Him

It’s been a long day of coaching.

Pat runs a two-week intensive at the end of camp, and we really fill the place up. Since the dorm is jam-packed, the kids who show up stay in condos with their parents. We max out our ice time, and we max out our waking hours.

It’s tough, but I love it.

I’m on pins and needles all day, though, because Wes has his meeting with the PR guy. So after the last session of the day, I run back to the dorm. This morning I intentionally left my phone in the room so I wouldn’t spend the day checking it.

There’s something in front of my door. It’s a FedEx package. When I pick it up, it’s weightless.

I unlock the door and push inside my mostly empty room. Pat is still a coach short, which means it’s a good thing I came back to help him.

Checking the phone is the first thing I do. There aren’t any voicemails, and the only email is a solicitation for discount sunglasses. So I turn my attention to the package, tearing off the strip at the edge and opening the envelope.

A gift box falls out—the same one I recently filled with purple Skittles. I yank open the top and find a piece of paper inside, grinning when I see a single purple Skittle taped to the page.

It’s the result of recent medical tests on Mr. Ryan E. Wesley, Jr. Every STD known to man is listed there, and the word “negative” appears after each one.

He’s scribbled something at the bottom: I was going to fill this box with purple condoms, but then I had a better idea.

Annnnd now I’m horny as well as impatient.

So I commence pacing the room.

When the email program on my phone pings a few minutes later, I yank it out of my pocket to read the message.

But it’s not from Wes.

Dear Coach Canning,

I can’t believe that I didn’t get to finish the session with you. I’m still not speaking to my father, either. Working with you has been the best summer of my life, and I’m pissed that it ended on a bitter note.

My team for this year is the Storm Sharks U18. Here’s the link, just in case you were ever curious about my stats. I think they’re about to improve, and it’s all because of you.

Sincerely,

John Killfeather, Jr.

I read the email twice. And then I read it one more time. It doesn’t say a thing about Wes and me, and there aren’t any slurs. Just a kid who wants to play hockey, and knows enough to say thank you to the people who’ve tried to help him.

Damn, I’m proud of this email. And I feel just a little more optimistic about life than I did five minutes ago.

I tap out a quick response, because I sure don’t want to forget.

Killfeather—you are an amazing goalie and it was my pleasure to work with you this summer. Of course I’ll check out your stats as the winter progresses. You’re going to rock this season.

Sincerely, Jamie Canning

Then I go back to pacing and worrying about Wes. What if they show him the door, and I’m not even there for him?

And where in Lake Placid can I get a blood test, like, tomorrow?

When my phone rings, I jump about a foot, then hurriedly swipe to answer. “Hey babe! You okay? What happened?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” His husky voice slides into my ear and wraps around my heart. I can hear that he’s out on the street somewhere, and I wonder what he’ll be able to tell me. “Damn, I wish you were here right now,” he says.

I brace myself.

“I’d take you out to this Italian restaurant on Queen Street that the guys love. I’m starving and I want to tell you every word of the trippy conversation I just had.”

I’m practically dizzy with stress right now. “What kind of conversation?”

“The good kind,” he assures me.

My heart rate drops one notch, but I’m still afraid to be hopeful. Because it seems impossible to believe a high-profile NHL team would shrug off Wes’s confession. None of this computes.

“But… wouldn’t we avoid the places where your team likes to eat?” I ask slowly. “You know that means people will see us, right?”

“Yeah, but some day soon that’s not going to matter.”

“Really?” I want a guarantee. I want a notarized document.

I want a Valium. Or a blowjob. Or both.

“I’m having a really good day,” Wes whispers.

My blood pressure drops again. “I’m glad,” I whisper back.

“I love you,” he adds.

“I know.”

Wes laughs in my ear, and the happy sound of it is what convinces me we might be okay.