Page 82 of Breakaway Goals
Hayes laughed, because of course Zach would just now be realizing this. He could be so jaded and bitter about hockey, but also incredibly naive.
“Imagine that,” Hayes teased.
“I mean it,” Zach insisted. “And I’m sure Gavin would say something too. You know they’re always trying to get him on podcasts and to give quotes.”
“I know,” Hayes said softly. It meant a lot that they both had his back, even though Hayes felt like he’d only ever earnedZach’s loyalty. Gavin’s came because he was in love with Zach and if Zach told him, buckle up, we’re going to space, he’d ask how many nights they should be packing for.
A minute later, Gavin’s head ducked into the frame and Hayes said a quick hello before he let them both go.
His head hit the back of his lounger as he set the phone down next to him.
He’d known, from the moment management told him that Finn would be coming up to the Sentinels from their AHL affiliate, that things were going to get weird.
But he’d never imagined they’d already be atthislevel of weird.
His phone dinged again then again, and again. Hayes groaned and rolled over, glancing at the screen. The team group chat, quiet for hours because of the off day, had suddenly come to life.
Jasper, one of Hayes’ A’s, and the second line center, was trying to get a group to go out to dinner. Several of the single guys had replied in the affirmative. Including Finn.
Hayes groaned again. He should go. This was part of his responsibility. Not just to keep an eye on things but to make sure the rookies felt included in team activities.
He typed his affirmative and hoped, really fucking hard, that he wasn’t going to regret this.
“I didn’t think you’d come out tonight,” Jasper said as he leaned back in his chair, looking at Hayes with a watchfulness that made him sort of uncomfortable.
Made him wonder if, at any point in the last month, he’d given himself away.
“Why?” It was stupid to ask but Hayes had to know.
“You’ve been quiet this month.” And then Jasper glanced down the table at where Finn was teasing Noah, one of the older vets who’d just had a nasty breakup. “And I’m sure that’s pretty weird for you too.”
Hayes froze. He hadn’t thought anyone knew about him and Morgan—especially Jasper, who hadn’t even been at the tournament six years ago. “What do you mean?” he asked carefully.
“How many times have you been compared to his dad? Hundreds?” Jasper shrugged. “And now he’s here and everyone’s gonna be bringing that shit up again. You don’t need thatnext oneorchosen oneshit in your life.”
Jasper was not wrong.
“A lot,” Hayes said wryly.
“And that’s gotta be uncomfortable.”
It was even more uncomfortable than Jasper knew.
“It sucks, sometimes,” Hayes admitted. “But I don’t want to take it out on Finn. Not his fault, you know?”
“No, no,” Jasper said, leaning forward and dropping his voice. “You don’t. You’re great with him, but then I don’t have to tell you that. You know how to be a C for this team. But I’m not surprised it’s kind of a burden. That you’ve got a lot on your mind. All that plus the contract shit and everything.”
“Barty’s getting the contract done.” It was one thing to tell Zach, who wasn’t even in the NHL anymore, about his contract fears, but he wasn’t going to put Jasper in a difficult position of knowing too much about it. That was one of the things he’d learned about being the captain in the last few years—he occupied a particular position of leadership, and he couldn’t let even friends like Jasper in too close.
“Not surprised.” Jasper smiled. Like of course Hayes was going to get an extension, and he’d stay with the Sentinels. That felt good, and it might have even been reassuring, if Barty hadn’t told him how it wasreallygoing.
“Lars thought,” Jasper continued, referring to Hayes’ other alternate captain, after the waitress arrived to drop off their drink orders, “that maybe you were dating again.”
“Me? Nah. Not during the season.”
Jasper shot him a shrewd look. “Not ever, really. Not since that last guy. Alexander, that was his name, right?”
Yep, that had been his name. Hayes would always be a little pissed that their names would be connected together forever, because he was essentially the reason Hayes had come out. Then less than four months later, after Hayes had blown up the closet to make him happy, Alexander had decided that he didn’t want to deal with it anymore.
