Page 174 of No Line Change

I can’t tell if you’re warning me or giving me shit

I’m at most teasing you

It’s a genuine question, I want to bring a gift if he just moved in

And if he didn't and it’s really just a party

I ain't bringing shit you make way more than me

It’s just for playoffs

All you need to bring is your wife, kids, and sparkling personality

Has anyone else noticed? The other stuff?

That you’re clearly in love with baps? Or at a minimum sleeping together on the regular? Unclear

It’s a very heteronormative league so people just assumed the vibe was good friends

But post Nilsson they were reminded that gay people exist and walk among them

So they might be looking more…critically at things

Because again, you are very obviously infatuated with your center

Like holy crap I thought you were into Sokolov but damn

But no one has said anything around me. I just noticed some looks. Some whispers. Nothing obvious and nothing bad

Ok

Let me know if that changes

You could probably just tell them

I think it’d be fine

But I understand why you might not want to

I can’t

Like yeah it could be fine but I don’t want to risk that

Not before playoffs

You know I’ve got your back either way

I know

Thanks

“You’re the best, Baps. You know that?” Andrew Novak was extremely drunk. Although Henri had seen him drunk before, it had apparently been a more controlled version. One who was responsible because they needed to travel or play the next day. They had video review tomorrow—no ice time and optional workouts—and his lovely wife was his designated driver. So this was the real Drunk Novak.

Henri was somewhat envious. Not of the lovely wife, or at least not directly. Novak could completely relax at the party because he had nothing to hide. He didn’t have to pretend this was just a teammate’s house he was visiting. That his own room wasn’t down the hall. That he hadn’t had sex on half the surfaces in the living area.

“Thanks, Nover.”

Novak slid an arm around Henri’s shoulder and pulled him tight. Henri wouldn’t have been able to extract himself if he wanted to, since Novak then proceeded to rest most of his body weight on Henri.