CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
This is a good life
VANESSA
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Jake pops a bottle of champagne, putting his finger over the open bottle as he shakes it and sprays his fellow teammates with the sparkling liquid.
The team and coaching staff flew back to Boston this morning after winning the Frozen Four against the University of Minnesota. They held the play-offs, and previously, every year that they hosted, they’ve won.
Until this year.
Boston Central dominated them, winning 5–3.
The game was super close, both teams showcasing their amazing offensive and defensive skills. What won us the game was a hat trick by Jake. He made three goals in the final period, which for a defenseman is surprising.
I don’t know if he wanted to show off during his last NCAA game, but he definitely proved to everyone why New Jersey picked him.
Eli passes out plastic champagne flutes, which are filled to the brim with the bubbly drink. I guess we are celebrating after all.
“Ladies.” He flashes his white, dreamy smile at Maddie, Sydney, and I.
Sydney and Maddie both flew out to Minnesota for the game to support the boys and keep me company. We all shared a hotel room, so it felt more like a girl’s trip with a hockey game right in the middle.After the game, we spent the night in the hotel bar with the team, drinking, laughing, and at some point, someone brought out a karaoke machine.
Now that we’re back in Boston and finals are just around the corner, it’s time for a proper party. Or at least that’s what Eli said—which is why we’re all crowded in their brownstone.
Working with the team all year has changed my life. It sounds corny as hell, but it did.
Coach Wilson even thanked me after the game for everything I’ve done to help the team. With my behind-the-scenes videos, photos, and interviews, the Wolves had the highest in-house attendance ever recorded. I’m so glad that my work was able to connect the players and their fans. I think my working with the team even made some people more personable—and I’m talking about Kieran on that one.
I’ve gotten to know so many of the boys in this room—I’ve learned things about them that I never could’ve imagined. If I hadn’t been assigned to be their social media coordinator, I wouldn’t have known that Eli’s family owns a ranch in Tennessee, or that Levi loves anime and photography, or that Nate collects magnets from every place he visits.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Nate calls out from the middle of the kitchen, raising his glass in his hand. “This year has been absolutely fucking amazing. You all worked your asses off for us to get here. Even though some of us won’t be coming back next year, moving on to greater things, the foundation we built is going to carry this team to the championship next year. Especially with Eli leading you all.” He tilts his cup toward his friend, his assistant captain who had recently been promoted. “Here’s to all of us. Cheers to friendships, hockey, and a hell of a good time.”
Normally Nate’s speeches would be more direct and well, parent-ish . But tonight, he’s acting fun and goofy like the rest of his teammates. I don’t know if the reality hit him yet or not that this was also his last college game. But come the fall, he and Jake will both be playing professionally. I can’t wait to watch the two of them play against each other for once.
We all clink our glasses against each other’s, I take a long sip of my champagne. I don’t know who decided to spend so much on these bottles, but it’s so smooth, the bubbles feel like they float on my tongue.
Jake comes up behind me, resting his body against the wall, he loops his arms over my shoulders, giving my head a kiss before taking a sip of his drink.
“I can’t believe you guys aren’t going to be here next year. How the hell am I going to wrangle all these idiots on my own?” Eli motions to the group of athletes scattered in the living room. “At least this year there were two of us. Next year I’m gonna have to be Daddy Nate.”
The group of us break into laughter at the thought. Nate was always the responsible, sensible one, hence the nickname. Eli on the other hand, he’s the farthest thing from responsible.He’s like the cool uncle who sneaks us beer and lets us stay out past curfew.
Nate clasps his hand on Eli’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, buddy. It’s not as much responsibility as you think. Just make sure everyone is keeping up with their training, academics, show up to practice on time, don’t miss any games, monitor their partying…” Nate continues on his tangent, Eli’s eyes growing bigger as he continues down the list.
“I think I’m gonna need another drink.”Eli saunters over to the fridge, cracking open a can of beer.
“You’re so dramatic, Eli. I could easily get these boys to do anything I ask,” Sydney says.
“There’s no fucking way any of those idiots would listen to you.”
“Oh yeah.” Sydney motions her head. “Watch.”
Sydney saunters over to the doorway leading to the living room. “ Sebastiannn , we ran out of ice. Could you run to the store and get some more.”
Sebastian’s head immediately pops up at Sydney’s request. “No, yeah, for sure I can.” His Canadian accent leaks out a little.
He grabs his keys from his pocket and is out the door in less than a minute. I look over my shoulder to see the cooler still full of ice.
“See? It’s that easy.” Sydney flips her hair over her shoulder as she passes by Eli, before jumping up to sit on the counter.
“That’s only because you’re Nate’s little sister.”
“Their respect for me doesn’t come from my brother. It’s because I’m a badass and they’ll do anything I ask. Isn’t that right boys?” There’s a murmur of yeahs, mm-hms, and yeses that come from the teammates in the living room.
