Chapter Six
AUSTIN
There’s always something exhilarating about going on the road and stepping into a different city for a few nights.
Of course every arena has its own energy and it’s always a mystery what kind of reaction we’re going to receive.
Some crowds are loud and relentless, some are quiet until their team scores, and some crowds are just plain mean to the visitors.
Admittedly, I kind of enjoy it. Away games always feel like a test of our ability to work together under pressure.
There’s something about being in a hostile arena, surrounded by opposing fans, that forces us to rely on each other even more.
The challenges of travel and the energy of the crowd can either pull a team apart or bring it closer together.
I like seeing how we respond when things get difficult, because those moments often reveal what kind of team we really are.
When we’re on the road we don’t have our home crowd supporting us, we’re living out of a suitcase and trying to stay locked in while thousands of people want to see you fail.
I’ve never backed away from a challenge, so road trips have always brought out the best in me.
Thankfully this trip isn’t a long one. Three away games are easy compared to some of the longer stretches we have.
Starting things off with a win helps the overall energy of our team.
Of course everything is easier after a win.
The guys are joking around, and everyone is happier.
Losing on the road can make a trip drag on forever, but winning the first game gives us momentum for the rest of the time away from home.
Hopefully we can keep it rolling and head back to our arena in a few days with all three victories added to our stats.
Of course, this career never really lets you relax for too long and every single game matters.
On another note, the trade rumors have already started circulating again, and once those stories hit social media, they spread through the league like wildfire.
Every season it’s the same thing—teams are ready to shuffle to fit their needs, and many of us are on high alert wondering if we’ll be moved to another city.
This always seems to create a weird tension in the air because everything can change overnight.
One phone call and suddenly you’re starting over somewhere else.
Our goalie Nick just went through this last season, and he was not prepared for it.
I’d be lying if I said I’ve never wondered whether my name has come up in conversations amongst other organizations.
I have mixed feelings about this because I love playing for the Bears.
This organization gave me an opportunity, the fans are great, and this team has become my family.
But another part of me knows a change wouldn’t necessarily be the worst thing either.
A fresh start can be good for a player. New systems, coaches, and different expectations can give a much-needed push to improve and grow.
It would give me a chance to stretch my wings a little and prove myself somewhere new.
And there’s also the fact that my entire family is back on the West Coast. I’ve spent years living thousands of miles away from them, missing holidays and other events you don’t realize matter until you’re constantly away.
Sometimes the distance affects me more than I realize, even though this is the life I chose.
Regardless, there’s no point obsessing over something I can’t control, especially in sports.
There are trades, injuries, coaching decisions, and more situations that are out of my hands.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to take things as they come instead of resisting the unknown.
Whatever’s supposed to happen usually finds its way eventually.
“Hey. I just got off the phone with Abby,” Nick says, sitting down beside me.
I pat him on the shoulder. “Oh no—I’m so sorry. Did she call off the wedding?”
He glares at me. “What? No, of course not.”
I let out a breath. “Oh good.”
“She actually wanted to talk about you,” he says.
I shrug. “Well, I can’t really blame her for that.”
Nick rolls his eyes. “Yeah, well, she wanted to talk about you and a certain woman who just came to town.”
My eyebrows lift. “Really? Who?”
I’m trying to play it off, but I’m pretty sure he’s referring to Isabella.
Of course he shakes his head because he knows I’m full of it.
“Abby thinks it would be fun for us all to go out when we get back. What do you think?”
I nod. “Sounds great. Let’s do it. I’m in.”
“Okay, I’ll tell Abby the good news. She’ll be happy—she loves this stuff.”
This couldn’t have worked out any better because I was going to figure out a way to see Isabella again one way or another. I owe Abby big time.
“Have you heard anything about trades?” he asks, shifting the subject back to hockey.
“Nope,” I say. “You’re probably feeling very relaxed right about now.”
He nods. “Yep. Been there done that. I’ll be with the Bears for the foreseeable future.”
I can see the relief on his face, which is wild considering how upset he was after being traded.
“Are you nervous?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I’m not. I’m open to whatever happens.”
“That’s smart,” he says. “But I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”
“You never know,” I reply.
With one win down and two games to go, I need to stay focused on the present. Then we will head home, and I guess I’ll have a date.
