Chapter 22 Tate
I’m headed to the airport a bit earlier today.
I don’t want to be known as the guy who’s always late.
I find my spot near the back of the plane and settle in.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t keep my mind from wandering.
The way Presley jumped on Tony’s wife was unlike anything I’d ever seen her do.
She’s always gotten into fights—even with some of the boys back in high school.
I’ve always had her back, not that she needed it. Still, I’d thought she’d outgrown it.
Ronan and Quade drop down into the seats around me, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Your sister’s psycho.” Quade quips. My hackles instantly rise, ready to defend her . “She said she thinks Jess was Rory’s best boyfriend. It was definitely Logan.”
I squint at him.
“You better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking.” Quade narrows his eyes at me.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Oh thank God. I thought you were about to say you were team Dean.” Quade exhales
“No one but you cares about Gilmore Girls, Ryan.” Ripley mutters as he plops down beside Ryan.
“Oof, he first named you.” Fitz whistles low. “Hey I thought it was the goalies who were supposed to be grumpy.”
“Hey, you fuckers just wish you were cool enough to be a personality hire.” Ronan says. I smack his hand when he tries to go for my skittles.
“Personality hire my ass.” I snort.
“We get a bad rep. I blame book clubs. All Em and Alli’s romance books make the goalies grumpy.” Ronan says.
“Allison reads hockey books?” My eyebrows shoot up. This could definitely work in my favor.
“Don’t get your hopes up, it’s hardly about hockey.” Ronan rolls his eyes, then gestures to Jordan's whole body. “Ripley on the other hand might have a chance with the whole grumpy growly thing he has going on lately.”
Jordan just flips him the bird.
I slap my skittles into Ronan’s chest and move to sit by Ripley.
He doesn’t look up from some sort of crinkled pamphlet he’s reading. Or just staring at it, more like. The circles under his eyes have only darkened since I last saw him at our home game. Come to think of it, he’d disappeared even before I did— wasn't at the party either.
“How’s it going?”
He just gives me a brief nod. His gaze stays on his hands.
I don’t ask questions, just sit with him.
Alli finally gets on the plane, sitting toward the front with the rest of the admin and medical staff.
My eyes never leave her as she stows her bag and settles in her seat.
All I can think about is winning this game and getting Alli back in my hotel room for the night.
Or maybe hers, since I'm probably going to be paired up with a teammate.
At least they usually put admin and medical on a different floor.
The only problem is going to be getting past Cap and Coach.
Though Ripley hasnt been as enthusiastic as usual recently, so maybe he won't notice if I leave after curfew.
Allison peaks over her shoulder at me. She gives me a subtle smile. I shoot her a wink in return. I catch a glimpse of that rose touched blush before she turns and ducks her head. My eyes stay on the back of her head until the flight attendant reminds me to buckle my seat belt before takeoff.
The ping of my phone has me glancing down. Probably mom again. She’s spending the week in New York going back forth between visiting Presley and Matty.
Frozen Five
Quade
Why is Coach King shooting daggers at you, Fitz?
Quade
I thought you guys were cool?
Fitz
We are.
Ronan
Shit, if he doesnt even like you anymore what does that mean for the rest of us?
Ronan
WAIT
Ronan
Does that mean that your spot at the poker table is open now?
Fitz
Dont worry about it.
Ripley
That's not a no.
*Fitz removed Ripley from the chat*
*Quade added Ripley to the chat*
Quade
I got you Cap
Fitz removed Quade from the chat
Ronan added Quade to the chat
Ronan
Fitz stop being a bully to your little brother
Fitz
What? We arent related
Ronan
Yea, Caps the mom, Texas is the dad. I'm the favourite child, obvi.
Ronan
That means you'rethe problem child and Quade's the baby.
Fitz
You're weird. Plus, I'm older than Rip and he's definitely the problem child.
Tate
How do I leave this chat
Quade
Face it, Tx. You're stuck with us!
I roll my eyes and glance up to Alli’s seat. When I notice it’s empty I realize she must’ve got up. I have to fight the urge to steal her away to the galley. It’s too risky. Too many eyes.
Personally, I’d love for everyone to see. It’s casual for her though and she’s not going to risk her career for ‘casual’. It felt like more to me from the beginning. I think maybe it’s starting to be more for her too.
I run a hand through my hair. My legs start to bounce in anticipation. I’m already getting wired up for the game. I want to win and then I want to pull that beautiful woman into my arms and celebrate just the two of us.
“Do you know the room assignments?” I whisper to Ripley
“No, only Coach has them.”
When we are finally all filing into the hotel lobby, I see Allison at the front desk. She gets her room key and makes her way to the hotel elevator with Emalyn. They have their heads together giggling.
Alli
Rooming with Emalyn, Room 415.
Tate
I don’t know who I’m paired with yet, but hopefully they’re prepared to get kicked out.
Alli
How funny would it be if it was Ronan? Then we could just swap.
Ripley comes over and starts passing out key cards.
“Grady and Quade!” They high five like college bros. You’d think they’d get enough of each other at home, since Grady has been the vet to house the rookie per tradition. Guess not.
“Crowder and Bridges,” he calls out. My head rears back in surprise. I blink at him. Noo. Please. Anyone else. Literally anyone. I’d take Coach over that fucking guy.
“Volkov and Rodrigues.” Ripley continues in a flat voice. “Fitzgerald you’re with me.”
I rush towards Ripley, “Any chance I can get a switch?”
“Eh, maybe Tony will switch? I don’t know. Not a lot of guys wanna room with TJ. You’re stuck with him cause you’re the new guy.” Jordan just shrugged. “Any switches have to be approved by the coach though. I’m required to say that as captain.”
“Fuck. Ok, it’s fine.” I run a hand through my hair. Fitz glances between me and TJ with a confused frown.
I catch the elevator, twiddling my key card between my fingers the whole way up.
When I’m in the room, TJs already sprawled out on the bed closest to the door flipping through TV channels. I drop my bag onto the other one.
Now what?