Chapter Text
“You ever watch WMLH?” Hayden asked Shane from his hotel bed.
“Of course, yeah. Some really good hockey there.”
“One of the players is retiring early.”
“Oh yeah?”
“This article says he's coming out publicly as transgender, pronouns he and him, and beginning hormone treatment but won't be able to pass anti-doping protocol, so he's just… retiring.”
“Which player?” Shane was sorting through his favorites in his mind, there were definitely ones he hoped weren't retiring.
“Riley. It says he's going by Max Riley now.”
“Oh yeah! We were in the Olympics at the same time, damn. Retiring early? She was an amazing player.”
“He.” Hayden corrected. “And yeah, damn good.”
“Oh, right. I think I got too focused on the retiring thing and not enough on why, sorry.”
“Don't apologize to me, apologize to Max Riley.”
“Maybe I will? I think I still have, uh, his number from when we were in Sochi.”
Shane pulled out his phone. He texted ‘Lily’ first.
shane: one of the wmlh stars came out
lily: are they not all already lesbians
shane: there are straight womens hockey players
lily: yes those are the ones have to come out, not other way around
shane: hes retiring
lily: sorry i read wrong, i thought you said wmlh
shane: i did
lily: is english hard for me right now or are you making no sense
shane: he came out as transgender
lily: oh! yes i forget that is one of them
shane: I guess I don't know that much about it
lily: you should try it, miss jane
lily: the thought of you in lingerie is hot
shane: I'm pretty sure thats homophobic or something
shane: transphobic
lily: you would look hot in anything
lily: its low bar
“You got distracted texting Lily?” Hayden startled Shane by asking.
“No. What do you mean?”
“You don't smile and blush at your phone like that for anyone but Boston Lily. Unless… Riley is Boston Lily? It almost makes sense, Riley, Lily…” Hayden teased.
“Shut up.” Shane brushed him off, mortified by how close he got to the truth by joking.
“Can we change the topic?”
“Away from Boston Lily? Of course, we do every time.”
“Dude.” Shane said firmly. He'd have to think of something engaging enough for Hayden to not crawl back to teasing him about his texting habits. “What should I say to Riley?”
“I mean, I'd say, I saw the article on ESPN, I'm supportive, and if he needs anything let me know? I guess.”
Shane asked to borrow Hayden's social skills relatively frequently, so they were both used to that kind of question. It seemed to make Hayden think, though.
“Man, could you imagine what he's going through right now? What he went through… It says he knew in college but put everything on hold so he could play. Hiding so much of who you are just so you can play hockey. Could you imagine if that was you or me?”
“You or me, transgender?”
“I guess? Or like, genderqueer?”
“Sounds like you're an expert.”
“One of Jackie's work friends is that one. I'm not an expert though, I guess I'm just around LGBTQ people more than you.”
“I guess.”
“I think you'd be a beautiful lady, Captain.”
“Thanks?”
“Does Boston Lily think so too, I wonder?”
“Dude.” Yes. She does.