Ben Ryder - Englishmen 3 - Released

by Ben Ryder

  “You’ve got to give him credit, Jacks. I wouldn’t have let any other man take you away from me,” Jay said, and he reached down to hug her once more. As they embraced, I noticed another man approach. He was just as tall, yet even more muscular than Jay, but walked with a slight limp.

  “Damon!” Jackie cried as she dived for yet another hug. “Have you told her yet?” Damon said to Jay over Jackie’s head.

  “Told me what?”

  “Damon’s little sister has finished high school and has

  been admitted to NYU,” Jay said, sharing a smile with his partner. “That’s fantastic, Damon. And don’t you worry about her. I’ll make sure she’s okay and will keep an eye on her for you,” Jackie said as she stroked Damon’s arm.

  “No need,” Jay said, like he was about to burst. “Side Line is expanding their North American market again, and the base of operations will be in New York. And guess who’s just accepted the regional manager’s job?”

  “You mean you’re moving here?”

  Jay nodded. “And we’re getting married!”133

  I would never have imagined Jackie capable of such a piercing scream if I hadn’t heard it myself. At the mention of marriage, I looked at Alex. He politely smiled, but I was sure it must have stung.

  Jackie finally remembered we were there. “Jay, Damon, come and meet my friends. This is Dominic, and this is Alex. Dominic’s a Brit, too!”

  “Nice to meet you both,” Jay said as he shook our hands. “It will be nice to know a few people before we move here. And if you’re friends with this old trollop, you must be good folk,” he said as he threw a wink to Jackie. She made an affronted face. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to jump on stage. They’ve asked me to amp up the crowd before I introduce the team coach and Noah Lukas comes on.”

  “Is there—” Alex began. “I mean, sorry to ask, but do you think there’s any chance I could actually meet him? I’m a huge fan of his, and I know he’s moving back to Canada after this, so it could be my last chance.”

  “I’ll try. I met him briefly a minute ago, and he seems quite eager to get back to his hotel as soon as the ceremony is over. He’s only staying across the street, so maybe I can convince him to stay a little longer. I suppose it depends on how long this Johansson guy goes on for.”

  “Johansson?” Alex said with a shock to his voice. “You don’t mean Howard Johannson, do you?”

  “Yeah, that’s the name. Apparently it’s been top secret up to now, but tonight they’re making a big announcement that he’s bought the team. They’ve brought him in to introduce the new player that’s taking over Lukas’s spot.”

  134

  Jay looked around at the stage. “There, that’s him over there, on the left.” I followed Jay’s outstretched finger and saw an old, fraillooking man in a suit. He was surrounded by people, all of whom seemed eager to shake his hand.

  Alex froze. Dislike was written all over his face. I whispered to Alex, “That’s the guy that you were writing about, isn’t it? The one bribing the senator?”

  “Yeah, that’s him,” Alex said in disgust. “The old bastard.”

  Jay excused himself, and the girls followed him. Jackie looked happier than I’d ever seen her. I left her to excited chatter with Damon while Alex and I grabbed a free beer from one of the girls.

  The music stopped and the lights dimmed. The air grew thick with anticipation. Then, Jay appeared on the stage.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, Side Line beer is pleased to welcome you tonight to celebrate the career of Noah Lukas!” Jay said enthusiastically into the microphone. “Without further ado, I give you Tim Chapman, coach of the New York Warriors!”

  The coach took center stage at the microphone as the whole hockey team, now dressed in matching team tracksuits, filed behind him and stood in a uniform line. As he spoke about his star player, one of the girls that hugged Jackie walked by and replaced our beer and threw me a flirtatious wink. The smile I gave back was interrupted as I stopped in my tracks.

  The silver-haired man had just passed us both and was heading in the direction of the stage. He hadn’t seen me, and

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  quite frankly, I was grateful. He walked past the crowd toward the front of the raised stage. He stood right next to Howard Johannson and leaned over and spoke into the old man’s ear. He received a nod for whatever he said.

  “…he will be missed, but we look forward to a bright future and a new era of continued success. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight it’s also my pleasure to announce that the New York Warriors are now under new ownership. Our new CEO will be the great Howard Johansson!”

  A rumble rippled through the crowd. They all seem shocked by the news, but a gradual wave of applause built as Howard Johannson raised his hand and waved to the guests.

  “Homophobic old bastard,” Alex spat. “I don’t fucking believe this. Even the team that Ted and I loved is now tainted by that fucking bastard.” Alex pulled his jersey over his head and dumped it on the floor, leaving him in a plain white T-shirt.

  “Is it a political thing?” I asked. “No, he’s just a diabolical excuse for a human being who hates gay people.”

  “Well, there are gay people working for him, so he can’t be that bad.”

  Alex remained stoic for a moment, then turned to face me. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, the guy standing to his left is gay, and they seem to get on okay. Look, I don’t mean to sound like I’m excusing him for whatever he’s—”

  “How do you know he’s gay?”

  136I was embarrassed. And, not for the first time, I felt a

  little ashamed. “Well, you know, I know him.”

