Chapter 9 #2
“He’ll be over again, huh?” While I was gone. But there was nothing between them, right? Just good friends? I snapped the lid onto the container. “Hey, Drew isn’t—”
“No, he’s straight.” He stepped toward me and grabbed my hand. “We’ve been friends since middle school. He’s seen a lot of the shit I went through.” He pulled my hand. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
Bean perked up, rose from his bed against the wall, and then trotted toward us.
“Sure.” I followed him with the leftovers in my hand. I wanted to know Drew better. I bet he could tell me things about Ronan to help me understand him.
As we stopped at the door, Ronan faced me. “I really enjoyed tonight.” Bringing our hands up, he threaded his fingers through mine. “Play well in these next games and don’t get hurt.” He gave me a pointed look.
“I’ll do my best.” Leaning close, I pressed my lips against his, holding the kiss for a few moments before ending it. “Do those exercises I showed you and say hello to Drew for me.” I’d leave it at that.
“I will.” He gave me a warm smile and patted my ass. “Now, get some rest.”
“Yeah, okay.” After side-hugging him and petting Bean, I stepped into the cool night air, filled with the scents of desert flowers. Wasn’t it cliché that people fell in love in the spring? The shit that went through my damn head.
I arrived early the next morning for a short skate and a team breakfast. After the skate with Laine, I showered and made my way to the catered breakfast of eggs, oatmeal, and fruit in the player’s lounge.
“Hey, Evan. How was the day off?” Lucas patted my back.
“Great.” Shit, I’d told him I was having lunch with Colton. I stood in line at the food table.
“How is Colton doing?” He picked up a plate and added a heap of scrambled eggs to it.
“Great.” Was that the only word I knew? I scooped eggs onto a plate and then added cantaloupe before grabbing a bowl of oatmeal.
“Hey, let’s sit with my brother and Jarvis.” He nodded at them, and Mason patted an open spot next to him.
“Sure.” I should develop better relationships with these guys, even though they were on offense. I followed him to the table and fell into a chair beside him and across from Mason and Jarvis. Those two were such heavy hitters. It was almost surreal sitting with them.
“Lucas, I see you brought your friend from the AHL along.” Mason snickered and shoveled eggs into his mouth.
“Mason, be nice.” Jarvis smiled at me, his green-eyed gaze finding mine, his brown hair falling to his shoulders in the back.
Was he growing his hair during the playoffs? “I can take it.” I lifted my chin. Let the chirping begin. It would only get worse when we hit the ice, except it’d be from the Sharks.
“How did you two spend your day off?” Lucas winced and held his hand up. “Don’t answer that.”
“Why, because you know we spent a lot of time in bed?” A cackle rippled from Mason’s throat as he elbowed Jarvis. “No better place for a day off, am I right, babe?”
Shaking his head and smirking, Jarvis said, “We’re with the team…”
Mason said, “Yeah, whatever. They all know we’re married. It’s not like we—”
“Mason.” Jarvis slapped his hand over Mason’s mouth. “Sorry, Crosby, he has no filter.”
I snickered. Mason Hopkins was out there for sure. His brother was so different. I glanced at Lucas, spooning oatmeal into his mouth. He’d ignored them.
It was so odd, having all these queer guys on the team, guys that were out and no one seemed to care. What would happen if I told them about me and Ronan? I stuck my fork into my eggs. It was on another level. I still had to secure my spot, and Ronan was a celebrity. All hell would break loose.
Lucas glanced at me. “You said little about Colton. How are things with him?”
“They’re fine. He’s, uh, looking forward to moving to Denver when the school year ends.” Lucas had only met Colton a few times during last summer’s off-season. It was like I had two friend groups—Colton and his football-playing friends, and then my hockey buddies.
“Any news from the Firebirds? Like Gagnon? I kind of miss him. Maybe he’ll get called up next year.” He ate more oatmeal.
“You shut your mouth, Little Hopkins.” Mason pointed a spoon at his brother, glaring at him. “For him to be called up, something bad would have to happen to Ace or Sampson. It’s bad karma to talk like that during the playoffs.” He huffed.
“Shit, sorry.” Slumping his shoulders, Lucas tensed his mouth. “Believe me, I love playing with Ace and Sampson too.”
I rubbed Lucas’s shoulder. Damn, Mason was ornery today. “Hey, he just said—”
“You, too, Crosby. You both have to take this shit seriously. If Ace gets hurt tonight, it’ll be on you.” He glanced behind him, toward a table where Ace sat, chatting excitedly with Sampson.
“Don’t be so hard on them.” Jarvis scoffed and scooped yogurt out of a container and then eyed both of us. “But he’s right. Be careful about the energy you throw out.”