Sydney smirks at Eli as if saying, I told you so . “I’m sure that by the end of summer, they’ll fall in line. Use your training classes as an opportunity for everyone on the team to see you as a leader.”
Coach Wilson announced that Eli will be running their annual summer training camp. Jake told me that every year Coach picks a player to help him over the course of the summer to work one on one with each player, working to improve any weaknesses.
Coach also asked me to return as their social media coordinator and photographer next year, to which I obviously said yes. I couldn’t imagine being here next year and not being a part of the Wolves.
“So is anyone going to be home with me this summer besides Levi?” Eli raises an eyebrow at the group.
Jake straightens up behind me, his arms stretching over his head. “Nate and I will both be at our own training camps this summer.”
“I’m taking a few courses in Scotland this summer, so I’ll be gone for two months,” Maddie answers. She’s always wanted to travel to the UK. I don’t know what her fascination is with the place other than Harry Styles and Highland cows, but her program offers an exchange for the summer term and she got accepted last month.
“I’m going on a backpacking trip through Europe with Ethan for a couple of weeks,” Sydney says.
“You’re taking Ethan with you? Did Mom and Dad make you?”
“No. Ethan actually enjoys hanging out with me, unlike my other brother.” She darts her eyes at Nate, but he rolls his eyes, shoving off her comment. I will say, he has been better at including her in plans—that might be because of me, though.
She hops off the counter and engulfs Maddie in a hug. “And I’m obviously stopping in Scotland on my way home to say hi to my bestie.”
“What about you, Nichols? Any plans for the summer?” Levi directs the question at me.
“Well.” I look up at Jake and his gargantuan smile.
He nods his head, excited for me and my summer plans. “Tell them.”
“I applied to be a photography assistant for a retreat in Costa Rica. I’ll be there for a few months assisting the director and main photographer, capturing photos and videos for a documentary they’re going to air on the nature channel.”
I’ve kept this a secret from everyone—well, everyone except for Jake.He was actually the one who saw the posting and sent it to me. I never in a million years would’ve thought that I’d be chosen. There were three spots, and from what I heard there were over two hundred applicants.
“Holy shit, Ness! I can’t believe you didn’t tell us.” Sydney and Maddie run to me, both of them wrapping their arms around me.
“I can’t wait to see all of the amazing photos you take. You have to promise to send me every single one. Even the dirty ones.” Jake gives me a devilish smirk.
“Oh, trust me, I’ll send you one naughty photo for every day that we’re apart.”
“Damn, baby, you keep getting sexier and sexier.” Jake leans down, crashing his lips on mine. He tastes of mint and champagne, the spearmint from his gum lingers on my taste buds and I want more of him.
I give him one look and he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“And on that note, we’re going to bed.” Jake grabs my hand and pulls me toward the patio doors, our friends making kissing noises behind us.
The morning sun is desperately trying to shine through Jake’s dark curtains. After months of protest, he finally bought new shades after realizing how much light his old ones let in. Anytime we would sleep here, we’d always get woken up by the sun. And trust me, in the summertime that’s such a great feeling. But when you’ve been partying all night and want to sleep in, it’s not as much fun.
I reach out to the nightstand to grab my phone. I’m too lazy to grab my glasses, I can see well enough to make out what’s on my screen.
I check my socials and the first post I see is the one I made on the BCU Wolves account. It’s a photo of the team holding up the trophy from the Frozen Four. Each of the boys has a gigantic smile plastered on their face. Jake and Eli are both yelling in the photo, I want to say they both were shouting hell yeah! Or something along those lines.
I lock my phone and turn it over to inspect the Polaroid I have tucked into my case. The photo was taken in Minnesota. Jake and I stand in the middle, microphones in our hands, belting out a Taylor Swift song on karaoke, Maddie and Sydney sitting to our left with their drinks raised, and the boys—Kieran, Eli, and Nate—on our right, arms around each other’s shoulders.We all have these goofy ear-to-ear grins—probably from drinking a little too much, but it was one of the best nights I’ve had in a while.
Jake curls his arm around me, pulling me against his body, letting me know that he’s awake. “Good morning, angel girl.” He kisses the top of my head, then leans his own on mine.
I curl more into him, wrapping my arm around his torso, snuggling in. “Good morning.”
His body is still warm from sleep, the blankets keeping his heat in. He still smells of his cologne from last night, like deep woods and the smell of rain melded perfectly together.
“Should we get up and get some coffee?” The deepness of his voice never fails to amuse me. The amount of times he’s gotten laid because of it would be too many to count.
“No, I wanna lie here a little while longer with you.”
He chuckles, moving his fingers to grab my chin. “Whatever you want.” He slowly tilts my head back, kissing me deeply.
His eyes are still heavy with sleep, but the blue of them is so vibrant. Like the ocean on a warm summer day, glistening in the sun.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Ness.”
This has been the best year of my life. Even though I have gone through many ups and downs, the people I’ve met this year and the friendships I’ve created—I wouldn’t change any of it.
Yeah, this is a good life.
THE EN D