18. Stop Using Me To Deflect The Conversation
18
STOP USING ME TO DEFLECT THE CONVERSATION
SETH
Linc tosses me my water bottle from where he’s taking a breather on the bench and I smoothly catch it, squirting it in my mouth while I watch the two new rookies scramble for the puck on centre ice.
“Looking good out there, Davidson.” Coach Stevens stands next to Linc, studying everyone for signs that they didn’t keep up with their training in the off season.
“Thanks,” I reply, grateful I’d given myself that two-week window to get back on top of my nutrition and training after the trip.
“Good to see you’ve put last season behind you. Need your head in the game if we’re going to have another shot at play-offs this year. Think we’ve got a good team with the new additions.”
I nod in response, not sure what more to say in reply to that. Even after last season’s messy end, he’s kept me on as the team captain, so it’s on me to keep morale up.
Coach moves down the bench to talk to one of our new defencemen, and I hand my water back to Linc .
“Dinner tonight? Mom’s in town and wants to see you,” he asks.
“Sounds good. Been a while since I saw Mama Claire.”
Coach blows his whistle, motioning for everyone to gather in front of the bench. My team mates skate over and he gives his “good work” speech, which is much nicer than his “what the fuck was that” speech - his other favourite pastime.
Once he’s done, he points to me and I hang back while the rest of the team heads back to the locker room.
“You right to host the usual dinner on Friday?” he asks.
I nod. “I’ve already got the events guys sorting stuff out. They have caterers coming out and will get the backyard set up for the kids.”
The first Friday of training camp, the current captain is in charge of organising the welcome back party.
In the past, partners and wives of the captain have helped out, but as I don’t have either of those, I’ve enlisted the events team to help me. Think smarter, not harder. Being antisocial means that organising a party for an entire hockey team and their families is outside of my area of expertise.
Ever since I got back from the trip, it’s been nonstop with getting straight back to work. I’ve had media interviews where I’ve brushed off any comments regarding what I’ve now come to think of as “the unfortunate incident”. My agent has also been lining me up with endorsements and events. I’ve barely had a chance to scratch myself, but it’s been a welcome distraction from the thoughts that keep popping into my head, wondering what Kylie is up to.
“Davidson, are we going for drinks tonight?” Dean Thomas, our goalie, asks as soon as I enter the locker room.
He’s been with the team even longer than I have and is a fan favourite, something he loves to use to his advantage when it comes to the ladies. Nights out drinking with him end up messy and surrounded by a sea of women who are hoping to snag themselves a hockey player.
“Nah man, Linc’s mom is in town so we’re on son duties.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful to have my second mother in town than I am at this exact moment. I try to socialise with the team as much as my introverted self can manage, but the idea of a night dealing with puck bunnies just doesn’t appeal to me. I’ll leave that to the rookies. And Dean.
I get out of my practice gear and hit the showers, changing into my street clothes before saying goodbye to our teammates and meeting Linc at my car.
We head back to his place, where his mother greets us both with her signature warm hugs. Claire O’Malley has been my second mother since I was eight years old. She and my mother have become best friends because of Linc and I always being together since we were kids, so whenever she’s in town, she checks up on me so she can report back to Mom.
“You’re looking tired, Seth. Have you been getting enough sleep?” she says, holding my face in her hands after she hugs me.
“Way to make him feel good, Mom.” Linc rolls his eyes while he steps in to take my place.
“What? It’s true! He does look tired.” Claire shrugs before wrapping her arms around her son’s waist.
We both dwarf her, but she is still the boss when it comes to her boys.
“I’ve just had a lot going on the last few weeks. I’m fine,” I reply, heading into Linc’s kitchen to raid the fridge.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t restocked it since the last time I was here, and it’s looking pretty bare.
“I’ve got groceries coming. Lincoln has clearly been eating out far more than he has been at home,” Claire says, giving Linc a dirty look.
“What? I’ve been busy with work, too. I’ve just been grabbing dinner with the team most nights. ”
“Just the team?” Claire is fishing for any news on whether Linc has met anyone, but she’s wasting her time.
“Let’s not go there.” Linc has made it clear he has no interest in settling down anytime soon and avoids seeing anyone more than one or two times, but his mother still lives in hope.
“And what about you? Surely one of you is going to make me a grandmother soon?” She turns her pleading eyes to me.
I raise my hands in surrender. “Sorry, Mama Claire, nothing from me either.”
“No one on this continent, anyway,” Linc pipes up, and I glare at him while Claire’s eyes widen with excitement.
“Ooohh, did you meet someone on your trip? Is it that lovely brunette in all the photos I’ve seen?” She all but rubs her hands with glee.
I sigh, giving up on my fruitless search for food, and grab a bottle of water from Linc’s fridge. “Yes, but she lives in Australia, so there’s nothing to report. It was just a holiday thing.”
“Except you’re still hung up on her.” It’s obvious that Linc is trying to keep the focus off himself, and I’m considering punching him to shut him up, but know it’s not worth the effort.
The last thing I need is any of this getting back to my mother and having her nagging at me as well.
“She didn’t even know the truth about what I do for a living. Because you told me to keep it to myself,” I say, pointing the bottle towards Linc before taking another mouthful.
I miss beer, but this close to the beginning of the season, I’m rationing myself.
“I’m sure you could have worked it into conversation somehow,” Linc replies with a shrug.
Claire is watching the entire exchange keenly, looking back and forth between us.
“This isn’t something even worth discussing. She lives on the other side of the world. There’s no future past the trip. Can we please change the subject? ”
Linc studies me for a few moments before shrugging. “Whatever. Just don’t slip back into grumpy Seth. I much preferred the Seth I saw on holiday, and I know a large part of that was because of Kylie.”
“Ah ha, so she has a name!” Claire interjects, and I groan.
“Please don’t say anything to Mom. I’m serious. We’re never going to see each other again, so there is no point in Mom thinking there is something going on.”
She pretends to zip her lips closed. “I won’t breathe a word. But I would love to see at least one of you boys settling down with someone soon. Man or woman,” she adds, looking pointedly at her son.
“This little bisexual is still happy being single, Mother, so you’re just going to have to keep those sights set on Seth over there for the grandbabies.”
“Stop using me to deflect the conversation,” I grumble.
Claire shakes her head. “You boys will be the death of me.”
Thankfully, that’s the end of the topic and we move on to discussing Linc’s older sister and her upcoming wedding. I never thought I’d be grateful to talk about a wedding, but I’m just glad the moment has passed.
I fixate on the bottle of water in my hand, unconsciously picking at the label while Linc and Claire discuss the travel arrangements for the wedding. I wonder what it would be like to attend a wedding with Kylie? Would she make it more bearable, with her bubbly personality keeping the attention on her instead of me having to try to talk to people?
Linc clears his throat and I look up to find him watching me with a grin. Claire has occupied herself in the kitchen now that the groceries have arrived and is out of earshot.
“Oh, fuck off,” I mutter, straightening up.
“Whatever, buddy. You can claim its nothing all you want, but you forget how well I know you. And I’ve never seen you like this over a woman before. So forgive me for thinking there’s more going on than you’re admitting.”
I shrug, deciding I’m done with this conversation and head into the kitchen to offer to help with dinner, all the while ignoring the niggling thought in the back of my mind that Linc is right.
Nothing good can ever come of Linc being right.