8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
The next morning, after an awful night of sleep, I make my way to the community arena that sits perfectly between mine and Levi’s neighborhood and Stevi and JJ’s neighborhood for our weekly off-season skate.
Parking my car a few spots from the door, I see that only Dono, Packer, JJ, and Stevi are already there. No Levi. Looks like I won’t have to pass the Zamboni today. We all agreed last summer that the last one to show up at the rink has to pass the Zamboni. We felt too bad making someone come in on a Friday to pass it, so we agreed to do it ourselves.
I take a good whiff when I walk in. You would think that I’d be used to the smell of arenas, or even hate it since it’s now my job, but I have to say, there’s nothing like the smell of a well-used and loved community arena. Every time I walk in and take a deep breath, I’m hit with a childhood memory reminding me why I still love the game and why I play in the big leagues.
As I make my way towards the locker rooms, I’m hit with the memory of the last time I skated, or attempted to skate, with Sadie. The little shit begged and begged me to bring her skating, she needed to get better for a tenth birthday party the “cool girl” at school was throwing at a skating rink. She lasted three minutes. Not three minutes on the ice, but three minutes from getting into the rink and back into the truck. I tied her skates and told her to wait for me before she got on, but of course she didn’t wait. She barely had two skates on the ice before face-planting, calmly getting up, taking off her skates, and telling me she’d meet me at the truck. I’d like to say she grew out of that sass, but if anything it’s gotten worse as she’s gotten older.
Smiling at the memory, I make my way to my usual spot in the changing room and start putting my gear on. I’m halfway to being ready when Stevi and Levi walk in.
“How’s Hannah feeling this morning?” JJ asks as Levi starts unpacking his gear.
“I’m not sure,” he answers, laughing. “But I did hear her get up in the middle of the night to throw up. So I’m thinking she’s not feeling too-too good.”
If she’s not feeling good, why did he leave her alone? My mom told me once that people die choking on their own vomit. And why the hell am I so concerned? I need a skate. Yeah a good skate or fuck will get this girl out of my system . Maybe tonight I’ll hit a bar . . .
“ How are Lacey and Ellie feeling?” Levi asks, cutting my train of thought.
“Ellie didn’t even move when I got out of bed or when I brought her a cup of coffee, and Lacey yelled or tried to yell at me for waking her up when I brought her a cup of coffee in bed,” he says with a laugh and a shake of the head.
“I didn’t think Ellie could drink that much,” Stevi comments, pulling his jersey over his head. “Seriously, I saw five tequila shots last night. Who knows how many I missed and how many they did before I got there,” he says with an impressed look. “I didn’t think they had it in them.”
“Well, they’ll definitely be paying the price for it later today,” JJ says, laughing as he makes his way to the ice.
“I vote we take it easy today,” Packer suggests, once we’re all on the ice stretching.
“And why’s that?” Stevie asks. “It’s not like you came out with us last night.”
“Just because I wasn’t with you guys doesn’t mean I didn’t come . If you get what I mean,” he says brushing invisible lint from his shoulder.
“On a Thursday night, really?” Levi says with a smirk. “Who did you pick up on a Thursday night if you didn’t come out with us?”
“I caught the shift change at a cute little coffee shop. Let’s just say that this morning I made coffee for the cute little barista that made me my coffee last night,” he answers confidently.
“You’re unbelievable.” JJ laughs.
“Now, don’t be hating because you’re tied down,” Packer says as he starts skating backward to the other end of the rink.
As we all start slowly skating around the rink, I end up skating beside Levi.
“So, how is Hannah adjusting to life in Oil Country?” I ask.
“She’s adjusting well. Started doing yoga with JJ, the girls, and I. Plus, she’s always hanging out with the girls. Already seems happier than when she first got here. She’s becoming more and more herself after the number her ex-husband did on her. Why?” he asks me, giving me a warning look.
“Just wondering,” I answer, too quickly.
