Page 40 of Body Check

“Have you tried dating someone else?”

“Not interested.” Logan pauses, biting his lip like he has something else to say, but isn’t ready yet.

“I’m here for you, man. Anything you say to me is private.”

“I’m demisexual,” the defenseman says. “I only experience attraction to someone I know well. And I can’t very well ask someone out and say, hey, I’m not attracted to you, and I might never be, but sure, let’s waste your time until we figure out if we clicks. Because that's not a shit ton of pressure to put on someone else.”

Reaching over, I set my hand on his shoulder. “Is this the first time you came out to someone?”

He gives me a rueful grin. “Second time. The first… it didn’t go so well.”

“Well, fuck, man. I appreciate you sharing with me.”

“You’re my captain.” Logan shrugs. “It’s not just lust with me and Hailey. I have actual feelings for her. I can picture spending the rest of my life with her.”

“Because you know her.”

“I’ve known her ever since the third grade, when the teacher sat us beside each other. Logan and MacGregor.” He shakes his head. “I was fifteen when I realized I had a crush. I spent so many years wondering why I wasn’t into girls like my teammates were, why I wasn’t so obsessed with getting into some chick’s pants like them. It’s deeper than that for me. I want more than sex with her. I want something real.”

Squeezing his shoulder, I tell him, “I hope you get that.”

“Just keep it out of the locker room.” He laughs.

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“Thanks, Cap,” he says.

“For what it’s worth, I think you two could be good for each other,” I offer. “Just… talk to MacGregor, first. Before you make a move.”

My teammate flinches. “Yeah. Okay. Cool. Totally not going to panic.”

“There are things in life worthy of panicking over. This is not one of them.” I squeeze his shoulder. “Go get your girl, Logan. Get your happily ever after.”

Tilting his head, he studies me. “Did you?”

I flinch. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, with the divorce… Are you happy?”

Glancing out the window to my left, I catch another glimpse of Amelia. She’s curled up on the sofa now, Brandon holding the baby.

“I’m getting there,” I tell him honestly.

“You know, you can talk to me,” he says, so fucking earnest it makes my chest ache. “You listen to all of our bullshit and complaining. You’re allowed to come to us with your own stuff, too.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”

Against my will, I look out the window again. This time, Logan follows my gaze.

“Holy fuck. Is that Amelia?”

“Yeah. We’re neighbors,” I say lamely. Like he couldn’t figure it out on his own.

“That’s neat,” he says, taking it at face value. He waves at her, and she clocks the movement, smiling and waving back. “Well, I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing. Thanks for listening, McKittrick.”

“Any time,” I tell him. It’s part of the job, after all.

“I’m here if you need anything.”

I laugh. “Hey, that’s my line.”

“Yeah, but I actually mean it,” Logan says. “Seriously. You want to talk, I’m your guy. Otherwise, I’ll just pine obnoxiously for my best friend’s sister.”