2
We”ve just finished training and I”m sitting - still all sweaty - in front of Coach Franklyn”s office. He”s asked me to wait for him here, and since he”s the coach, well, I comply without question. He probably wants to talk to me about next week”s game and go over strategy.
“You were good today,” he says as he enters the room.
“Thanks, Coach. The team was also in great shape. I think we can easily win the next game, especially if we base it on...”
“That”s good to hear, but that”s not why you”re here,” he cuts me off. “I”ve managed to get the university”s administration to agree that this year”s student newspaper will feature more ice hockey. It”ll attract spectators and sponsors. Maybe a sports agent will hear about you too. It wouldn”t hurt.”
When I hear the words ‘sports agent’, my eyes light up. My ultimate dream is to become a professional player. I”d do anything to get an agent to come and see us and show him what I”m capable of - and what the team is capable of. Regular articles in the student newspaper might actually help. Although... most journalists on campus are looking for scandal, or already have a story in mind that they want confirmed with targeted questions. It annoys me to no end. It”s true that I”ve never been very gentle with them. That”s probably why our games are hardly ever covered by the student newspaper. Most of the time, we just get an insert with the results. But with more detailed articles, we could attract more attention, and also recruit new players. We need new blood.
I nod and let the coach continue.
“One of the journalists will be at Monday”s game and will ask you a few questions afterwards. Will that be all right?”
I nod, docile.
“No problem, coach. It”s right up my alley.”
“Please behave yourself, Liam... It”s important that we”re presented in a favorable light. And don”t forget that with the start of the season, parties and girl drama will need to be kept to a minimum. Do you think you can avoid flirting with half the university for a while?”
I laugh out loud.
“Don”t worry, coach, I”ll show my best side!”
I give him my most enticing smile, but it has no impact on him. Coach Franklyn looks at me seriously.
“That”s exactly what worries me, Liam.”
I raise both hands and look innocent, but the coach remains unperturbed.
“All right, all right. I”ll behave, I promise.”
As I leave the room and the door closes behind me, I hear a sigh and can”t help but smile.
An interview with a snobbish journalist... Hm, it might turn out to be a lot of fun after all...
I spend the rest of the evening with my friends. We”ve organized a barbecue and are drinking beers while discussing hockey.
I should be studying for my exams, but before a game, I prefer to let off steam with my mates. Ice hockey is my life. Who needs a degree in business management, right? On my skates, I”m in my element. I forget all my worries and just concentrate on the game.
Sometimes I imagine my father in the audience, proudly exulting as I slam puck after puck into the opposing goal. But the bastard took off when I was only 4. He left his wife and three kids for his secretary. What a piece of shit...
I put the thought out of my mind, down my beer and set off in search of a pleasant distraction. Sitting in a corner, a beautiful redhead smiles at me.
That”s exactly what I need!
I approach her. We chat for a while, and she seems attracted to me. That”s not unusual. Women fall for the team captain, it”s inherent in the role. That and my good looks always hit the jackpot.
When I ask her if she”d like to see my room, with as much finesse as if I”d asked her directly if she”d sleep with me, she nods excitedly. Sometimes it”s so simple it”s boring. But tonight, I don”t want to sleep alone.
***
The final whistle sounds and the whole stadium erupts in joy. What a game! We”ve just won our first of the season, and I couldn”t be prouder. Let”s keep it up, and we”ll have a great place in the qualifiers.
I”m on the ice with my teammates and we”re hugging and screaming. The intensive training has definitely paid off.
Suddenly, I notice a pretty blonde standing at the edge of the stands, notepad and pen in hand.
What”s she doing here? And why is she looking at us like she”s waiting for something?
That”s when it all clicks: someone from the student newspaper is coming to interview me today, that”s right! I was expecting an annoying guy with thick glasses, not such an attractive girl... Immediately, any preconceptions I might have about her work go up in smoke. Intrigued, I approach her as the spectators gradually leave the rink and my team”s jubilation subsides.
Her smile is warm and welcoming as I greet her.
“Hi, I”m Emily, sports journalist for the university newspaper,” she introduces herself, holding out her hand.
It”s very formal. I like it. But I prefer the body attached to this hand...
“I”m Liam Scott,” I reply, shaking her hand in return, which is surprisingly soft and pleasantly warm. “You”ve come to interview the team captain, is that right?”
I smile and tap the ‘C’ on my shirt. She nods.
“Yes, that”s it! Your team played a great game today. I”d like to ask you a few questions, if you have the time.”
Despite myself, I frown.
Does she already have an idea of the scoop she”s going to drop like a bomb in her rag? Let”s face it, the university newspaper is a load of crap. It”s like they”re trying to create a buzz to get attention. What do they expect? To uncover the campus gossip of the century and win a Pulitzer? But either way, Coach told me to make an effort, and if it”ll draw attention to us, then it”s good.
“I”ve got all the time in the world for a journalist as pretty as you,” I announce.
She raises her eyes to the sky and steps back to sit on a bench. I can”t help but smile as I follow her.
Oh, this is going to be fun...
As her questions progress, I realize that she has a pretty good grasp of the subject. Already, she”s using the right vocabulary, which is usually pretty rare when we”re asked about our performances, and she seems to have a pretty professional take on the game.
“How do you manage to reconcile top-level sport with your studies?” she asks.
I frown.
This is it. The burning question. There had to be one...