“Yeah, better keep it at just wondering. She doesn’t need any more trouble.”
“Who says I’m trouble?” I ask.
Turning around, catching some speed to skate backwards, he yells, “When was the last time you gave a girl a second thought?”
Three and a half years ago , I think to myself. Or, since the girl I was in love with slept with everyone but me. Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I wind up skating next to JJ.
“Levi warning you away from Hannah?”
“Sounds like that. Not that I’m interested,” I lie.
“I say this with all the love in the world man, but stay away from that one. From what Ellie has let slip, her ex-husband is a piece of work, and she’s too sarcastic and wild for you. I’ve heard Levi talk about her more than once, and that girl is too good of a catch for you to mess around with,” he says with his own warning look.
Am I really that bad of a guy? Women know what they’re getting into when I take them home. Or when they bring me home, I should say, since I never bring anyone home. I’m stuck debating my own morality for the entire hour I’m on the ice, thankful that everyone agreed with Packer that we should take it easy today.
Before I know it, I’m sitting in my truck on my way to my parents’ house instead of my own. I haven’t lived at home in a couple of years, yet I still manage to make the forty-five minute drive without realizing it. I park my truck next to my mom’s SUV, but movement catches the corner of my eye and I see my mom leading her mare out. Noticing my truck, she sends me a wave. Making my way to her, she can clearly see something is bothering me. She doesn’t even say hi, she just says, “I was waiting for your dad to get home before saddling Lily here for a ride. How about you go saddle Stella?”
Not needing to be told twice, I make my way to the back of the barn, where my dad built a makeshift walk-in closet for all of our riding stuff like our boots, hats. Switching out my shoes for my cowboy boots, I grab my hat and go saddle Stella. Making my way towards Stella, she starts whimpering as she sees me approaching.
“Hey there, girl. You wanna go for a ride?” I say as I get to her stall, reaching in to pat her. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden her. I used to ride her at every chance I got, but nowadays life is just so busy so I rarely get out. Once I’m sitting atop of her, I urge her to meet my mom who’s now sitting on Lily.
“I should do this more often,” I say once both mom and I are in the field, making our way towards the creek that runs through the eastern side of the property.
“You should. It’s a great way to clear your mind. To get away from the hustle and bustle,” my mom quietly answers.
About an hour later as we’re nearing the creek, she finally asks, “So are you going to tell me what’s got you coming home on a sunny Friday afternoon instead of hanging out with your friends?”
“Can’t I just want to see my mom?” I say without looking at her.
She waits until we’ve both gotten off the horses and are leading them to the creek before she says, “You know, I know you better than that.” With a look she continues, “You’re not still hung up on what Levi said the other day, are you?”
Sitting by the creek running my hands through the grass, I look at the moving water. “No, it has nothing to do with that. Well maybe in a roundabout way, but not really.”
“Sure, that makes sense,” she says with a laugh. “I know I’m raising a teenage girl, so I know how to read between the lines, but you’re going to have to give me more than that,” she continues, taking a seat next to me.
“When did you know dad was the one?” The question comes out before I even know I’m going to ask it.
“So, it is still about what Levi said. I knew your dad was the one the minute I set my eye on him. It was the first day of school, I had just moved to Calgary,” she says with a soft smile on her face, lost in the memory. “I was nervous and late for my first day, I wasn’t looking where I was going and I walked, more like smacked, right into a tall guy with the greenest eyes I had ever seen. I started to fall backwards but he was fast enough to grab me so I didn’t fall. The minute I touched his hand, it was like I could finally breathe, like a weight I didn’t know I was carrying was lifted. Right then and there I knew he was the one. I was going to spend the rest of my life with him,” she finishes and turns to look at me.
After a few minutes of silence, she nudges my shoulders with hers and asks, “Are you going to tell me where this question is coming from? Did you meet someone or are you thinking of starting to date?”
If only she knew . . . I felt the exact same way when I shook Hannah’s hand.