Page 98 of Puck Fest
The coffee shop on Fifth is half-full at noon. Alex has a corner booth in the back. His recorder is out, his notebook open, and two coffees sit on the table.
I slide into the seat across from him.
“On the record?” he asks.
“On the record.”
He clicks the record button.
“For the tape, this is Alex Naylor of theChicago Tribunespeaking with Danny Masterson on?—”
“Skip it.”
He smiles slightly. “When did your relationship with Noah Enver begin?”
“After my probation period concluded. Same as the team’s official statement.”
“There’s video of you two kissing at a bar in Detroit during the season. Was that the first time?”
“No. We kissed once during probation. He pulled away. He told me it couldn’t happen and he meant it. We didn’t see each other outside of professional obligations for the rest of probation.”
“And after probation?”
“After probation we both made an adult decision to be together.”
“With him as a senior employee of the team and you as a player.”
“With both of us as adults who weren’t violating any policy.”
Alex writes something down. Doesn’t look up. “Some would argue the appearance of impropriety?—”
“Some can argue whatever they want. The team’s compliance officer cleared the relationship before we made it official. The league knew. My agent knew. Coach knew. There was nothing hidden.”
“Coach Enver knew?”
I pause for a half-second too long.
“Noah told him before we went public to colleagues.”
“Before. Not when it started.”
“There was nothing wrong with the order. Noah was a professional handling it professionally.”
“And the kiss during probation?”
“Was a mistake we both walked away from. It didn’t change my discipline. I served every game of my suspension. I did every hour of community service. The league made the disciplinary decision, not Noah. Anyone who suggests Noah influenced my discipline doesn’t understand how league discipline works.”
“You sound rehearsed, Danny.”
“I sound clear. There’s a difference.”
He smiles again. Writes something down. “Last question. Did you love him?”
I sit with that while I look out the window then back at the recorder. “I love him.”
“Present tense.”
“Present tense.”