“Yeah, sorry.” Hell, these guys took superstitions to another level.
My only superstition had been how I taped my stick.
I cast a glance at Lucas. He alone knew about it.
If I didn’t tape my stick just right, I had to start all over.
For whatever reason, if I played badly, I always questioned my tape job.
“So, what’ll you do if we win these next two games and get the week off? Want to join me and Ezra for dinner?” He ate more eggs and then poured orange juice into a glass from a pitcher on the table.
I didn’t have a plausible excuse to say no. “Uh, sure.” Spooning oatmeal into my mouth, I thought it through. I wouldn’t spend every day off with Ronan, right? But damn, spending the night with him in that big house would be pleasant. The morning sunrises had to be spectacular from his backyard.
“Good. We could have you over one night?” He gave me a kind smile.
“Lucas, what the hell? Don’t make plans for a week off we haven’t earned yet.” Mason scoffed and held his hand out to him. “Have I taught you nothing?”
Jarvis pinched the bridge of his nose and snickered. “I can’t wait for the game tonight. With this attitude, you’ll be on fire.”
“But Jett, he should know better. He’s a fucking Hopkins.” As the hint of a smile teased his lips, he stood, reached across the table and batted Lucas’s head. “There, now I hope I’ve knocked some sense into you.”
As Lucas’s dark hair flew, he flinched and said, “Ow, damn.” He rubbed his head.
The entire team turned its attention on us.
Ace said, “Uh-oh, Big Hopkins is beating up Little Hopkins.” He chortled. “Hey, save it for the other team.”
The room filled with laughter, and I chuckled with them. I’d thought it would be cool to play with my brother someday. Now, not so much.
After napping, team meetings and a warm-up routine, I stood in the locker room fully dressed and ready to hit the ice.
I’d heard nothing from Ronan all day. Was he avoiding me?
The comment about the Tupperware replayed in my head.
I plucked my phone from the top cubby of my stall and checked it.
He should text and wish me well, right? Or would he think he was throwing my game off?
Hell, I had to stop thinking about him. He might simply be engrossed in a song and have lost track of time. Musicians did that, didn’t they? As I lifted my hand, ready to toss my phone into my cubby, it buzzed.
Was it him? I glanced around me and then peered at the screen. It was a message from him. As my heart flipped, I tapped the screen.
Lucas patted my ass and leaned over me, peeking at my phone. “Oh, a text from Ronan Vale?” With a sharp laugh, he pointed at the screen. “How sweet, he’s wishing you a good game.”
I turned on Lucas, sharp heat flooding my chest. Through my teeth, I said, “Be quiet. You don’t have to tell everyone.” Damn it, who else heard him? I surveyed the guys, a few of them looking my way with raised brows and smirking.
“Sorry, dude. I didn’t know it was a secret. I thought you two were buddies now?” He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing.
My pulse pitched. I was giving myself away. I had to tone this down. After pursing my lips, I said, “Yes, we’re buddies, I guess.”
“Cool.” Setting a hand on my padded shoulder, he came in close. “When will you see him again? Are you still helping him with his back?” His brows swept up.
“I…I don’t know.” It was the truth. We hadn’t agreed on a specific day to meet. I dropped the phone to my side. I couldn’t text back until Lucas was gone. Shit, I had to give him something. “Probably when we return from this road trip.”
“Oh…” He gave me a sly grin and patted my shoulder. “Okay, then.” He twisted and ambled toward Archer Carlson, who’d now become his defensive partner as a first pair.
My phone buzzed again as I lifted it to my face with a new text message.
Ronan
Please be careful out there. I’ll be watching.
A smile swept across my lips. Thank God Lucas hadn’t seen this one. I tapped the screen.
Evan
Thank you. It means a lot. I’ll do my best.
I stared at the screen. Should I add some silly emojis to my text? Which one, though? I should send him something cute like he had.
Evan
My cheeks flamed, and I scoffed a laugh.
“All right, boys, it is time to hit the ice.” Volkov strolled through the locker room, tapping helmets and handing out high-fives.
“Shit.” I tossed the phone into my cubby, met up with Laine and strutted through the tunnel.
I sat on the bench next to Laine halfway into the second period, chewing my mouthpiece and waiting for our next shift. The Hopkins brothers were making San Jose look like a Juniors team. Mason had already scored two goals, and so far, Ace was getting a shutout thanks to Lucas and Carlson.
With my knee bobbing, I said, “Fucking San Jose doesn’t have a chance tonight.” Yeah, I felt pretty good about this game.
“Dude, it’s not over.” Laine glanced at me.