Chapter 27
Travis
“Can you believe what the league is doing with the draft this year?” Nick says as he pours an ungodly amount of hot sauce onto his hashbrowns.
“Yeah, kinda crazy that they’re going fully virtual,” Blake says before taking a bite of his double cheeseburger.
“So they’re not even hosting an in-person draft for the top prospects?” Leo says around a mouthful of coconut creme pie, his lips covered in whipped cream.
Our server at the Mile High Diner stops by to drop off a pile of napkins. He tells her thanks, then wipes his mouth.
“Nope,” I say. “I guess the NHL is sick of spending money on the event. That’s what I heard, anyway. So now everyone will just have to wait until you hopefully get a call from the rep of the team that wants to draft you.”
“I’m kinda bummed. I was excited to go to Sin City again and see my face on the Las Vegas Sphere when they called me on stage,” Nick says.
“You’re so damn cocky,” Leo mutters.
“He’s not wrong though. St. George is the only one of us who would have gotten an in-person invite if the draft had been in-person like before,” I say.
Nick is the best player on the team, so we all know he’s going to go sometime in the first round.
He reaches his hand out and fist-bumps me.
It’s the beginning of June, and we’re eating lunch together for the first time since the semester ended.
Blake and Leo went home to visit their families for the last few weeks.
Nick has been staying at our house since his family lives in the city, but he’s been gone a lot helping his dad build a shed and landscaping their backyard.
“How are you guys feeling about the draft?” Nick asks.
“A little nervous,” Blake says.
The three of us all have a strong chance of being selected in the later rounds of the draft. We’re college hockey champions, and we’re some of the top players in the country.
Still though, I understand how Blake feels. All of us have been dreaming about playing pro since we were kids. It’s what we’re all working towards. It’s why we train hard and play our hearts out every single time we’re on the ice.
But we also know that being a top player at the college level isn’t enough. You have to show that you have the potential to play well in the pros, which is a whole different realm. The game is more intense. The guys are bigger, faster, stronger. Their style of play is more ruthless.
It’s a huge transition, and not every college player has what it takes to make it.
Nick looks at me. “What about you?”
I glance down at my plate of chicken. “I’m feeling a little unsure,” I admit.
He kicks me under the table. “Don’t say that. You’re the best college goalie in the country.”
“I’m a goalie that plays for the best college team in the country. There’s a difference.”
He shakes his head at me. “You always sell yourself short, Travvie.” Leo and Blake nod along
“I’m just a realist.” It’s true, but I also can’t help it. I don’t want to hope too hard and then have things not work out.
Especially as a goalie. There are fewer spots on a roster for goalies, so we have to be even better.
We eat quietly for a couple of minutes before Nick clears his throat.
“I don’t like you guys feeling so nervous about this,” he says.
Blake tosses his napkin at him. “Easy for you to say, first-round pick,” he jokes good-naturedly.
Nick just rolls his eyes. “I’m serious. Let’s turn this into something fun. Let’s have a draft party at our place. Invite all our friends and family. It’ll be a blast.”
“Yeah, I’m down,” Blake says.
“Me too,” Leo says. “
I say I’m up for it. We finish eating and pay the check, then walk back toward the house.
“Hey, is it cool if my friend Briar stays at our place for a few days at the beginning of July?” Blake asks. “The place she’s moving into won’t be ready for her until the second week of the month, but her current lease is going to end before that.”
We all say it’s no problem.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with your friend,” Nick says, bumping his shoulder. Blake shoves him.
Nick stumbles, but he laughs. “I’m just saying. I’m your friend too, and you’ve never bought me flowers.”
We all glance over at Blake, whose cheeks are starting to turn pink. “She had a bad day, and her favorite gift to get is flowers. It’s not a big deal.”
Nick flashes a thumbs-up. “Sure. Whatever you say.”
“Give him a break,” I say. “If you want flowers from Blake, maybe you should ask him,” I deadpan.