  “You mean you guys have been together?”

  I could only nod as I stared at the ground. I hoped he wouldn’t judge me too badly. But as I raised my head, I saw a look of utter revulsion on his face that told me the truth. I thought his reaction was a bit severe, and my embarrassment and shame were replaced with defiance. “Hey, don’t look at me that way, Alex. I was new to the city and didn’t know anyone.”

  He seemed to consider what I said, and I could see his mind ticking over. “So how many times did you guys get together?”

  “Three,” I said. Of course, I wasn’t about to tell him where we were when those times occurred.

  “I think you’re mistaken. It’s not him.”

  “Okay,” I said, shrugging dismissively. I was still pissed and was making sure it was clear that I didn’t care for his opinion anymore.

  “Are you sure you’ve been with him? Are you absolutely positive that he’s the same guy?”

  “How many guys do you think I’ve messed around with in this city for me to start forgetting which ones I have and haven’t been with? Look, I know it’s him because he’s the only guy I’ve been with since I arrived. What’s your issue? Is it because he’s a little older than me?”

  “What’s his name?”

  Any chance of not looking bad disappeared with his question. I sighed. “Look, I don’t know his name. It was only casual, and we didn’t really do a great deal of talking.”

  137I looked over to Jackie. She was engaged in conversation

  with Damon, but she gave a concerned look our way. We were all distracted by a huge round of applause as Noah Lukas took the stage. He spoke of his youth, playing hockey on a frozen pond with his brothers, and his ambitions and dreams of one day playing professional hockey. He talked about his love for his friends and family who’d supported him over the years and who encouraged him to chase his dream. He named the charities he hoped to continue working for and a new foundation he hoped to set up for young hockey players.

  “He seems like a great guy,” I said to Alex. “I can see why he was your favorite.”

  Alex didn’t respond. His chest was still rising and falling in anger. He was ignoring me, and it was beginning to get my back up.

  “Alex, what’s your problem?”

  “…and finally my
teammates. I consider the group of guys behind me brothers. There are no words that can begin to give them the thanks they deserve for giving me such a spectacular end to my career.”

  The crowd applauded once more, but Noah Lukas raised his hands to quiet them.

  “But I also want to give them my heartfelt apologies. You see, I didn’t give them enough credit that they’d understand and accept a part of my life that I’ve kept hidden for so long. Last week, after our win in Boston, I told them what I’m about to tell you now. I am a son, a brother, a hockey player, and a teammate. And I am also a gay man. A gay man who’s been blessed with the support and love of an incredible partner.” He turned his face toward the back of the room, to

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  a group of people I couldn’t see. “Callum, there’s nothing in my world more important than you, and I can’t wait to start our new life together in Toronto. I love you with all my heart.” I wondered how my own friend Callum would have reacted to this declaration of love.

  The crowd stood silent for a moment, temporarily stunned amid the hundreds of flashes from cameras covering the event. Then, every one of his teammates standing behind him spontaneously took a few steps forward so they were level with him. They all turned to face him and began to clap and cheer. Many of them made a point to hug him and kiss his forehead. The crowd erupted in applause.

  “Wow,” Alex said, as if stunned. “That was beautiful.” I smiled, grateful that whatever awkward moment we were having seemed to have passed.

  The coach took to the stage again. “Go on. Good luck to you, son. Enjoy your retirement. You’ve sure as hell earned it.”

  Noah Lukas left his teammates, who had reassembled their orderly line behind the microphone. Judging by how fast he exited, I could only assume Lukas didn’t want to deal with the press.

  “Now, to introduce the newest member of our team, I have the great pleasure of welcoming the new owner of the Warriors, Howard Johansson.”

  There was another round of applause, though this one was paltry compared to those for Noah Lukas, and was drawn out while the old man haltingly ambled up the stairs. The silver-haired man was helping him, but the old man kept batting him away, quite rudely, as if any sign of help would be humiliating.

  139Finally, the old man reached the microphone. I was

  surprised when he spoke in a stronger voice than his appearance led me to expect. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, for those who don’t know me, I’m Howard Johannson, and I’m the new owner of the New York Warriors. And, by the looks of things, I arrived just in time.” He thumbed to the side of the stage. “I would never have let that happen.”

  There were a few scattered boos from the room, but he ignored them.

  “Right, let’s get down to welcoming a real man to the team.”

  Damon brought his cupped hands to his mouth, as if to shout. He looked furious but was stopped by Jackie, who pulled at his arms and shook her head. Even still, boos from the crowd multiplied and grew louder.

  Howard Johannson looked perplexed. He slowly turned his head from side to side and shrugged in confusion. “That’s what you want? A faggot on the team? Well, this is my team now, and we won’t have any of that going on now that I’m in charge.”

  He glanced at the players behind him. It was a look somewhere between a warning and a threat. He didn’t need to spell out their fate should any of them dare to defy him. The players hung their heads and refused to make eye contact. The crowd was stunned.

  “Now,” Howard Johannson continued, “let’s all give a big hand to the new member of the New York Warriors, Sergei Baskrov.”

