Chapter 15 #2
When he turns around to look back at the movie, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I grab it and see the last thing I expected. A text from Ryan with a link to a Tweet some pundit wrote expressing his wish for a Bouchard brothers Stanley Cup showdown.
What planet does this guy live on? The chances of the Mules playing the Blizzards in the finals are near impossible.
Like sure, yeah, the Blizzards are a heavy favorite as defending champs to make it all the way again, but us Mules have only recently slipped into a playoff spot that we can lose if we don’t win the majority of our remaining games.
It’s amazing how quickly everyone gets ahead of themselves. Seriously. I do mean everyone. The comment section of this Tweet is miles long, filled with people expressing a desire to watch us play against each other. It’s a wild thing to see. And because I’m a masochist, I forward it to Ander.
He immediately responds back.
Fuck yeah, little brother! I’ll see you in the finals.
I text back:
I wouldn’t hold your breath. It’s far more likely we won’t play each other until next season.
Hey! Look who’s finally talking about being back next season.
I roll my eyes.
I’ll do whatever I can to make the team again next season for the sole purpose of scoring a goal against you before I get sent down.
He sends back:
Whatever motivates you
Then adds:
I gotta go.
Warmups start soon.
Have a good game
I mean, as long as I’m not playing him, I want to see him win.
Before I can put my phone back down, it’s vibrating in my hand. Ryan’s name flashes across the screen. I sit up and answer it. “Hello?”
“What are you doing?” he asks me. He sounds out of breath.
My heart rate kicks up in excitement. We’ve been on the road together for days, and we had that intense conversation in our room in Florida where he basically told me that we are never going to happen.
Knowing everything I know after that talk, I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
And yet here he is calling me. I can’t hold back my smile as I answer him.
“I’m watching a movie with Danny. What are you doing? Taking a nap?”
“Obviously not.” He laughs. But it sounds tense. My brow furrows. “What movie are you watching? Is it any good?”
I snap a picture of Danny staring wide eyed at the screen and send it to him through text. “The Lego movie for the thousandth time,” I say. “But as you can see, Danny loves it. So it’s a no-brainer choice.”
“It’s okay,” he says, his laugh sounding easier and his voice calmer. “You can admit you like it too.”
I laugh as I bring more popcorn to my mouth. “I won’t lie. I can recite the entire movie.”
“See. I knew you liked it.”
Even though he sounds more settled, something has my senses telling me there’s more to this phone call of his than wanting to discuss what kids’ movie I’m watching.
It’s like my mom said, check on Ryan from time to time.
Too bad she has no idea how appealing that suggestion is to me despite it being, as Ryan claims, a bad idea.
I decide to take a chance. “If you haven’t seen it yet, you can probably make it here in time for the next showing. ”
“And when is that?”
“Well, if history is anything to go by, it’s as soon as the credits finish rolling on this viewing.”
“Have Vicky get more popcorn ready. I’m heading over.”
Way ahead of you, Ryan. I smile as I bring another handful of popcorn to my mouth.
Ryan
I don’t know why I’m doing this. I’m still far too riled up after everything with my sister, and I’m likely to blurt out things I shouldn’t if I don’t find a way to fully settle down.
But just talking to Brandon was enough to stop me from spiraling completely.
Maybe being around him can settle me. In my anticipation for his company, I’m taking steps two at a time to Danton’s front door.
His dog, Moxy, an aging St. Bernard who was old when I lived here six years ago, is barking her deep, low bark before I manage to press the doorbell.
“Who’s there, Moxy?” I can hear Vicky asking on the other side of the door in the extra-excitable voice she uses almost exclusively for her beloved dog.
Moxy lets out another deep woof right as Vicky opens the door.
“Ryan!” she exclaims as she holds the door open with one hand while her other is wrapped around Moxy’s collar, keeping her from blocking my way through the door. She moves them both out of the way so I can enter. Once inside, I remove my shoes.
“It’s so good to see you without a piece of plexiglass between us,” she says. “Who are you here to see? Danton’s out back with the three older ones kicking a ball around and Brandon’s on the couch with Danny.”
I pat Moxy on the head between her ears while she gives me a thorough sniffing all over. “Brandon and Danny, please,” I say as I let out a yawn, then a sigh of relief. Just walking through this door allows my adrenaline to crash. “I think they’re a little more my speed today.”
“Danton would agree with you.” She laughs and starts walking out of the foyer towards the kitchen and great room at the back of the house.
She gestures for me to follow her. “He and Brandon were both dead on their feet when they got home last night. And then again today after practice. But you know my kids, they never let anyone rest.”
“Except for Danny,” I say as we enter the open-concept living space. From where I stand at the edge of the kitchen area, I can see Brandon on the couch with Danny leaning against him, asleep.
He waves at me, then points at the sleeping kid glued to his side. On his face, he’s wearing a welcoming and endearing smile.
“Danny has his moments too,” Vicky says, coming to my side. On a napkin in her hand, she holds a cookie out for me. “It’s just that Brandon found his cheat code.”
I look at the cookie and my mouth begins to water. Vicky’s cookies are unlike any other I’ve ever eaten. And if this is one of her brown butter chocolate chips, it was more than worth the drive over. “Is that…?”
“Brown butter chocolate chip.” She winks. “I’ll put a tin aside for you before the scavengers come in and eat them all.” She gestures towards where Brandon and Danny are lounging. “Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks,” I say, biting into my cookie. With Moxy right on my heels, I make my way into the great room.
The closing credits of the Lego movie are rolling already.
Happy to simply be here, soaking up the things I loved when it was me that was the rookie, I sit on the floor and let Moxy rest her head on my lap.
“I can make room for you up here if you’d like,” Brandon says behind me.
I look over my shoulder at him. His hair is a mess, and I want nothing more than to reach up and fix it.
But that is quite possibly the worst thing I can do right now.
I’m terrified that if I touch him, I’ll boot Danny from his place and curl myself around Brandon’s side for some much-needed comfort.
It’s best if I stay down here with the dog.
He narrows his eyes at me. “You good?”
“Yeah,” I say and nod my head yes. Maybe doubling up will help to convince me.
“You sure?” he asks again, looking at me like he knows I’m full of shit.
“I’m sure,” I say, taking a deep breath.
And I really am okay. Everything about this moment has my nervous system quieting down.
I turn back around and grab the remote from the table to press restart when given the option to begin the movie again.
As I do this, I feel Brandon thread his fingers through my hair.
He says nothing as he begins to gently message my scalp, and I relax into his touch.