Page 86 of Mann Hunt
When he headed out into the parking lot, a number of the guys were hanging around his car.
“Hey, Watts. Is this yours?”
“Yeah. It was a gift from…my folks.”
“Shit. The best mine ever gave me was a new hockey bag.”
“No,” another yelled out, “the best you got from them was not stuffing you into a rock-filled sack and tossing you into the river!”
The crowd laughed, and the team captain said, “I’ve got my eye on you, Watts.”
Charlie stared him down. The muscle-mutt spit at Charlie’s feet and walked away as the rest of the team dispersed to their own cars.
Charlie pulled out his keys, opened the trunk then dropped in his hockey bag. When he closed the lid Justin Neves was standing beside the car.
Charlie jumped. “Shit. You scared me.”
Justin smiled. “Yeah, well you scared me back there. Coming out to a room full of strangers like that… It took a lot of balls.”
Justin stared at Charlie then said, “I’m gay, too.”
Charlie was relieved that Justin didn’t seem to recognise him from their brief encounter at The Greek. “That’s cool. Does anyone else know?”
“Not really…other than you. And me.”
Charlie smiled. “Can I buy you a coffee?”
“Only if you promise to drive me in this beautiful beast,” he said, patting the trunk lid.
“You got a deal. Hop in.”
“Sweet!”
Charlie was about to pull out of the parking lot when he asked, “Where are we going?”
“Sammy’s if you want coffee.”
“Or we could grab a beer. I saw a pub next to the Comfort Inn where I’m staying.”
“The Comfort Inn it is!”
Charlie drove quickly back to the hotel and they made their way into the bar and sat at a booth.
Justin said, “I’ll be back. I just gotta pee.”
While Justin went to use the washroom, Charlie texted Declan.
Try-outs were interesting. Out for a beer with Justin. I’ll see what I can find out.
Declan texted back a thumbs-up. Then he sent another text.
You really can skate. I was impressed.
You were there?
Charlie wondered where Declan was now. He looked over his shoulder. The bar windows overlookedthe parking lot. Along the roadside parking spots he saw it. A white Toyota Sienna van.
Charlie’s phone chirped again.