  A few halfhearted cheers rose for the new player, but they still mingled with the chorus of boos for Johannson. Baskrov walked across the stage, looking like he was about

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  to try entertaining a firing squad. He was a handsome young man, and I felt sorry for him. This was supposed to be a triumphant entrance, but it had taken an altogether more foreboding turn.

  I turned to Alex. There was a look of absolute fury on his face. Between his clenched jaw and the white knuckles of his balled fists, he appeared to be one step away from bolting toward the stage and throttling the old man who stood to one side of Baskrov.

  Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the silverhaired man walking in my direction. What was going to be worse, the fact that my fuck buddy was going to come over and introduce himself to my new friends, or the possibility that Alex was going to call him out in public for working for a known homophobe?

  My eyes widened, and I shook my head like I was having a tremor as I tried to hint for him not to come over. But he ignored my warnings. As he got closer, I grew desperate and made no attempt to hide the fact that I was shaking my head. I mouth the word “no,” but he still ignored me.

  He squared up directly in front me. “Why are you with that guy?” he whispered angrily, jabbing a thumb toward where Alex stood.

  For the second time in fifteen minutes, I felt like I was expected to explain myself, and I didn’t like it. I turned to get Alex’s reaction to what he surely must have seen as blatant rudeness. But, thankfully he was no longer there.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Why the fuck are you with him?” he asked again. “I work with him. And, just as a reminder, you and I are

  not dating, so don’t talk to me like I have to answer to you. Who the fuck do you think you are?” I demanded. It was

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  probably far too harsh, but I wasn’t about to start down the Richard road with a guy I hardly knew. The silver-haired man looked angrily at me. But what did he expect? We weren’t exclusive. Hell, as Alex had already pointed out, I didn’t even know his name! I was furious that he thought he had some kind of claim on me. My anger continued to rise. It must have shown on my face, because the silver-haired man considered me for a moment, then turned on his heels and stormed off. I was unimpressed with his tantrum.

  Jackie was patting Damon’s closed hands like a grandmother who just put a dollar in her grandchild’s hand. Damon still looked pissed, though he’d calmed down a bit. She patted his hands once more and walked over to me, looking around for Alex.

  “What’s the matter with your friend?” I asked. “Damon lost his parents when he was a teenager. He and his sisters had to go and live with their uncle, who was a big drinker. They hadn’t been there long before his uncle lost his job because Johannson had bought the steel mill he worked at. The Johannson Corporation laid him and the other workers off, stripped the mill, and sold it off in parts. Being unemployed and a drunk, his uncle used to take his anger out on Damon, who was really only a kid himself at the time. He still sees Johannson as being one of the main causes of the regular beatings. And from what I hear, they were really quite severe.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  “He came through it, but there’s still some residual anger there. This must be the first time he has ever been in a room with him.”

  142“Jackie, I don’t mean to be rude, but do you mind if I

  head off? I’m going to try and catch up with Alex.”

  “Where is he?”

  “He’s gone. He wasn’t kidding when he said he hates

  that man, and after that little display, I can see why.” “Do you think he’ll be okay?” Jackie asked with

  concern. “How mad was he?”

  “Furious.”

  “Okay, I understand. Listen, meet me at Starbucks

  across from the office tomorrow morning at 8:30. We’ll grab a

  coffee before we head into work, and you can catch me up.” “Sure. Listen, tell your friends it was great to meet

  them, and we’ll get together for a drink soon,” I said before I

  pecked her on the cheek and headed out the door.

  Outside, I scanned the area for Alex, but he was

  nowhere to be found.

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  Chapter Twelve

  Friday, May 19, 2017 IT WAS 8:40 a.m.,
and I was late to meet Jackie at Starbucks. After numerous attempts to contact Alex by phone and e-mail after he bolted from Madison Square Garden, I’d finally cycled to his apartment around midnight to check on him. There was no answer to the buzzer at his apartment. I managed to slip into the building as someone walked out of the communal door, but no one answered when I knocked on his door.

  I couldn’t get Alex’s look of anger and hatred out of my mind. I was worried about his reaction. Although I hadn’t known him for very long, I’d come to regard his character as balanced. I was unnerved by seeing him act like he was about to explode.

  When I arrived at the coffee house, Jackie was already at the front of a long line. Spotting me, she added another coffee to her order and headed to the end of the counter to wait for it. The area was packed full of people, and Jackie looked uptight and stiff, clutching her handbag and a newspaper under her arm.

  A chime sounded from my phone. It was a text message from Callum. “Are you free this afternoon for a drink? I have someone special I want you to meet!”

  “Sure. Just let me know where and when,144 ” I typed back.

  After hitting send, I continued forward. Excusing myself past a dozen people, I reached Jackie just as the coffees were handed over.

  “Jackie, do you mind if we drink these in the office? I couldn’t get hold of Alex last night. I’m sure he’s fine, but it’ll take a load off my mind if I can actually see him. Plus, I need to make a start on work, as I have to take an hour off this afternoon to see my friend Callum who wants me to meet—”