17. Chapter Seventeen #2
Shy pointed across the park, toward a lake shimmering under the October sunshine. “We’re doing the floating obstacle course.”
“And you have Clyde duty, right, Hannah-bean?” Shep spoke to his daughter, the girl grinning down at the massive dog.
“Right.”
My stomach lurched. Every thought I’d ever had about irresponsible hockey players ripped through my brain. He had a teenager at twenty-nine. Plenty of people did. But somehow, her presence felt like a walking, talking confirmation of every bias I’d ever held.
“A water obstacle course,” I said, grasping onto the distraction. “I’ve never done that before, but I’ve seen it on television.” On a South Korean variety show, from my mother’s hospital bed, to be precise, but I kept that little detail to myself.
Shep and Zacha rounded up the rest of the players and partners. The park staff had set up a trio of tents. We took turns squeezing into wetsuits, the neoprene a stark reminder that I wouldn’t be staying dry for long.
Once everyone was outfitted and back on the deck leading to the obstacle course, we got down to the important matter of dividing everyone up.
Charlie Taft planted his hands on his hips. “How are we deciding teams?”
Novak answered. “Scout and Shep are captains this go round.”
Everyone nodded, readily accepting the assigned leaders. In the next minute, they’d started a draft and when Shep called my name, chaos ensued. I sidled closer to Shep, but Scout swiftly moved between us.
“I called dibs on Merri,” she said with a glare. “You can’t go picking her now.”
“I won last time. Means I get to draft first. That trumps any dibs calls.”
Scout drew herself up, hands on her hips and expression fierce. “Nothing trumps dibs. That’s like saying you don’t listen when someone calls shotgun.”
Shy bumped her shoulder against mine. “Don’t mind them. They’ve been like this since we were children. He may be my brother, but they fight like siblings in a way Shep and I never have.”
My curiosity sparked. “Y’all all grew up together?”
Shy nodded, then clapped her hands to corral attention over the escalating argument. When Scout and Shep continued their squabble without pause, Santiago unleashed a piercing whistle that cracked through the autumn air. Every head snapped his way. He shot Shy a slow wink.
She blew him a kiss, then fixed her brother with a grin. “What do you say to guys versus girls?”
“Really?” Shep’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s a little grade school, don’t you think?”
“We’re at a waterpark, big brother.” Shy’s eyes sparkled with challenge as she gestured toward the floating obstacle course. “Time to embrace your inner child! Now let’s move—unless you’re scared we’ll crush you?”
The obstacle course stretched out across the lake, a maze of massive inflatables anchored in the water like floating behemoths.
Platforms, pyramids, and open-bottomed towers collided at odd angles, all strung together by floating walkways.
Some were flat, just enough traction to keep a steady pace, while others curved, rolling like tumbling balloons.
Every step felt like a risk—wobbly, untrustworthy.
The second someone landed on the far end, the whole thing shifted, bouncing like a trampoline, sending people into the air.
Where the two sections of obstacles met, a tiered pyramid rose up, towering nearly two stories above the lake, crowned by a bright red ball—the target. First team to grab the ball and make it back to the deck won.
Because we were letting our inner children run free, the women all lined up on the left launchpad, with the guys on the other. For a minute, I questioned the fairness of the division, but within a minute, discounted any thoughts of physical advantages.
I lined up next to Scout at the front of the deck.
“Wait!” Novak called out. “What are the stakes?”
I jerked my chin up and sent a glare at Shep’s smiling face. “I’ll let Shep rent my Pop.”
Zacha waved his hand. “That’s a side bet between you and Landon. We need the big stakes!”
Scout pointed out over the water. “We’ve gotta get out there, grab that big ol’ ball, and get it back here to win, right?”
“Right.”
“And we can play interference, knock you guys into the water, steal the ball if you manage to get it away from us, all that, right?”
He grinned. “No rules, remember?”
She rolled her eyes. “What kind of stakes did you boys have in mind?”
Charlie bellowed from the first inflatable. “We win, you guys go skinny dipping!”
“Forget it. No way I’m getting in that water naked.” Millsy waved off his suggestion. “How about, we win, you guys streak the arena?”
The women cackled. “That’s the one.”
Novak rubbed the scruff of beard along his jaw. “We talking on the boulevard in front of the arena or inside?”
Scout spoke then. “Oh the inside. A full loop through the seats, down to ice level, across the ice and out the Zamboni door.”
Coach Trasier, or ET as everyone was calling him today, stepped forward. “Naked? Run through the seats naked?”