What started as a promising road trip unraveled fast after we lost the other two games.
Just like that, all the momentum we’d built disappeared.
The energy after the third loss felt completely different from a few days ago.
I think we’re all ready to get back home, reset, and move on from this stretch.
At least there’s something to look forward to—Abby already planned a night out for all of us, which means I’ll get to see Isabella again in a few days. It doesn’t erase the frustration of back-to-back losses, but having something to look forward to makes things sting a little less.
After getting in super late, I force myself out of bed because I have a full schedule today.
My body feels exhausted, but sleeping in isn’t really an option.
I make a protein shake, sit on the couch, and scroll through my phone.
I have messages from my parents, one from my brother, and a few others I ignored while I was sulking over the Bears’ losses.
I try to stay in touch with my family as much as I can since I’m across the country, but between hockey, travel, and the time difference, it’s not always easy. Sometimes days go by before we can catch each other at the right time.
A few days ago, my brother Logan told me he was planning to propose to his longtime girlfriend.
They’ve been together since high school, so nobody in the family was exactly shocked, but it’s still a huge step.
Logan’s always been mature. He’s guy who had his life figured out at a young age.
Career in finance, marriage, and family. He’s checking the boxes one by one.
It’s still early on the West Coast, but I call him anyway. If you can’t annoy your brother first thing in the morning, what’s the point of having one?
He answers after a few rings. “Hello?” His voice is rough and raspy.
“Rise and shine, brother,” I say. “It’s a beautiful day to be alive.”
He groans dramatically. “You seriously couldn’t wait a few more hours to call? It’s still dark here.”
I laugh, leaning back against the couch. “I’m returning your message because it sounded urgent. So give me the update. Did you propose?”
“Yes,” he says flatly.
“What did she say?”
There’s a pause. “What do you think she said?”
I grin. “I don’t know. Maybe she asked for time to think about it?”
“You’re funny,” he says with a groan.
“I try my best.”
“She said yes,” he finally says, and even though he’s half asleep, I can hear how happy he is.
A smile spreads across my face. “Wow. My little brother’s getting married. This is very exciting.”
“I know,” he says with a chuckle. “It feels weird saying that out loud.”
“I’m happy for you, Logan. Even though Ivy has been around forever, it’ll be nice to officially have a sister.”
This reminds me of my conversation about siblings with Isabella and her brother.
“Thanks, Austin.”
Suddenly I’m reminded how long it’s been since I’ve been home for anything important. Birthdays, holidays, now engagements. I’ve missed a lot.
“Alright,” Logan says, yawning again. “Now can I call you back at a normal hour?”
“I’ll be stuck in practices and meetings all day,” I tell him. “Coach is going to be in rare form after losing two straight games.”
“Yeah,” he says carefully. “I wasn’t going to bring it up, but…what happened? You guys looked unstoppable against the Panthers, and then everything shifted. It was like watching two different teams playing.”
“Don’t remind me,” I mutter, dragging my hand down my face.
The losses were bad enough on their own, but what made them worse was knowing we should’ve won at least one of them. We stopped playing like us, and then it all just fell apart. Once we got behind, we couldn’t catch up.
“Sorry. But it’s still early in the season. There’s plenty of time to turn things around.”
I sigh. “That’s the goal. How’s everything else there?” I ask. “Other than you getting engaged—which really isn’t that big of a deal.”
He snorts. “Fine. Work is steady. A little stressed about emptying my savings for a fancy wedding.”
I smile. My brother the finance guy and he’s always been a saver.
“Well, I need to send you an engagement gift…”
“Austin, don’t go overboard,” he warns.
“Me go overboard. Never.”
Okay, so I tend to go overboard. But I like being generous, and if you have the means, then what’s wrong with spoiling your family.
“Yes, you,” he exclaims. “You should save more.”
I roll my eyes. “Where is the fun in that? And this is the only time you’re going to get engaged. Well…most likely.”
“It is.”
“Exactly, so you don’t need to worry about what I do with my money.”
He lets out a heavy sigh, which is his way of admitting defeat.
“Anyway, it’s pretty early there—I’ll let you go.”
He laughs. “Thanks.”
“Give Ivy a hug for me.”
After hanging up, I quickly finish my shake and get ready to go to practice. After our performance this past week, I’m not looking forward to it at all.