About
This story was formerly titled Soft Hands by Van Cole.
Chris Knoll is one of the top players for the New York Rangers.
Anybody who knows anything about hockey is impressed with his performance – and that includes noted sports journalist Matt Tucker.
Trouble is, not everybody in the industry takes Matt too seriously because he’s openly gay.
When he arrives to conduct a profile of Chris for Sports Illustrated, Chris’s homophobic teammates are quick to warn him to be careful.
As the two get to know each other, however, Chris’s guard goes down and his interest kicks in.
Despite the backlash against him, Matt is tenacious and bold.
He defies all the negative stereotypes Chris has ever had about gay people – and he’s awakening an attraction in Chris that’s never come to the surface before.
But for a top-league sports player at the height of his career, swarmed by girls every time he leaves the house, hooking up with a writer is not really an option.
After all, this is the kind of secret you try to hide from journalists.
What are you supposed to do when a journalist is the secret?
What’s more, how are you supposed to square that with your intensely judgmental best friend?
Only one thing’s for sure.
Chris doesn’t have a choice.
Whatever happens, he’s just going to have to run with it.
Chris Knoll is one of the top players for the New York Rangers.
Anybody who knows anything about hockey is impressed with his performance – and that includes noted sports journalist Matt Tucker.
Trouble is, not everybody in the industry takes Matt too seriously because he’s openly gay.
When he arrives to conduct a profile of Chris for Sports Illustrated, Chris’s homophobic teammates are quick to warn him to be careful.
As the two get to know each other, however, Chris’s guard goes down and his interest kicks in.
Despite the backlash against him, Matt is tenacious and bold.
He defies all the negative stereotypes Chris has ever had about gay people – and he’s awakening an attraction in Chris that’s never come to the surface before.
But for a top-league sports player at the height of his career, swarmed by girls every time he leaves the house, hooking up with a writer is not really an option.
After all, this is the kind of secret you try to hide from journalists.
What are you supposed to do when a journalist is the secret?
What’s more, how are you supposed to square that with your intensely judgmental best friend?
Only one thing’s for sure.
Chris doesn’t have a choice.
Whatever happens, he’s just going to have to run with it.
Publication
VCole (2022), 147 pages