Nick laughs. “You’re right.” Nick wraps an arm around him and pats his cheek. “Blakey-boy, will you give me some flowers, pretty please?”
Blake shoves him away, but he’s smiling. “How does Poppy put up with how obnoxious you are?”
“I don’t know, but I’m glad she does,” Nick says with a smug grin.
“Where’s she been?” Leo says. “I haven’t seen her at the house.”
“She’s on a girls’ trip with her cousins. That’s why I need you to spoil me with flowers, Blakey-boy. I’m in need of love and affection.”
Blake laughs. “Hell, no.”
“Damn, I’m feeling the shaft hard from you guys,” Nick says in a mock-hurt tone. “You guys ditch me to go home for a month. Travvie is off spending his days with some mystery woman.”
I tense when they all look at me.
“You’re seeing someone?” Blake asks.
I clear my throat. “Yeah, kinda.”
They all start hollering and whistling.
“Would you shut up? It’s not even serious.” The words feel wrong as I say them.
Yeah, Anna and I agreed that we’re just having fun and we’re not interested in a serious relationship…but this feels more than just a friends with benefits situation. Especially after how I opened up to her about my mom.
I’ve never told any woman I’ve been with about my mom’s health struggles. It’s too personal. Too close to my heart.
But with Anna, it’s different. Even though I kept it a secret from her when we were teenagers, telling her about it now felt right.
I think about the pain in her eyes when I told her…how she cried. How it felt like she was feeling my pain.
How she wrapped her arms around me and let me talk out my feelings.
How she told me that I was a good son for taking care of my mom.
How, for the first time since my mom got sick, I actually felt like a good son…because Anna said I was. I could tell she meant it. I could tell by the tone of her voice and the way she held me.
How I felt less alone. For so long, I’d kept those feelings to myself. But when I told her about it, it felt like an invisible thousand-pound weight lifted off my back.
She gave me the support I didn’t know I needed in that moment—the support I’ve been aching for all these years.
And she told me about her dreams to work in oncology. To help patients with cancer.
I think about how I used to dismiss her as a know-it-all.
But I was wrong. She’s not like that. Yeah, she’s brilliant, but she doesn’t care about impressing people or sounding smarter than everyone else.
All she cares about is helping them get better.
That’s why she works so hard in school. That’s why she wants to go to Stanford.
That’s why she studied so hard for the MCAT.
She wants to dedicate her education and her life to others. That’s how incredible she is.
An intensity I haven’t felt before bubbles up inside of me when I think about Anna—when I think about how I feel about her.
This feels a lot more serious than two friends just messing around.
“Oh, come on,” Nick claps a hand on my back, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You’ve been MIA every day for the past few weeks. You like this girl. A lot.”
That familiar wave of guilt punches through my gut. If only he knew that the woman I’ve been with is his sister.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” I admit.
Nick grins wide, pumping a fist. “So when do we get to meet her?”
Dread swoops through me. “I don’t know.”
“Dude, chill,” Blake says to Nick. “You know Travis doesn’t like to be pestered.”
I nod at Blake, thankful for the backup.
“Fine. Sorry,” Nick says, still smiling smugly before looking at me. “You can bring her over to our place, you know.”
Ha. No fucking way.
“Yeah, maybe,” I mutter.
We head inside the house. Nick leaves to go on a run while Leo and Blake go to their bedrooms to unpack.
I check my phone screen and see a text from Anna.
Anna: It’s here.
Me: What’s here?
Anna: My MCAT scores.
Me: How’d you do?
Anna: I haven’t looked yet.
Me: Why not?
Anna: I’m too nervous.
Me: Wait, when did you get your score?
Anna: I got the email this morning.
Me: Anna, are you serious? You haven’t looked yet?
Anna: I’m scared…what if I bombed it?
My chest goes tight. I know she didn’t bomb it. She’s way too smart to bomb any test, even a test as difficult as the MCAT. But can feel the anxiety in her text. I can picture the worried look on her face.
Me: I’m coming over. We’ll look at it together.
I grab my keys and head out the door.