secretly gay and wildly unfaithful. Kelly has steadfastly refused to even acknowledge questions about his ex-girlfriend or speculation about his private life.
Many believe his silence is an admission that Spaulding was telling the truth, but much of that has fallen by the wayside since an interview last year in which he was asked why he never defended himself against rumors of homosexuality.
“It’s not something to defend myself from,” was his reply. “If I’m getting defensive and saying there’s no way in hell I’m gay, then what am I saying to my gay fans? That being like them is some terrible thing?” He went on to add, “I don’t talk about my private life because it’s my private life. It’s really that simple.”
Kelly and the Snow Bears PR director did not respond to requests for comment.
With a disgusted noise, I closed the window. I hated how they worded the whole thing as if he were taunting reporters or “fueling speculation” just by living his life. And had Jase seen this? Someone had to have told him, assuming the reporter really had reached out for comment.
I needed to talk to him. I needed to know what he thought about it.
This wasn’t a conversation I could have at my desk, though, and I didn’t dare take an early lunch—I had to tread carefully when clocking in and out, considering how much time I had to take off for Dallas. But the second the clock hit twelve, I ducked out. I hadn’t even made it to my car before I was calling Jase.
“Hey, what’s up?” He sounded as relaxed as he ever was, so he must not have seen the article yet.
“Listen, um…” I glanced around. “There’s an article floating around. Someone got pictures of us together, and they’re, uh, speculating.”
Jase groaned. “Son of a bitch. That must’ve been what Richard was calling me about earlier. Goddammit.” He paused, and I could almost see him cringing as he asked, “What did they say?”
I gave him the rundown.
He sighed. “Sounds like the usual shit. What did they say about you?”
“Not much. They don’t seem to know who I am. I can’t decide if they really don’t know, or if they’re just covering their asses for liability reasons or something.” As if I could ever afford to sue anyone, never mind a tabloid.
“Well, that’s good, I guess. I know you didn’t like the idea of the media hounding you.” He hesitated, and he sounded nervous as he asked, “How are you doing with this?”
“Um.” I thought about it, and oddly enough, I wasn’t quite as freaked out as I thought I’d be. “It’s not as bad as I thought, I guess? I mean, it’s intrusive, and I think it’s pretty gross the way they talk about you and your personal life, but…” I laughed quietly. “I mean, now that it's out there, there are worse things someone could say about me than I’m secretly dating you.”
Jase actually laughed, sounding relieved.
I chuckled too, but quickly sobered. “So, you’re the one with your name in lights. How do you want to play this?”
Jase was quiet for a moment. Then he exhaled hard. “Well, now that this is floating around, it’s only a matter of time before my parents see it. And start asking questions.”
I swallowed, not quite sure what to say.
“I don’t know,” he went on, “but especially if me and you are going to keep doing this, they’re going to find out sooner or later. Someone’s going to snap a picture, or…” He paused, then sighed. “I’m going to have to tell my family. It’s just a question of whether I wait until they ask questions, or I just…tell them.”
“What do you want to do?”
Jase laughed quietly. “I want to avoid the subject for as long as possible.”
“But given the circumstances…”
“I’m not sure yet. I think…” He was quiet for a moment, probably chewing his lip and furrowing his brow like he sometimes did. “I think I should test the water. Tell my brother and see what he thinks. Maybe he’ll have an idea of what they think.”
“Oh. That’s an idea.”
“Yeah. And I’ll be going up against Troy’s team next week. So…” Even over the phone, I heard him swallow. “So I’ll tell him then. And…we’ll see how that goes.”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “I guess we will.”
Chapter 27
Jase
“Come on, boys!” Coach clapped sharply. “Let’s make sure the puck spends more time in their net tonight than ours. How about it?”