“That is generally the definition of streaking, boss.” Novak grinned.
“Naked or in those hideous green and orange shorts Shep brought last year.”
The guys’ collective groan turned into grudging agreement. Warmth bloomed in my chest. I’d known these people as co-workers, but seeing them like this, playful and relaxed… It was going to be hard to walk away when Sellers came back from his family leave.
“What about when we win?” Taft smirked at our side. “What’ll you ladies do?”
Scout caught my eye. I nodded, already knowing where this was headed. “Same deal, Charles. But don’t get your hopes up, Taft. We all know you have the balance of a gorilla.”
“Not falling for your tricks this time, gorgeous.” Taft gave Scout a once-over. “I’ve got you figured out.”
Laughter rippled through the group. Taft might not have grace, but the man could take the stem off an apple at thirty feet with his wicked wrist shot.
“Don’t underestimate Merri,” Nat called from behind me, her voice rippling with challenge. “We’ll be taking the W on this one.” She tossed me a quick wink, and my belly flipped with a mix of adoration for my bestie and embarrassment as the faces turned my way.
“Oh, we know Merri has skills.” Shep’s voice wrapped around my name like honey, sending an unwelcome heat crawling up my neck. The group’s laughter felt too knowing, too pointed. My gaze snapped to Coach Trasier, but he was too busy scowling at Taft, mercifully missing the exchange.
I leveled my best video coach glare at Shep. That kiss in Thunder territory had been a mistake. One I couldn’t afford to repeat, no matter how my pulse jumped when he looked at me.
“Skills and a competitive streak to match yours, Landon,” Novak called before the guys huddled up, play-acting strategy like this was Game Seven.
Millsy snorted. “Like they have a chance.”
We women did our own huddle and I learned how truly savage they could be. My competitive streak was top shelf, but these women had come to crush.
“Speed is key,” Novy said, her voice sharp and no-nonsense. “We get up there first. Whoever reaches the pyramid, grabs the ball, and bolts for the deck. The rest of us run interference.” Her eyes glinted. “Send them into the water as many times as you can. That’ll buy us the most time.”
“Definitely. Every second counts.”
Scout’s eyes locked on the obstacle ahead.
“Watch out for the long one in the middle. You see the one with the cover?” She pointed to one of the many inflatables floating in the lake.
“It’s open on the bottom. You either swing across on the monkey bars or hug the outside.
The outside’s slower, but those monkey bars will test your arms. Trust me. ”
I nodded. “Got it.”
Novy’s hand shot into the center of our huddle, palm down.
Scout slapped hers over it, and one by one, we each followed suit.
A fire ran through me as our hands stacked, the excitement sharp in my chest. With a whoop, we threw our hands in the air, hollered our battle cry, adrenaline flooding my veins.
The whistle blew, and we exploded into motion. Novy sent Zacha splashing into the lake within seconds. First blood to us.
The first obstacle—a slick blue incline—sent me skidding. My arms burned as I scrambled up, footies useless against the surface. I crested the top just ahead of AB.
He lunged to overtake me. I slammed into his side, sending him into the cold water with a satisfying splash and bellow.
I seized the lead while my teammates wreaked havoc behind me, tangling and tumbling with the guys. The pyramid loomed ahead. My feet slipped on the fat ledges but I powered up, refusing to yield ground. At the peak, I snatched the red ball and thrust it skyward like hockey’s holy grail.
“Way to go, Merri!” Novy’s voice sang out over the men’s shouts.
Shep growled up at me from two ledges down, but I danced out of his reach and started a careful descent on a different side of the inflatable.
The descent was slow. Too slow. The slick inflatable surface forced me to balance awkwardly, gripping the ball with one hand as I half-slid, half-climbed.
I landed on a bouncy walkway and almost lost my grip on the ball.
Gritting my teeth, and darting looks over my shoulders, I clambered back to my feet.
I nearly sidestepped right off the runway, but saved myself with a slide onto my knees that ended right at the entrance of the next obstacle, a bright yellow tunnel.
It loomed over me, ten feet of ridiculousness with dangling handlebars across the top and water yawning below. I cursed under my breath. Who the hell designs something that requires both hands to cross?
A splash behind me yanked my focus. Shep. Water streamed off his hair, his grin sharp and reckless as he charged. Too close. Way too close.
My gaze darted to Novy, perched on the far side of the tunnel, her hair plastered to her face from a recent dunk. Santiago was right behind her, closing in fast. Millsy behind him, but too far away to help yet.