
"But you've heard all that chatter, right?"
Quinn squeezed my shoulder and smiled. "Of course, I have, and I get it. It's like we can't beuswithout turning it all into ESPN headlines, but Axel, it's even better in the end when we have to fight hard for it. You should know that from all your hockey experience."
"Yeah, I do." He chuckled with little joy in the sound. "It's just…the whispers, the looks—they get to me sometimes. It drags me back to my memories of the chaos with Dante all over again, but I know I've dragged you into it this time."
"Look, we won't let anybody tell us how to live our lives or who to love. Too many men before us faced that. It's over…now."
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "You always know what to say. Thanks."
Quinn grinned back at me, bumping his shoulder against mine. "It's my superpower, and having an incredibly stubborn boyfriend does help sharpen my skills."
Before I could say anything more, Coach's voice echoed across the locker room. "Karlsson! My office, pronto."
I glanced at Quinn.What now?I thought Coach was on our side. Was he about to change his spots?
He greeted me at the office door with an expression I couldn't read. When he motioned me to sit, I plopped myself down without taking my eyes off his face.
"There's a lot of buzz out there, Axel," he began. "But it's not about hockey. It's about you and Quinn."
I nodded. "I know that, but there's nothing to discuss about it. Quinn and I are professionals. We won't let our personal lives get in the team's way."
Coach leaned back and wove his fingers together. "I don't doubt that's what you want to do, but I'm not sure you're completely in control. We were already being watched closely as an expansion outfit. We can't afford any distractions."
I bristled at the insinuation. "With all due respect, my relationship with Quinn is not a distraction. It's an essential part of who I am, and I refuse to apologize for that."
Coach's gaze softened. "I'm not asking for an apology; you know I support you, at least I hope you do. I'm just urging that you approach everything with caution. The media, fans, and even some of your teammates…have opinions. You need to steel yourself for that."
I took a deep breath. "I understand and appreciate your concern, but I won't allow any of them to tell me how to live my life. Not anymore."
Coach smiled. "I know you won't. It wouldn't be like you. I expect you to chart your own course as always, but remember, your team is on your side. Lean on them when you need to."
When I left the office, the locker room was mostly empty. Quinn was waiting, sitting on the bench and fiddling with his phone. He looked up. "Good work today…on and off the ice."
"Thanks. Regardless of what else is going on, it always feels right to be on skates." I sat on the bench at his side.
My phone suddenly buzzed. I wasn't expecting any calls. The word "Dad" appeared on the screen when I pulled it out. My gut instantly twisted into a knot as I answered.
