Kyle Swift, the novel’s deuteragonist, is defined by his effort to form relationships without repeating earlier patterns shaped by harm. At 25, Kyle is a witty and charming graduate student and bartender who uses a casual and flirtatious exterior to manage vulnerability and deflect emotional risk. Outwardly, he is confident and sexually open, but he remains cautious about situations that resemble past experiences. His history with Ian, an older, married boss who exploited him as a teenager, has left him cynical about relationships, particularly with men like Eric. This history shapes his initial reluctance to trust Eric and his expectation that attraction may involve emotional unavailability or imbalance. His development involves learning to distinguish between a respectful, communicative relationship and the patterns that once placed him in a vulnerable position.

Kyle’s most prominent trait is his use of flirtation as a shield. He admits to Eric that his playful banter is “basically a defense mechanism for me” (90). This defense is a direct result of his traumatic first relationship, which not only outed him to his conservative Vermont town but also alienated him from his family. He initially categorizes Eric as another closeted, married man looking for a secret affair, reflecting a protective assumption shaped by past experience. However, Eric’s patience, respect, and consistent communication, both in and out of the bedroom, slowly dismantle Kyle’s defenses. The emphasis on consent and mutual pleasure in their sexual encounters stands in stark contrast to the power imbalance of Kyle’s earlier relationship. This contrast allows Kyle to reconsider how intimacy can function without control or coercion, and over time he becomes more willing to remain emotionally present rather than retreating behind humor or detachment.

Beneath his guarded exterior, Kyle is perceptive and attentive, though he often feels uncertain about his direction. He is studying ancient art history at Columbia and speaks multiple languages, but he confesses that he is on a path he does not necessarily want, lamenting, “I’m working on a degree I don’t even want” (56). His true passion lies in hospitality and creating community, which he demonstrates through his work at the Kingfisher bar. He is loyal to his friends, particularly his roommate, Maria, and his best friend, Kip, for whom he maintains a long-standing and unresolved attraction. This attachment indicates an ongoing tendency to invest in unavailable relationships, which continues to influence how he approaches intimacy. In his interactions with Eric, Kyle takes on a guiding role in moments of intimacy while still navigating his own uncertainty. As he becomes more comfortable in these interactions, he begins to pursue his own interests with greater confidence, eventually taking on the management of the newly renovated Kingfisher and working toward a future that reflects his evolving sense of self.

Scott Hunter, the captain of the New York Admirals, functions as a mentor and a foil to Eric. As the first openly gay player in the NHL, Scott’s journey toward living more openly and with greater personal ease serves as an important point of reference for Eric. Having already navigated the difficulties of coming out in a hyper-masculine environment, Scott demonstrates what it can look like to live without the same level of concealment that once shaped his life. His public relationship with his fiancé, Kip, provides a visible example of a life that integrates personal identity and professional presence, which influences how Eric begins to think about his own situation.

Scott is a supportive and attentive friend who consistently encourages Eric to engage more socially and to step outside patterns of isolation. His presence in the narrative remains consistent, as he is reliably perceptive and responsive to the people around him, particularly in the way he recognizes when Eric is withdrawing.

Scott’s presence contributes to a shift in how queer identity is situated within the novel’s hockey environment. His openness, along with his integration into the team, challenges the assumption that professional sports must remain rigidly exclusionary, even if that broader culture has not fully changed. Through his interactions with teammates and his relationship with Kip, Scott helps to establish a context in which Eric’s own self-exploration becomes easier to acknowledge, even if it remains uncertain.

Kip Grady acts as a catalyst for the plot, serving as the central link between Eric and Kyle’s separate worlds. As Scott Hunter’s fiancé and Kyle’s best friend, Kip is the reason the two protagonists meet. Initially, Kip is the object of Kyle’s unrequited affection, reflecting Kyle’s tendency to invest in unavailable relationships. Kip’s engagement to Scott prompts Kyle to confront this attachment and reconsider how he approaches relationships. Kip is a warm and supportive character who is closely attentive to his friends. He actively tries to foster a friendship between Eric and Kyle, recognizing that they share common interests like art. Though his role is primarily to facilitate the central romance, his consistent loyalty and presence make him a steadying influence within the narrative.

Ilya Rozanov, an all-star player for a rival team, is a trickster figure who challenges expectations. On the ice, he is an obnoxious and infuriating opponent. Off the ice, he also appears perceptive and at times unexpectedly supportive. He is the first person to openly comment on Eric’s attraction to Kyle, Eric’s impending retirement, and the wedding ring Eric wears as a way of maintaining distance. Rozanov’s blunt observations push Eric to acknowledge ideas he has been avoiding. Despite his reputation as a disruptive presence, Rozanov’s interactions with Eric introduce moments of reflection that complicate how he is perceived.

Carter Vaughan, one of Eric’s closest friends on the team, represents the well-meaning yet less perceptive side of the hockey world. Carter is a loyal and fun-loving friend who genuinely cares for Eric, especially in the wake of his divorce. However, he interprets Eric’s loneliness and quiet nature through a heteronormative lens, missing the extent of the identity-related concerns Eric is navigating. He often provides comic relief with his loud and boisterous personality, which contrasts with Eric’s more reserved and introspective nature. Carter reflects a form of friendship grounded in familiarity and shared environment, which has shaped much of Eric’s social life, while also drawing attention to the limits of that understanding in certain contexts.

Maria Villanueva is Kyle’s roommate and serves as his primary confidant and a grounding force in his life. She is an essential supporting presence who offers blunt, practical advice and consistent support. Having heard the story of Kyle’s traumatic past, she understands his reluctance to trust older men and encourages him to reflect on his emotional choices. She challenges his self-pity regarding his crush on Kip and urges him to consider forms of connection that are more sustaining. Maria represents Kyle’s found family in New York, providing him with a space where he can express vulnerability and process his experiences, highlighting the role of community in shaping emotional stability over time.