page74 (1/2)

Alex kneels beside ?”

I pull out his skates and a couple of the bigger iteing out in his hockey bag should be eable for a few minutes

“This is how you’re going to get me out of here” I mean, isn’t it obvious?

“No one’s going to think you’re a prostitute”

“Really, Alex? You’re being awfully naive if you believe people aren’t going to think I’m a super slut when I walk out of this locker room with the entire tea me”

He flashes a dimple “You’ll be with me”

I lower my voice to a whisper “And that’s better how? People already believe you’re a player Hoill I avoid the puck bunny label if I saunter out of here looking like an expensive prostitute hanging off your arm?” I add the expensive part to make myself feel minutely better about this whole situation

Alex puts a hand on my arm, his hurt evident by the sudden slump of his shoulders “You don’t need to do this”

“This is already complicated I don’t want to createwill be cra would feel except with smelly equipment

“There’s another exit”

“There is?” I haven’t seen one, but then again, I’ve been pretty preoccupied up until now

He nods slowly “There is”

“That’s awith your jockstrap”

Alex tells the coach we’ll ency door, otherwise known as the “back door” I put h the slits betweento ambush us I take Alex’s extended hand and follow him down the deserted hall to the exit He pushes the release bar, and we step out into the cold, Canadian winter night