Family Matters
MACKLIN
Leave it to Coach Harrison to summon us for the first practice of the season on a Saturday morning. At seven a.m.
“Dude, watch it.” I snap as Heston walks right into me on our way to the locker room.
“Huh? Sorry, man. My bad.” The last two words are swallowed by a yawn. “I feel like a fucking zombie.”
I shake my head. “It’s been only two weeks since summer training ended. We’ve been showing up for morning skate even earlier all summer; you should be used to the early starts. Did you undo weeks of conditioning with a two week long party?”
It wouldn’t surprise me if Vaughn Heston was actually coming to practice straight from a party.
“Let’s just say,” he chuckles, confirming my suspicions. “That I tried to fit in all the wild parties I could in this two-week break.”
“You act as if we aren’t going to party during the year, anyway.” I roll my eyes.
He slaps my back. “Don’t worry, Captain. There’s nothing like the crisp air of the arena to wake me up.”
“Heston.” Tucker enters the locker room with Colsen and Nash in tow. “Are you already giving our captain a headache?”
Vaughn raises his hands in a defensive way. “Nope. I was just telling our captain that I made good use of our break to get some shit out of my system. Fuck knows that we’ll have to be disciplined now that the season’s about to start.”
Everyone in the locker room laughs at that statement.
“As if you knew the meaning of that word,” Colsen ribs him.
We all know that Heston lives for the wild parties and the puck bunnies.
“Hey,” he whines, offended. “There’s nothing wrong with some R I’m only human. But I’m not jealous.
I support my brother, but I want to succeed in my own right.
I’m proud of him for being called the best hockey prospect of our generation. Is it wrong, though, to want some of that spotlight for myself too?
The thing is that getting noticed by following in his coattails was impossible, so I chose to forge my own path.
That’s why despite Star Cove being my dream college, I chose Bridgeport. I tried to explain that choosing a different college wasn’t a personal choice but a professional one. Ok, maybe a little personal too.
But Mack didn’t get it. Like I’m sure he isn’t going to get it any other time, I’m going to choose a different path.
The prime example is that he decided not to enter the draft since he has pretty much every NHL team under the sun courting him since his freshman year. The bonuses they’re offering him make the NHL entry level salary look like pocket money.
I know that I’m not going to receive the same level of attention, so I’m debating whether entering the draft is my best option. I’ll have to decide soon since this year is my last chance to enter.
Once our medicals are concluded, Coach Harrison ushers me and Nigel into the gym, where our new teammates are having a conditioning session.
It’s kinda nice to have a familiar face with me even though Nigel Worthing is a senior, so we weren’t exactly close last year.
The second we enter the weight room, my brother is the first person I spot.
He’s about to sit on a bench with our goalie, Tucker Prescott, ready to spot him.
I’m still searching for the right words to greet him when Prescott comes to offer me his hand to shake.
“Welcome to Star Cove, Shayba. We’re a family here, and I hope we can all help you to feel at home.”
His friendly smile makes me immediately feel better. “Thanks, man. It means a lot. I’m honored to play with you. You’re the best goalie in the NCAA, hands down.”
I mean every word. Prescott will do great things, just like my brother.
Mack doesn’t say one word. He watches my interaction with Tucker with that intensity he’s always had where hockey is concerned.
Having Tucker’s endorsement opens the floodgates, and all the other guys come to welcome me and Nigel.
I’m grateful for Tucker’s support. The relationship between Cove Knights and Bridgeport Tigers has always been tense at best. We were the closest Division One team geographically, and the rivalry between the two teams has always burned bright.
At least until last year, when we had to deal with so much uncertainty and turmoil that we had the most disastrous season in the history of the team. It’s sad that it ended up being the team’s last season, too.
And now here I am, exactly where I vowed I would never put myself again, at least not by my own choice. In my brother’s shadow.
After everyone shakes my hand, there are no other distractions left to avoid facing him.
His eyes land on me, from the weight bench he’s still straddling.
We stare at each other for a few tensions charged seconds, and then I’m the first one to cave, like it’s always been.
“Mack,” I bite out.
“Becks.” He responds right on cue.
I can feel everyone’s eyes on us. “Do you need any help to move in?” He blinks a couple of times, thrown by my question. “Come again?”
“The apartment Dad rented us right off-campus. It’s for both of us.”
“Nah,” Mack doesn’t look me in the eye. “I have a room at the Gamma House. I’m the team captain this year, and most of the team lives there. You should consider it.”
Yeah, no. “I didn’t pledge any fraternity last year, so…”
“It isn’t too late to pledge this year.” He says.
That’s probably the last thing I’d do. As a pledge, I would be on the lowest rung of the pecking order. I’m not looking for another way to let my brother have the upper hand on me.
“I’m new here. I prefer to have my own space while I get my bearings in town.”
“Even more reason to join. You’ll get to know everyone much faster. Like Tucker said, this team is like a big, extended family.”
That’s exactly what I’m worried about. Another family where Mack is the golden child and I’m always trying to live up to his glory. “Thanks, but I’m all settled.”
If I expected Mack to put up more of a fight about it, I’d be surprised when he doesn’t.
I’m not sure if I’m more relieved or disappointed about it.
“Ok. But you’re coming to every post-game party. It’s mandatory.”
“Great.” I barely stifle an eye roll. “Mandatory fun.”
Mack doesn’t rise to my poorly veiled provocation. “In case you haven’t noticed, this is a training session. If you aren’t working out, make yourself useful and spot me, since Tucker abandoned me.”
As I’ve always done since I can remember, I fall in line and walk behind the bench.
There’s a little annoying smile on my brother’s face. I know exactly what he’s doing. We’ve always competed on how much we could bench press. Until today, Mack has always smoked me.
But I’ve been working hard and I can’t wait to see his face when I add a hefty amount of weight to that bar when it’s my turn.