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Brandon: I've officially got another one.
Cathy: Another what, dear?
Brandon: Queer hockey player Hollander is officially a Centaur.
Cathy: Really? Rozanov and Hollander, on the same team, are going to be terrifying to play against.
Cathy: You're bringing the cup home this season, for sure.
Brandon: I know, right? :)
Brandon: I still can't believe Montreal let him walk. I feel bad for the kid, from what I've gotten Ilya to tell me, the team was horrible when they found out about the two of them. Compared to what I've seen on the ice, he looked so small.
Brandon: Is it weird to call a grown adult small?
Cathy: I know what you mean. What I read made me want to wrap him in a hug and never let him go.
Cathy: Their loss is our gain. I'm glad that he was able to land somewhere where he can be supported.
Brandon: Everyone on this team will protect him.
Brandon: Even if he wasn't involved with Rozanov, my guys don't put up with that bullshit .
Cathy: I know you lead by example.
Brandon: I'm sure Crowell will send me another email about "maintaining professionalism".
Cathy: Fuck that guy.
Brandon: Have I told you lately that I love you?
Cathy: Yes.
Cathy: But a girl never gets tired of hearing it.
Brandon: I love you.
Cathy: :)
Cathy: So how many queer players is that now?
Brandon: Three out publicly. There's a few that are out to the team but want to keep their life private
Brandon: Plus Harris. At this point, he's pretty much an honorary Centaur.
Brandon: And, whatever is going on with Haas.
Brandon: I don't think he knows what he is yet.
Cathy: Give him time, he'll figure it out eventually.
Brandon: I think he'll have a lot to learn from Shane and Ilya.
Brandon: Did I tell you what he said when Ilya let it slip that Shane was signing with us?
Cathy: No.
Brandon: He told Ilya 'Wait, Hollander is coming here? He was my favorite player growing up." Then he got really quiet when he realised that he said it to Ilya.
Cathy: How did Ilya respond? I know he's basically adopted Haas.
Brandon: He was silent for a few seconds, and then he grinned like an idiot. He told him, "Mine too," and became this emoji 😍.
Cathy: Oh my god, they're going to be one of those couples now that they can be out, aren't they? Gross, lol.
Brandon: You're 100% right. On the ice, they are the most focused I've seen from any player, but off ice or before practice, I can't believe they never gave the secret away sooner.
Brandon: And, Shane has taken to Haas faster than Ilya did. If Haas wasn't a fully grown man, I would be expecting the next scandal to be that two of my players were adopting a third. I think Haas is still a little star-struck over Shane. I only had them skating simple stuff today for compatibility checks, and Shane had to say Haas' name three times to get his attention.
Cathy: Poor baby, he not only gets to meet two of his idols, but gets to be on the same team with them.
Brandon: I've never seen Haas take feedback from anybody as well as he did from Shane. It's a shame we can't have 2 captains, the kid is a born leader. He even got Rozanov to behave.
Cathy: Pretty soon he'll come for your job ;) .
Brandon: If he ever has any interest in coaching after he retires, I would find a place for him on my bench in a heartbeat.
Brandon: I'm leaving my office now. I'll be home in 20 minutes. Love you.
Cathy: Love you too!
Wiebe locked his phone, stood up, and stretched. He looked out his office window, where he saw Luca, Shane, and Ilya casually passing a puck back and forth. He doesn't hear what Luca tells Ilya, but watches with a smile as he pulls the younger man into a one-armed hug and rubs his head like a teasing older brother. Shane starts laughing in a way that Wiebe didn't think was possible when Ilya had first approached him about seeing if they could sign Shane and heard what he had gone through. Wiebe smiled to himself, thinking that he made the right choice signing Shane.