Page 67 of Offside

"Do it," Declan said. "I'll stay on the line."

I signed while he remained on the phone.

Park returned after I called him in. He checked the signature, added his, and shook my hand.

"Two years," Park said. "You know what you're signing."

"I do," I said, "and I'm taking it."

He gave me a copy and left to call ownership. Marchetti sent a message with three exclamation points, which was two more than I'd ever seen him use. I told Declan the signatures were done, put the contract in my bag, and went downstairs for practice.

24

Declan

Bishop told the team on a game day in the middle of January. The night before, he'd asked whether I wanted to wait until the end of the season or have Vicki tell staff separately. He'd also asked whether I wanted to stand beside him and whether he should use my first name or last. By the fourth question, I understood how seriously he was taking the difference between asking and arranging.

"I want to stand with you," I told him. "We'll tell the room we're together. I can answer anything about myself."

"Could've said that first," he said. "Saved me three questions."

"You were doing so well. I didn't want to interrupt." I laughed. "It seemed educational."

The next afternoon, he waited until Reeves finished the pregame meeting.

Players were still in partial gear. Kieran sat at his stall wrapping fresh tape around the knob of his stick, and Nico leaned against the divider beside him. Theo had one sock on. Luca stood near the whiteboard with his arms folded, watching the room empty of coaches.

Vicki and Zoe knew what was coming. Neither of them acted surprised when Bishop stepped into the middle of the carpet and looked toward the training-room door where I waited.

"Pryce," he said. "Come in."

I came in and stood beside him as the room went quiet in stages.

Bishop didn't explain the medical transfer. He didn't make our ethics the opening of our relationship.

"Pryce and I are together," he said. "We're telling you because we want you to hear it from us."

Garrett never blinked. Abbott's mouth changed as if a private theory had just been confirmed, and every face turned toward me.

"I'm with Colt," I said, "and Zoe is his physical therapist now."

Theo stood so fast his half-pulled sock slid down his shin.

"Finally," he said. "That took months."

"Sit down, Callahan," Luca said.

"You're smiling," Theo said to him. "The whole room can see it."

"I'm not," Luca said. "Fix your sock."

The corner of Luca's mouth moved.

Volkov crossed the room with both arms open. "This is celly."

"No," Bishop said. "This is information."

"This is absolutely celly," Volkov insisted.