20. Operation Lucky Charm
CHAPTER TWENTY
OPERATION LUCKY CHARM
TUCKER
It’s game day.
Ok, maybe this preseason tournament isn’t as important as the regular season, but Coach has made it clear that he expects to see us perform to the best of our abilities.
I don’t blame him. Our job this summer goes beyond getting in peak physical condition to slay it from the first official game all the way to the Frozen Four final.
With the town bidding for an expansion team and the spotlight that the reality show has put on the Cove Knights, every game counts.
And this tournament might not be anything official, but the games are televised, and that makes losing not an option we even want to entertain.
We all want to look good on TV for different reasons. The players who have been drafted or have signed NHL contracts want to confirm to their teams that they’re worth a chance at a rookie season on NHL ice.
But even the ones who aren’t planning to go pro after college want to end on a high note. Some of my teammates have dreams to make it big in show biz, some are hoping to grow their social media presence no matter what career they decide to pursue.
Winning will make us all look good, and now, thanks to me, we might be fucked before the season even started.
I rub my hand over my face, sitting on the side of my bed. Losing my lucky pants is messing with me more than I admitted to Taryn. She was already feeling guilty enough, and what is done is done. It’s not like she could have unwashed my pants, right?
A knock on my door pulls me out of my mini meltdown.
I haven’t told anyone about what happened with my pants.
My teammates rib me mercilessly about my smelly lucky pants, but I know they’re just as superstitious as I am.
If they knew, they’d freak out just as much as I am, whether they wanted to admit it or not.
“Hey Tuck,” Mack stops on the doorjamb. “Aren’t you coming to Vaughn’s?”
Heston bought a bunch of chicken he’s apparently been marinating since yesterday, and he’s making a pre-game lunch for the whole team.
“No, thanks. I’d rather take a nap.”
“You sure? He bought a BBQ and everything; he’s grilling on his deck.”
I’m pretty sure that using a BBQ within campgrounds is prohibited by the housing rules, but I don’t say anything.
Since I’m keeping Baety in flagrant violation of said rules, I don’t have a leg to stand on.
“If the whole team goes down with salmonella before today’s game, I don’t think there’s going to be a place far enough on earth for Vaughn to hide from Coach. ”
Mack’s face falls. “Do you think that’s a real risk?”
“I don’t know.” I sigh.
Vaughn isn’t a bad kid. He reminds me a little of myself before I started paying attention to the consequences of my own actions.
He just has way more money, so he doesn’t just come across as a jackass; he has a healthy dose of arrogance to go with it.
But he’s skilled on the ice, and he could be one hell of a center if he grew up a little.
“Look, I don’t think he would give the whole team food poisoning on purpose.
Just make sure that chicken is fully cooked before you eat it. ”
“Maybe I’ll just fill up on salad and then get something quick to eat before the game.” Mack looks worried now.
“You never know. Knowing Vaughn, he probably hired a private chef to prep and grill that chicken, and he’s just showing off.”
Mack runs a hand through his hair. “I hope so. Are you sure you don’t want to come? Having you there would be good for team morale.”
“Thanks, man. But I’m a little tired. I didn’t sleep well last night.” I don’t tell him that I was tossing and turning, worrying about the loss of my lucky pants. “Just tell Vaughn that it’s nothing personal. I’d rather sleep than eat right now.”
My teammate’s shoulders sag for a second. “Ok. But it won’t be the same without you. I hope you know that the team looks up to you, Tuck.”
Mack closes the door behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Again.
I know my teammates look up to me. And I also know that since our team captain Luke graduated, Coach will be naming a new captain this year.
If you had asked me about it a few weeks ago, I would have thrown my hat in the ring.
But lately, I don’t know if I have the qualities to lead the team.
Besides, it would be for one season only.
Maybe Coach Harrison would be better off choosing a junior so he would have a captain for two seasons.
Once I hear the front door close, I lean against my pillows and try to relax. Baety is tucked into her dog bed on the floor and looks way more peaceful than I feel.
With my eyes closed and my body stretched on the mattress, I wait for sleep to come.
Of course it doesn’t.
My brain is racing, thinking about everything I’ve done today so far. It’s important to remember everything in case we win tonight, so I can pinpoint another potential lucky charm.
I had a protein shake first thing after waking up, and then after morning skate, I had a toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese, scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, and a side of fresh fruit.
The next hour was spent catching up on the game tape I missed watching yesterday to go to dinner at my parents’.
I fed Baety and cleaned after her, and sent Taryn a text even though I know they have practice and she probably won’t see it until they break for lunch.
My own lunch was a simple PB it would help me relax and maybe even fall asleep after all.
My hand trails down to the waistband of my athletic shorts, but a noise coming from outside my room makes me stop in my tracks.
I strain to listen for any noise with my fingers frozen right under the elastic of the waistband. It was definitely the front door.
Could it be the guys? Granted that the BBQ wasn’t a party with the cheerleaders in attendance or anything like that; it was just a team lunch.
But I doubt that it would be over this quickly.
My roommates haven’t even been gone for half an hour.
That said, it’s possible that the food was such a biohazard that that everyone ran for their lives.
But if that were the case, wouldn’t they go to the dining hall to eat?
The noise coming from the living room is definitely someone’s footsteps. The guys are way more noisy than that, though. Unless, of course, it’s just one of them.
I exhale a steadying breath. If one of the guys is back, I’ll have to be really quiet. We all jerk off, but we all agree that no one wants to hear their roommate's “me time.”
The footsteps come closer to my bedroom, and a few seconds later there’s a knock on my door.
Great. Whoever decided not to hang out at Vaughn’s is about to cause one epic case of blue balls. I’m sure that’s the opposite of any lucky charm.
“Tucker? Can I come in?”
My ears perk up at Taryn’s soft voice, and my cock takes notice that we’re no longer alone by pulsing with need.
“Yeah, come on in.” I call out, stifling a pained groan.
TARYN
I haven’t slept a wink.
Guilt kept me up all night. Tucker was really understanding about the lucky pants incident, but he looked really shaken.
Sadly, I can’t un-wash his pants, but I wish there was something I could do to make it up to him.
That thought has been tormenting me all morning, and I’ve been distracted. Paired with the lack of sleep, rehearsal was a disaster.
Since I was selected for training camp, I’ve been consistently in the top two spots as our trainers rank the dancers to help identify who gets cut each week.