Chapter 14
TYLER
Next day,after practice, I finally get around to responding to my sister’s text messages.
Yo Rubes whassup?
!!! it’s about time you got back to me loozer
Told you I was traveling this week. Ur only 20 is your memory that bad already?
Jerk. Anyhoo, I like Lucy. Like a lot. Don’t blow it w/her
Oh yeah? I guess she’s not bad
Ugh. You are such an asshole. That’s why none of your relationships last
Hmmm.Seems to be a theme lately.
Thank you for your kind words
Seriously, Ty! She’s way cool
I can give you her ## and you can ask her out
oh crap, gotta go. Here comes my boss
don’t lose your job goofball. Just because I am a super successful pro athlete does not mean I’m giving you a penny
Tyler, did you know ur adopted?
hey, that’s my line!
Okay,so the kid sister likes Lucy, which is kind of amazing because she never likes anyone, at least not any of the women I bring home.
But of course she likes Lucy, how could she not? Lucy asked her questions about herself and listened to us talk about our childhood without flinching. She asked intelligent questions about hockey rather than pretending she knew everything.
She’s real. That’s the bottom line. I guess I haven’t brought a lot of ‘real’ women around. Instead, I’ve kind of sat back and let interested women approach me. There’s certainly no shortage of them when you’re a pro athlete, and I’m guilty of reveling in all the women pursuing me. Truth is, I was a status symbol for many of them, something I didn’t bother to correct. I’ve spent way too much being lazy and indifferent, frittering away my limited free time, hanging out with the wrong women for the wrong reasons.
The locker room bench I’m sitting on shakes as someone plops down on it next to me. “Good heads up play today, man.”
Chuck’s joined me on the bench, all showered and ready to go, his wet hair perfectly pulled into one of those man bun things some of the younger guys are wearing. He presses a gel ice pack to one of his knees through the fabric of his trousers.
“Thanks, Chuck. I appreciate that.”
It is amazing how, on the ice, we guys get into each other’s heads, anticipating moves and reactions. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, it’s magic.
“Hey, you’re joining us for dinner tonight, right? I’m heading out in a bit with Rake, Jonas, and some of the other guys,” I say.
“Yeah. I’m down,” he says.
He might be dating Daphne, which I consider to be a grave mistake, but he’s still a good guy.
“Hey, Chuck,” I say.
“Yeah?”
“Not sure if you know, but I dated Daphne a while back. I didn’t want to tell you and put a damper on things for ya, but I figured you ought to know.”
“Yeah, I knew. No worries. To be honest, I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be hanging out, anyway.” He gets to his feet and tosses his ice pack in the garbage. “Some of us are Ubering to the restaurant. See you there?”
“Sure thing, Chuck.”
As soon as he’s gone, Jonas finds me. He sits down on the spot that Chuck just vacated, his jaw tight and his gaze glued to his phone.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
He looks up at me and the only way to describe his expression is tired. I know the guy has a lot going on, and I feel for him. Being a single parent is hard in any circumstance. I watched my dad attempt to do it. But when you have to be on the road half the time, that adds another layer of complexity.
“Oh, I was just Facetiming with one of the kids, who was having a meltdown with the nanny.” With a sigh, he rubs his hands over his eyes.
I pat him on the back. “You’re doing a great job, man. You know I grew up with only one parent. And I turned out okay.”
He looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “Not sure I’d go as far as to say that, my friend,” he laughs.
Rake rounds the corner to join us. “What’s so funny? And why aren’t we heading to dinner? I’m fucking starving.”
Jonas and I get up and we head for the door.
“I was just saying that our friend Tyler here might have grown up with a single parent, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say he came out okay.”
Rake nods, having been caught up with one single sentence.
I know I deserve a good ribbing. God knows I dish it out often enough. “Jonas decided to blow off some steam by having a ‘bust Tyler’s chops moment.’”
Rake rubs his hands together as we make our way out. “Oh, one of my favorite pastimes. Speaking of which, what’s up with Petal’s friend, Lucy? Or has that already imploded and you’re currently being fitted for a pretty pink tutu?”
“Why don’t you ask your wife,” I say, looking around for our Uber ride. “I know you married types share ‘everything,’” I say with air quotes.
“Tried that,” Rake says. “Guess they haven’t spoken in a few days. Something about Lucy being busy with work and some book she’s writing.”
“Oh yeah. She told me she wanted to write a book. I didn’t get around to asking her what sort, though. Probably something about San Francisco. She knows everything about the city.”
As we squeeze into the Uber, I realized I should have ordered one of the larger cars. “Go sit in the front seat,” I tell Jonas.
But the driver waves at us with a ‘no’. “I keep my lunch on the front seat,” she says.
Okay, then. This is one driver who will not be getting a stellar review rating.
“So? Back to Lucy?” Jonas asks, wedging me against the backseat door.
I grab the oh-shit handle as we turn a corner so I don’t end up on the guys’ laps. “I have to say, guys, she’s great. We’re having fun.”
They look at me in surprise.
“I’m serious. It’s true. I know ninety days is a ways off, but I’m pretty sure it will be you two figuring out how to find man-sized tights and dresses. Oh yeah, and figure skates too. You can’t wear hockey skates to a figure skating lesson, you know.”
Whatever. I’m going to win this bet and surprise everyone, least of all Lucy.
And I’m not even going to think about the break up clause. Otherwise, I won’t be able to eat my dinner.