Chapter Twenty-Four

The Manhattan Hunters’ front office was daunting.

Dan never liked being called up to the offices, even when it was for something innocuous. He had been in the NHL long enough to know that no-trade clauses could be waived, and nobody was safe in a franchise for long. Any call to speak to someone from the office was enough to have his hands clammy and throat tight.

The door at the end of the corridor opened and Chris entered, bag on one shoulder, fitted suit immaculate. “Dan.”

Dan stood slowly, holding out a hand for Chris to shake. Only their second meeting, and Dan still found himself awkward and embarrassed around him. Given the subject of this meeting, it probably suited the mood. “Thanks for coming.”

Chris shrugged, sliding smoothly into the chair next to Dan’s. “I would be an irresponsible agent if I didn’t handle this for you.”

“I’m worried,” Dan said quietly.

When Dan had been traded to the Manhattan Hunters, the team itself hadn’t been the problem. It wouldn’t have mattered where he ended up, he would have been irritated with the choice. However, they happened to be the hometown team and Dan had resented them on principle.

Ian had been drafted to the team straight out of the youth leagues and had nothing but good things to say about them. They handled disputes well and were generally looked upon favorably by the NHL. Dan was hoping that would work in their favor.

“Gary Poirier is a good man,” Chris said sounding certain. “I’ve met with him a couple of times. He’s fair and he’ll do what he can to help.”

“He’s not the only man to make decisions,” Dan pointed out. “I understand what you’re saying, it’s just hard not to panic.”

Chris nodded, stretching out his legs. “I can’t promise that everything will work out Dan because I can’t know. I can promise that I’ll do my best to get everything working smoothly.”

“I appreciate that.”

Silence fell for a while, Chris tapping away on his phone and Dan staring at Poirier’s door, willing it to open. It was a catch-22; he wanted the meeting to be over, but he didn’t want to have to suffer the meeting itself—or the consequences of the meeting.

Dan rubbed his hands over his face, only looking up when Poirier opened his door, giving them a smile.

“Dan, Chris. Please, come in.”

Dan waited for Chris to stand first, shaking Poirier’s hand, and followed slowly, jerking up. As soon as the door shut behind him there would be no mistake. Taking a deep breath, thinking of Bobby, Helena, his family, he forced himself to take the last few steps into the room.

“So,” Poirier – Gary – said. He sat behind his desk, hands clasped in front of him. There was nobody else in the room and Dan didn’t know what to make of that. “Chris said you wanted to talk to me?”

Dan wiped his hands on his jeans. He looked at Chris sideways, wondering if he was supposed to talk, or if he should leave it to Chris. When Chris gave him a quick nod, Dan took a deep breath. “I have something I want to do. It’s going to affect the team.”

Poirier looked between them, brow furrowed in confusion.

“I want to come out,” Dan said quickly. He met Poirier’s eyes and tried to look certain because he didn’t feel it.

“Right,” Poirier said. His face was giving nothing away and panic was starting to settle in Dan’s stomach.

Thankfully, Chris stepped in, smoothly entering the conversation. “This is obviously Dan’s decision. We understand there will be repercussions throughout the league, and I hope that this won’t give you cause to reconsider your arrangement with Dan.”

Poirier looked shell-shocked, rubbing at his forehead. Being GM wasn’t an easy job, Dan knew that for a fact, didn’t think he could ever do it. “Right.”

It seemed to be the only word he was capable of.

“I hope you don’t think I’m making the wrong move,” Dan said quietly.

“It’s none of my business, son,” Poirier said, and though he was being honest, Dan didn’t doubt that wouldn’t make everything all right with the team. “The team will stand behind you.”

“Just like that?” Dan said, raising his eyebrows.

“If this is what you want to do,” Poirier explained, trying to keep his expression light. “The organization isn’t going to stop you. There will be discussions – I can’t pretend there won’t – but we’re not going to actively try and stop you.”

Dan tried to pay attention to the rest of the conversation, to Poirier’s words, but he couldn’t make himself focus. His hands were shaking and no amount of clenching them would make it stop. Chris was batting for him, that much Dan knew, but he couldn’t decide whether it was working in his favor.

“So,” Chris said eventually. “I think that’s as much as we can work out now.”

Jerking his head up, Dan looked between them. “Sorry.”

Poirier’s smile was kind. “I understand this must be difficult for you, Dan. Chris has the details and we’ll be hashing them out with him. We’ll have you liaise with the PR team to come up with a statement.”

A headache was starting to form. “I don’t know exactly what I want to say. I just want to play hockey.”

That, at least, Poirier could identify with. “And we’ll let you keep doing that. Show up for your games, and the rest will work itself out.”

Dan didn’t think that was true, but he wanted out of the office. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

Standing on the other side of the door, Chris at his side and Dan still a Hunter, he wasn’t quite sure how to feel.

“Did that go okay?”

Chris shrugged, rubbing at his eyebrow. “I’m not sure. Apparently. They seem willing to work with us – with you – on coming out and making sure you’re protected. Nobody’s ever had to deal with something like this, so I think you’ve thrown them for a loop.”

They weren’t the only one.

“I need to go home,” Dan said, everything getting to him. He gave Chris a tired smile and held out his hand. “Thanks for your help. You’ll probably deserve a raise after this.”

Chris grinned. “Let’s navigate it first, then we’ll talk monetary reward.”

Dan laughed, waiting until the door closed behind him before sinking into the chairs outside Poirier’s office. He hoped nobody came out for a minute, because he felt like he was going to have a panic attack. His breath was tight in his chest, legs and hands shaking, and he took deep breaths, forcing himself to get a grip.

“Come on, Matthews.” Dan closed his eyes, forcing himself to take it slow.

Eventually, his breathing evened out and he could stand without wanting to fall over. There were a few people walking throughout the building, equipment guys, other guys from the front office, and some of the trainers. Dan wondered if a training bout would clear his head but couldn’t imagine working out anywhere except his own building while he was still freaking out about having told the Hunters.

Waiting for a cab outside, Dan leaned against the building and pulled out his phone. Ian would want to know how the meeting went, and by extension so would Helena, but the first person he wanted to speak to was obviously not interested in hearing from him. Either way, Dan pulled up Bobby’s name on his phone.

Dan: I made plans today. I hope I’m taking a step in the right direction. I think about you a lot. I’m sorry if you don’t want to hear that, but I do.

He left it at that, sending a message to the group chat that the deed was done, and the front office knew about his decision. He was expecting a quick flurry of messages and he got them, from Helena and Rafael as well, so who knows when they were added to the siblings only chat. Dan couldn’t be too mad about it. Though Max was miles away, he was sure both Helena and Rafael would end up extended members of the family through some means. Maybe Kayla would stop posting pictures of herself and Simon to social media and pick up with Rafael instead.

Not that Dan would ever wish a hockey player on someone. Ironic, given how desperate he was for Bobby to accept one.

Kayla: SO PROUD OF YOU

Rafael: Hope Chris went to bat for you

Ian: I’m ready to punch some people

Max: Way to go, bro! I’m rooting for you from Europe.

Helena: !!!!!!!!!! I bet Bear’s super happy!

Helena’s propensity for talking though Dan’s dog wasn’t lost on him, and he was worried she liked Bear more than him, but he was getting better at reading between the lines.

Dan: That means you’re happy right, Helena?

Helena: DUH.

Ian: She likes you more than me :(

Kayla: Everyone likes Dan more than you

Ian: Fuck you

Rafael: She’s not wrong.

Dan’s cab pulled up and he left them to argue amongst themselves, sliding into the back. Reeling off his address, Dan let Manhattan rush past and leaned back against the headrest.