Page 10 of The Official Problem
Oui, Oui! C’est Magnifique
She was committing to the bit.
Matthieu
Grand-père would be rolling in his grave if he knew you could only speak French via Google Translate.
Julie
Pot kettle noir. Or however you Americans say.
Matthieu
I’m Canadian. Fuck you very much.
French Canadian, I should add.
Julie
Such language in front of ze lady.
Your father is Canadian, and our mother is half French. That doesn’t count. The only way there’s French Canadian DNA in you is if you’ve already met a man in Montreal.
Matthieu was starting to get the feeling his sister was several heavy pours into a bottle of wine.
Matthieu
Goodnight, Julie.
Julie
Goodnight! Je t’aime xx.
FOUR
KIERAN
September 2023 - Newark
On the Thursday before training camp, Kieran arrived at what would be his home for the next five years, only to discover New Jersey was, unfortunately, still New Jersey. He couldn’t quite figure out how he’d ended up here, a foolish thought, considering it was ultimately his decision. That summer, Kieran and Cole sat down over lunch to review the three offers he’d received from teams to join their rosters.
The first came from Seattle, the most logical choice given Kieran was already a seasoned player with the team. He had great chemistry with the coaching staff and a home in the area. However, as Cole predicted, the offer was below Kieran’s worth and lacked the no-trade clause he wanted.
Kieran didn’t particularly care about being traded. He’d moved across the country to Jersey on barely a moment’s notice, yet knowing where he’d call home for the next few years was appealing. It also struck a chord with Cole’s romantic belief that it was time for Kieran to settle down, though he found the idea laughable.
Still, the whole thing left a bad taste in his mouth. This sort of thing wasn’t unusual in the league, yet Kieran would be lying if he said it didn’t sting. He’d put in five solid years with Seattle, rarely injured, always high-scoring, an assistant captain, and well-liked by his teammates. But with vets eating up the salary cap and new talent coming in, Kieran got tossed the scraps.
The second offer came from Nashville, and it was everything Kieran could ask for. The money wasn’t just right; it was unbelievable, and the two-year contract was decent for a player his age. It also included the no-trade clause he wanted, and Nashville made it clear that, while the contract was a trial period, if Kieran played like he had in the past, an extension was basically guaranteed. The city also had a surprisingly decent LGBTQ+ scene, a definite plus. On paper, it was the best option.
Then there was New Jersey. The money was less than Nashville but still more than Kieran had ever made in Seattle. The contract longer—five years guaranteed—again with a no-trade clause, meaning he’d have a team to call home until he was thirty-six and ready for retirement.
Sure, some played longer, but finishing his career with one team was appealing. It meant hanging up his skates with dignity instead of bouncing from team to team, chasing one last year. Kieran tried not to get ahead of himself. Retirement was a long way off, and New Jersey wasn’t exactly his dream destination.
Still, New York City was right there, about as close to a gay paradise as you could find in the Northeast. He’d considered living in the city until finding a place last-minute proved to be a nightmare. He opted for a townhouse a short drive from the arena, and much to his relief, it came fully furnished.
Standing in the open-plan kitchen and living room, Kieran tried to convince himself this was home even though he felt like a trespasser. The place was modern and tastefully done, though a little boring. He missed his penthouse apartment in Seattle.It had taken years to decorate and furnish it the way he’d envisioned his dream home when he first joined the NHL. It had been a bachelor pad in every sense, and now the thought of the couple moving in next week, sitting on his old furniture, sleeping in what had once been his bed, left him homesick.
Kieran’s phone buzzed with a text.
