Page 56

“Everything okay?” Dimitri interrupted his math problem.

“Uh. Yeah.” Caleb put the phone back on the locker shelf. “Pam sent congratulations.”

“You and I both know that’s not what you’re thinking about.”

Dimitri wasn’t going to keep to himself much longer. Caleb met his gaze for just a moment longer but didn’t say anything. He simply sighed.

“I gotta go do the press,” Caleb said and turned for the door as Dimitri nodded in acknowledgment.

By the time he got to the shower, most of the team was done and dressing. As time clicked by, it seemed like the game had occurred in the distant past. His mind returned to the Aaron situation. Pam hadn’t said anything about Aaron, and yet she had to know at least the basics of what happened. Was her silence good or bad? He wanted to ask her how Aaron was doing, but that seemed an intrusion. While she was his sister, she was also Aaron’s best friend, and Caleb didn’t want to put her in a position to violate any secrets.

Once he was back in the suit he’d arrived in, he went into the room where he could wait comfortably since the bus hadn’t arrived yet. He dropped into a chair, away from the others in the room, and closed his eyes. He felt like he was stuck watching a movie on repeat as scenes of Aaron and him played in his mind—a mix of good times and the horrible finality of Friday night. Caleb had wanted the New York weekend to solidify the start of something, not the end.

A few minutes later, he was forced to open his eyes because someone kicked his feet. It was no surprise that it was Dimitri.

“Did you eat?”

Caleb shook his head. “Not yet.”

Dimitri grunted. “I thought so. I grabbed your usual turkey and some of that nasty blue Powerade you like.” He handed it over, his expression one of concern.

“Thanks.”

“The bus is here.” Dimitri was being unusually quiet, given their game win. Caleb knew he would forgo celebrating to look after him. “We’ve got a few minutes if you want to eat here, or we can board.”

“Let’s get on the bus.” Caleb stood and gave Dimitri’s shoulder a quick squeeze.

Dimitri nodded, and they headed for the exit, a couple of their teammates in front of them.

Outside, there were a few people waiting. It was a shared entrance, but given it was Boston’s arena, most of the crowd wore the home team’s apparel.

“Mr. Carter?”

They both stopped, and Caleb turned to where a teenager stood off by himself, wearing a Boston sweatshirt. Caleb wasn’t often stopped by people in the opposing team’s gear, so the callout confused him. The guy didn’t look like he was old enough to be out of high school.

“Yes? Hi.” Caleb sounded as chipper as he could. Even though he felt like crap, he wasn’t going to be rude to anyone. He walked to where the young man waited behind the barriers that kept the walkway out of the arena clear.

“Um. Hi. Um.” The boy’s eyes darted around as if he was nervous. “I was wondering if you’d sign this. I know you’re not commenting on it… but… well. It was….”

Caleb looked at the picture of the kiss he’d shared with Aaron. It was a little fuzzy and didn’t take up the entire paper it was on. Dimitri put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder, and that almost unleashed his emotions. It was more comfort than he deserved because he’d blown it with Aaron.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean….” The boy started to withdraw the paper when Caleb did nothing but stare at it. “I shouldn’t have.”

“It’s okay.” Caleb’s voice came out a bit strangled, so he cleared his throat. He handed his food to Dimitri before taking the picture from the boy “Of course I’ll sign it. Do you have a pen?”

“Sure.” The boy brightened, and that helped Caleb regain his composure. He handed over a black Sharpie. “It was cool to see this picture. I’m… I’m gay.” The boy dropped his voice to a whisper. “And I play. I know you are, and he is too.” He gestured at Dimitri. “But I don’t tell anyone. My team is always talking crap and saying… well, you know. But seeing a picture of you kissing this guy, it means it’s possible to play and have a boyfriend. It was just…. Sorry, I’m totally babbling.”

Caleb signed his name and handed the paper and the pen back. He didn’t correct the young man that he and Aaron weren’t together. “Can you be out to anyone?”

More of Caleb’s teammates passed them as they talked, but they didn’t stop.

“My parents know and they’re cool, and now you two. I can’t do it at school with my friends or the team. I see how the few out guys at school are treated—not bullied, exactly, but shunned, made fun of. I don’t think I can do that.”

“Five minutes, guys.” One of the equipment managers gave them a time check as more of the team left the arena.

Caleb thought fast, not really sure he was about to suggest the right thing. “Sometimes it just takes one person to stand up and be a leader to make change. How about I come talk to your team sometime? Or maybe your school? I could probably talk someone from the Bruins into joining me so it wouldn’t be some random New York player showing up. Maybe we can make it better together.”

“You’d do that?” The boy was clearly surprised.