Page 34 of Bro Code

“I’m gay.” Louis put his shoulder to the doorjamb, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Just wanted to let you know.”

She continued to stare at him like he’d just walked in and casually announced he was leaving for the moon in ten, and could he pick her up anything on the way? Eventually, she said, “Does being gay change anything about the way you handle data?”

“Nope.”

“Great.” She put her glasses back on and went back to her laptop. “Then get out of my office and get back to work.”

Cool. That was exactly how that should go. As he turned to go, Holly said, “Oh – where are we at with last night’s export?”

“Working on it now. Should have it by three.”

She checked her watch. “How about two?”

Two?! I cannae go any faster, Captain! I’m givin’ ‘er all she’s got!

Louis sighed. “Sure, I’ll see what I can do.”

He stayed late to work on his new side project analyzing Riley’s data. He was calling it Operation: Riley. By the time he walked out to the chilly parking lot that evening, the Montreal sky was lilac, and pricked with tiny stars. He zipped his parka up to the neck and stood for a moment with his head tipped back and hands in his pockets. Early October was a beautiful time to be in Montreal.

He checked his phone on the way to the car, and found an hour-old text from Nic.

Dinner?

Louis checked his watch. Nic would’ve eaten already by now, but that wouldn’t matter: he’d eat again. He’d probably eat more than Louis.

He sent back Where? and received a pin drop for a new pizza place Nic had scouted in his neighborhood. Twenty minutes later he was shouldering open the door and tugging down his hood.

The place smelled of dough and tomato sauce, and it was so warm Louis was immediately sweating through his coat. He took it off as he scanned the room – packed, and very noisy – and spotted Nic at a booth near the bar.

“Busy!” he said as he slid in across from him.

“Oui!” Nic looked around, grinning. “Sympa! Glad it’s going well for them.”

“No Liam tonight?”

“Not really his scene.” Nic lifted a beer off the coaster in front of him. “How are you? I feel like I haven’t seen you in years.”

Louis was stuffing the coat into the booth beside him. “It’s this new job some asshole roped me into, everyone there is always busy…”

“Ha!” Nic sipped. “Welcome to the NHL.”

Nic hadn’t really roped Louis into this job. But he had gotten in touch with management to put in a good word for him after Louis applied this summer, which Louis was sure had helped.

They flagged down a waiter and Louis ordered a beer while Nic gave him the menu highlights. They ended up with two enormous pizzas and a basket of garlic bread, which was more food than Louis would probably eat in three days, but which Nic would take home and house before the end of the evening.

“So how’s it been going?” Louis asked, pulling out a slice and laying it on his plate.

“The season?” Nic shrugged, chewing. “About the same as usual.”

“Even with all the craziness of coming out?”

“I mean, it’s tougher with the media, but not so bad. Honestly, the majority of people seem really supportive.”

“Must be pretty wild for you right now.”

“It is. But, you know, I’m lucky to be here, the fans are what make it possible...” Nic waved a hand. “Etcetera, etcetera.”

“What does your therapist say about it?”