16. Liam
LIAM
I don’t know what is more tiring.
Playing three away games back to back and not sleeping in your own bed for a whole damn week. Or listen to Blake and Christian argue about who might be the fastest.
I’m putting all my money on the second one because I would rather get on fifty flights and play a hundred games instead of hearing these two assholes argue.
Whoever suggested that these two race across the ice is getting my stick up the ass.
Practice ended about ten minutes ago and the only people left on the ice are the two idiots, me, Logan, and our coach.
While the two princesses argue, me and the other two men watch them as if they were a car about to burst into flames.
“I’m surprised that Rodriguez hasn’t thrown a punch in Jacobi’s direction.” Logan musses, speaking for the first time since practice ended.
The dude is a man of little words but sometimes I can’t help but to agree with him.
“He won’t. He’s going to antagonize Jacobi until the kid storms off,” coach answers.
Another man that I tend to agree with.
Well when it comes to hockey. There’s some personal shit that he can work on.
“I’m breaking them up. It's the same shit every single time.” I say, shaking my head.
Today is an off day, so thank god we don’t have a game or these two would be embarrassing the whole team in front of the fans.
We don’t need that shit. We’re currently not only at the top of our division but we are a game away from being at the top of our conference. If these two continue to argue like a bunch of babies over stupid shit, it could come and kick us in the ass.
Leaving coach and Logan behind, I skate over to Tweddle Dum and Dee and get between them.
“You two done?” I ask, looking between the two of them.
“Not until he admits that I beat him in that race.” Blake argues, crossing his arms across his chest.
“You didn’t beat me. I won by a literal strand.” Christian throws back. From the smirk on his face, I know that he knows that Blake won, but he's going to continue to gaslight probably until he makes him cry.
Children. I’m dealing with fucking children.
Is this what being a dad is going to be like?
Getting in the middle of arguments about who is faster?
God, I hope Chloe has a girl, because no way in hell am I going to be able to handle boys and their damn competitiveness. Especially if the kid takes after me. My competitiveness has only gotten worse since I was a kid but at least it’s not at the level of these two.
I sigh.
There is one way to settle this and the second that the suggestion leaves my mouth, I’m going to regret it.
“Just have another race and end this shit. I don’t want to hear you two whine all day.”
Both men turn to look at me and give a smirk.
Yup. I instantly regret what I just said.
“I like the sound of that.” Christian says, his smirk turning into a sadistic smirk.
“Fine but we are making this interesting. One time around the ice. Have to pass both the coach and Logan and Crawford times it. Winner get bragging rights.” Blake declares, holding out a hand to Christian.
Bragging rights.
All of this for damn bragging rights.
I fucking hate my friends.
Since they’re annoying the hell out of me, I decided to make this whole thing a little more interesting.
“Bragging rights and the loser comes over to my place once the baby is born and changes diapers for a day.”
They want to be little bitches, I might as well add something that will be for my own benefit.
Both Christian and Blake look over to me with wide eyes.
They both know that Chloe is pregnant and that we are having a baby together in a few months. I had to tell them and the team what was going on just in case something happened and I had to miss a few games.
I got some surprised looks but for the most part, people were accepting of it. So far the news hasn’t made it out of the arena, which I’m happy about and hoping to keep that way.
My parents were also excited when I told them the news.
Shocked but still excited. So damn excited that my mom started to plan a wedding between me and Chloe.
Thankfully she understood when I told her that we aren’t together and nipped the wedding planning in the bud.
Both of them call me every few days to ask how Chloe is doing, which I find really sweet.
“I’ve never changed a diaper before.” Blake says, scratching his head. It’s like he already knows he’s going to lose.
“Think of it as practice for when you have nieces and nephews. So are we going to do this or not?”
I skate to center ice and hold out the stopwatch that was used during the first race.
The two idiots look at each other like they are asking the other if they are really doing this. Neither of them wants to change dirty diapers, so they are either going to race and hope that they win, or call it off all together.
To my surprise, they both nod and skate over to the edge of the ice to get into position.
So much for calling the race.
I look back to where coach and Logan stand and nod for them to get into position.
Logan doesn’t argue, he just keeps his stoic expression and skates over to where he’s supposed to be.
Coach on the other hand, grumbles the whole way across the ice.
“I can’t believe I go along with this shit. You four owe me for this,” he mutters as he skates past me.
He talks shit now, but he’s the first one to sign up whenever one of us starts horsing around. The dude is just as much of a little kid as Christian and Blake.
“Alright. I lap around the ice. You have to pass both coach and Logan to win. I will let you know who was the fastest. Winner gets bragging rights and the loser gets to change dirty diapers for a day.” I yell out, getting nods from idiot one and two.
“On three.” I announce.
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three.”
The second that coach yells out three, arms go flying everywhere. Christian shoves Blake and Blake shoves him back before they both find their balance and speed off.
Blake being one of the team’s right wingers, he has natural speed that some men wish they had. Christian though, he does speed drills like no other. He’s one of the best skaters that I have ever seen and will be fast when you least expect it.
They pass Logan at the same time and continue to move down the ice to where Coach is. From where I’m standing, it looks like Christian is in the lead by an inch or two.
Chris is about to win his bragging rights when I see him pull back a tiny bit and let Blake pass him and pass Coach a second before he does.
The grumpy bastard let the kid beat him.
Looks like he does have a heart after all.
“Hell yeah,” Blake yells out, pumping his fist in the air.
I look over to my best friend and find him shaking his head acting in disbelief that he was beat out.
“You better not feed your kid any gross shit, Crawford. No way am I changing diapers that smell like my gym bag.” Chris says, skating over to me.
He’s putting on a show and Blake is none the wiser.
“I’ll talk to Chloe and see what I can do.” I say, raising an eyebrow at him in question.
I just get a shrug in return.
“He was never going to shut up about it,” he whispers, wiping his face on his jersey.
“He’s not going to shut up about it no matter what.” I say back, turning to look at Blake taking a victory lap.
I can’t help but wonder if his brother is just as competitive. A childhood where two siblings become professional athletes had to be interesting.
Blake finally calms down after his second lap, coming over to where the four of us are standing with a huge smile on his face.
“That was awesome. Anyone want to do it again?”
“No,” Coach, Logan, Christian and I all answer together.
“Damn. Way to burst a guys bubble,” he says, shaking his head.
I’m about to say something but my reply is cut off when I hear my name and Coach’s name being called from the tunnel.
Both of us skate over to the team doctor, who has a worried look on his face.
“Everything alright?” Coach asks, getting the same feeling that I am.
“I just got a call from Chicago Medical. They admitted a Chloe Vega, they have Liam down as an emergency contact.”
I don’t get off the ice fast enough.