Chapter 119: Foppa IX—We’re Watching You
"I say we just beat the shit outta him," Footer said as they turned into the parking lot of Kaspar’s old apartment. "Don’t ya think? Just to show him what’s what?"
"Uhh," Peter said. "I don’t think that’s a very good idea. I mean.." He agreed with Footer inside though. He so badly wanted to pound that mouth of Mike Modano’s to a spongy pulp.
"Nah I was just kidding," Footer said with a grin as they got out of the car. It was that grin that somehow made him look like a mischievous old man. "We gotta talk to him though. Shit I can’t believe this happened!"
"Neither can I," Peter replied through his teeth, looking up at the apartment building. "Neither can I."
The sun wasn’t even up yet and it was a cold Sunday morning. Peter could see Adam shuffling his feet, blowing out silver plumes of breath and rubbing his hands. Fall was dissipating. Still, a spring in Sweden was colder, and Peter felt fine. It was the business at hand that worried him.
Joe had asked Peter and Adam the night previous to pick up Modano and Muller and take them to practice this morning, to make them feel comfortable and welcome as he put it. Poor Joe had no idea what Mike Modano’s feelings for him were, and of course he was excited as all hell to have him on the team. He had no clue at all.
Of course how am I any different? Peter had thought before he had crawled out of bed earlier that morning. He had been laying in the blue light of the pre-dawn hours and thinking about it. He knew his own feelings for Joe, how was he different than lovesick Mike Modano?
At that point, Josefina had moaned in her sleep, rolling under the covers and pressing her smooth body against his own. Peter had been startled and he looked at her, kissing her fragrant black hair. This is what makes me different, Peter thought at that moment. I’m not deluding myself with fantasies of him. I’ve got the perfect woman right here! And I’m enjoying her.
Without rousing her, because Peter knew that if he woke her up she would smile with gorgeous sleepy eyes, wrap her arms around him and... Peter shook the thought away and got dressed, slipping out of his loft, congratulating himself on not getting delayed by her. That still didn’t change the fact that the very thought of her gave him a hard-on from hell. It went away fast enough when Peter saw Footer’s beat up face and then they were at the apartment.
Both Muller and Modano were dressed and ready when they got there. Of course, being on a new team and state like this, Peter thought, they probably hadn’t got much sleep. Their eyes were red and baggy.
"Hey," Muller snapped. "Is every practice here gonna be this early?"
"Naw," Footer said. "Not at all."
"How ya doing Modo?" Peter said, looking at Modano as he stretched and yawned.
"Can’t get enough air!" Modano squeaked. "This altitude I can’t breathe in it!"
"You’ll get used to it," Forsberg answered.
They were quiet as they helped Muller and Modano load their bags and equipment into Footer’s SUV. Every now and then Peter would make eye contact with Adam as if to ask him, "Now should we?" It was a bit confusing though. How much did Muller know? Should they breach the subject of Joe with Modano while Muller was sitting there or should they wait for a more private moment?
Muller helped them out with that as soon as Foote started the car. "You guys are really quiet," he said. "Got something on your mind have you?"
"Naw," Foote said, "Just the road."
Again they were quiet and this was uncomfortable Peter knew for all of them.
"Listen," Muller said, "I know what you guys are so quiet about."
"Oh yeah?" Footer said. "What makes you say that?"
Forsberg craned his neck to look at the men in the back, he could see a curious expression on Modano’s face as he too was looking at Kirk. Muller leaned forward making eye contact with Peter, his black eyes sparkless. "He’s not gay," Kirk said bluntly.
"Kirk!" Modano exclaimed.
Adam accidentally swerved the car as he too looked back at Kirk and all of them were tossed to one side as the tires screeched and Adam got back on the road. Peter’s head twacked the glass window and he rubbed it, glaring at Foote. "Dammit Adam!" he growled.
Adam didn’t apologize. He just grimaced in an embarrassed way. "We never said he was gay, Kirk," Adam said.
"Oh come on!" Kirk continued, ignoring another protest from Modano. "Look you guys gotta know why he was traded, right? I mean you were told it’s cause the rest of the Stars don’t want a faggot on their team?"
"Sure," Peter lied. So that’s the reason! He thought.
"Sure," Muller repeated. "Look Mikey here was sick of being on that team, for God knows why, he faked fudge-packing so he could get a trade. That’s all."
Peter and Adam looked at each other briefly before Adam turned his eyes back to the road. No friggin way! Peter thought.
"All of that?" Peter said looking at Modano who was blushing. "The gift baskets, the swoony shit, all of that was an act? You did a pretty friggin good job then of fooling us!"
Modano looked quickly at Kirk and then back at Peter, some of the blush leaving his cheeks. "Yeah," he said with a shrug. "I mean I really needed out of there. You know, shit I didn’t think you guys would take it that seriously."
Peter frowned, he didn’t know if he should believe him. There was a loud laugh from Footer. "Shit!" he said. "An act to get a trade? That’s priceless! I shoulda thought of that years ago when we were in Quebec! Genius!"
Modano laughed. "Yeah you know... I just did what I thought I had to."
"You’re a lot smarter than you look, Modo!" Footer giggled.
Peter smiled when he saw that suddenly miffed look on Modano’s face. Maybe things would be alright, especially after they explained all of this to the guys. What a relief!
"Giftbaskets?" Muller said quietly looking at Modano for an answer.
"Just forget about it," Mike said. "Really."
"Does that mean Eric Lindros isn’t really gay?" Foote said brightly and the rest of the car laughed.
Peter closed his eyes; leaning back in the seat, imagining Josefina was probably awake now, taking a shower, water on her bare body...
The locker room was intensely tight at first when Peter came in with Footer, Modano and Muller. He could see the nervous eyes, the contemptuous eyes and the scrambles to cover themselves up. Both Peter and Footer were quick to explain everything and that was a definite relaxant for them. Soon there were handshakes and greetings from all around to Modano.
Joe had his arms crossed and a frown though. "All of you thought he was gay?" he asked. "No wonder none of you seemed enthused about him coming!"
Peter smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "You know," was all he could say.
"Sheesh!" Joe said with a laugh. "Why am I always the last to know these things?"
Of course Peter knew none of them had the guts to tell Joe that they all had assumed Mike was in love with him of all people. Now that just was embarrassing.
Still, Peter kept a glance on Mike as they were changing into their gear, just to make sure. Mike didn’t seem to be looking at Joe with lovesick or improper eyes, he seemed calm and business like. Still what if Mike’s was not acting about being gay? What if he was just acting now to be straight? That was a possibility seeing how he knew now that admitting it would get him kicked off a team.
Mike looked at Peter and nodded his head in a sort of acknowledgment and all Peter could tell him in his brain was, be careful Mike, we’re watching you!
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