Trade Deadline - Avon Gale Page 0,63
urge to say no, of course not—especially after everything had gone so well—was overwhelming. But Micah didn’t want to gloss over his real feelings; he knew that wasn’t fair to either of them. “No? Not mad, just... I guess I didn’t think about, y’know, how you losing a game might make you mad. I know that sounds ridiculous,” he added quickly. “But I guess I might have appreciated a warning about that? Ugh. Sorry, this feels really silly to be annoyed about.”
“It’s not silly. I should have told you, I know. Honestly, the thing is... I’ve lost games before, but they’ve never put me in that bad of a mood.” Daniel winced. “I did really just go home and go to bed, after giving yet another terribly uncomfortable interview.”
“Was it the booing?” Micah teased, but unfortunately, Daniel’s words didn’t make him feel better, they actually made him feel worse.
I’ve lost games before, but they’ve never put me in that bad of a mood.
No matter what Tabby said about Daniel being upset after a loss, this was clearly something unusual. And what did that mean? If hockey kept making Daniel this unhappy, why would he stay here? Surely there were other places he could play where he wouldn’t get booed and therefore end up miserable?
“Your friends were great,” Daniel enthused. “I’m glad they seem to approve—I’ve also never had anyone ask me that many questions about my teeth before. Did you meet them all in college?”
Micah nodded. “For the most part, though Bethany is from St. Louis and moved here for her job after graduate school.” He lifted the flowers—of course he’d grabbed them off the table—and sniffed them. “You really didn’t need to do this, you know. I’m just glad you came.”
“I know. And again, I’m sorry. The way the season is going, I’m not sure I can promise it won’t happen again, but I do really appreciate that you understood.”
“Sure,” Micah said, and after a quick glance around, leaned up and kissed him. “It makes sense, like I said, I just wasn’t thinking about how that probably gets in your head. I’ve had bad days at work, too, they’re just not on television and in front of thousands of people.”
Daniel snorted. “Thousands only because it was on television. Anyway, I have to get to practice but, later, maybe I could make it up to you. Unless you have plans?”
“That’d be great.” Micah smiled. “And you know, if it happens again, then I’ll know. It’s just new to me, that’s all. You definitely made up for it, so don’t feel like you’re in trouble.”
“That a hint you don’t want me to come over?” Daniel asked, moving a little closer. He smelled good, and looked amazing, and he’d shown up at brunch and brought Micah flowers...why was Micah being so weird?
“Of course I do. But less to make it up to me, and more to, ah, give me something to think about before you leave on that road trip.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Daniel said, and tugged him in for a kiss.
Micah looked at the flowers on the seat next to him on the way home. He was happy that Daniel showed up, glad they’d navigated through this little blip, but the main thing, the real cause of his unhappiness...was the thing Micah couldn’t do anything about. Losing games, being so miserable doing the thing he loved...how long was this going to be something Daniel could live with? How long before he decided to take his talent and his love of hockey elsewhere?
And what would happen to him and Micah, if he did?
Chapter Seventeen
Between the holidays and their respective schedules, it had edged into January before Daniel could join Demetrius at the Rumbles’ practice facility. They met in the parking lot, and Daniel officially introduced Demetrius to his kids. They’d seen each other in passing throughout the season, of course, but usually when Demetrius and Daniel hung out, it was to grab a quick lunch together while Gretchen and Nate were in school. There hadn’t been a time when Daniel felt comfortable enough to bring his kids into the Thunder’s locker room, the way he had with the Venom, so they weren’t as familiar with this team.
The arena itself was small and served as a community ice rink when the teams weren’t using it for practice or games, Demetrius had told him. It only had bleachers for seating along one side. Daniel settled his kids with their snacks and followed Demetrius