“I organize myself accordingly. Of course, training takes time, but I don”t give up on my classes. It”s very important,” I lie.
I note that she frowns slightly, adding an extra charm to her concentrated air.
You”re the one who should be concentrating, Liam!
“Yet you don”t seem to be in the lecture halls very often...”
“Is it an interview for the sports paper or a report for the attendance office?” I retort, suddenly annoyed.
“Oh... I... Sorry... I didn”t think my question would bother you.”
She scratches her forehead feverishly, rereading her notes.
“As captain, what message would you like to pass on to your teammates and fans after this game?”
“I”m proud of their performance. If we don”t give up, we can qualify. As for the fans, their unfailing support is invaluable. It”s their encouragement that pushes us to surpass ourselves,” I reply calmly.
She seems to notice that my tone of voice is more neutral, and scribbles a few more words before looking up at me. Two lakes, a perfect blue, where I lose myself for a moment.
“Would it be possible for us to debrief like this at the end of the next few games?” she suggests, a little embarrassed.
I”m pretty sure she doesn”t have a choice. And anyway, I don”t have it either.
“Are you asking me out, Emily?” I suggest, to lighten the mood, and also because I can”t help myself.
Suddenly, her cheeks turn a lovely shade of red and I notice her body tense up.
“I... No... It”s... er... for the paper...” she stammers.
“I was only joking,” I assert, trying to throw her off balance.
“Ha... Right... Um, so?”
“Yes, we can do that. We”ll meet up at the end of the games.”
She nods, satisfied, her face still tinged with pink. Her blond hair sweeps across her shoulders for a moment, and I watch her in spite of myself, my eyes squinting.
Is the hunt on, Liam?
“Well, thanks Liam for taking the time.”
“Thank you for your professionalism, Emily.”
I give her my most charming smile and she takes her leave, smiling slightly. I watch her a moment longer, registering the movement of her body as it leaves my field of vision. Coach Franklyn”s words echo in my head. It”ll be far from easy not to flirt with her, but I”ve behaved relatively well today.
Anyway, she was attentive and seemed genuinely interested in who I was - outside of ice hockey. In a way, it felt good to talk to someone who didn”t just see me as the team captain or the campus womanizer. I can”t remember the last time someone really listened to me.
She also seems smart and passionate. It”s a change from the girls I usually hang out with.
I shake my head.
It”s my last year at university and I want to be spotted by an agent to have a better chance at the draft. It”s her professionalism I can count on, not her killer ass or her charisma!
“How did the interview go?”
Coach Franklyn”s voice draws me out of my thoughts.
“She fell for it, of course,” I reply with a big smile.
He frowns morosely.
“Liam! This isn”t funny. Can you take this seriously for once?”
I roll my eyes.
“It went well, Coach. I promised you I”d behave, and I did. She asked some interesting questions. We agreed to debrief after the next few games so she could have more material for her articles.”
“Oh, it”s good she”s coming back! I take it you”ve kept your word. I”m relieved. Anyway, great game today! You”re really in shape. I”m proud of you,” he says, tapping me on the shoulder.
“Thanks, Coach,” I reply as I head for the changing rooms, eager to get out of my uniform and into the shower.
The coach is on my tail, and I can already feel what”s coming next. The usual talk about responsibility, effort, blah, blah, blah...
“Guys! Great game!” he proclaims in the locker room.
The team responds by shouting from all sides. The atmosphere is festive, and everyone makes a comment.
“If you keep this up, we”ll be the best of the season! I know you want to party, drink and have fun. But please remember that you all have classes tomorrow. Your academic results must come first if you want to succeed in your studies. No agent is going to want you if your grades aren”t up.”
As he says this, he gives me a special look. The guys groan in chorus and practically beg the coach to at least come and have a beer with them.
“Well, okay...” he finally gives in, still reluctant, and loud cheers erupt.
When we arrive at the ‘sports bar’, showered and fresh, it”s already a buzz. Thunderous applause erupts as the crowd notices us, and countless people congratulate me and tap me on the shoulder.
I take advantage of this attention to spot an attractive student watching me. Eventually, she approaches me, and her eyes reveal what she wants: me. In such cases, we might as well avoid long speeches, don”t you think? Normally, I wouldn”t say no, I”d just have a bit of fun and go my own way. No stress, no obligations. But tonight, I just want to party with my boys and celebrate the start of the season. Unless she offers me a one night stand in the bar’s bathroom, she won”t be coming home on my arm, that”s for sure.
My alarm goes off and I feel like I”ve been run over by a truck. It”s already time to go to class. Shit... Will anyone really notice if I don”t go? I”m too exhausted to dig myself out anyway. Well, I”m also hungover. But we had to celebrate our success properly, didn”t we! I”ve already skipped countless times, but one more won”t go unnoticed, will it?
I turn on my side and close my eyes.
When I wake up, it”s already noon and my stomach is rumbling. Unfortunately, I have nothing to eat in my dorm room. I only keep the bare minimum here and the cupboards are definitely empty. This leaves me with only the campus café to hope I can swallow something that will keep me going. With a big yawn, I swing out of bed. In no time at all, I”m ready to face the sun and the crowd of students. My headache is gone, and I feel better than when my alarm went off several hours earlier.
I open my door, trying to get my hair in order. As I look up into the hallway, my heart seizes with dread: Coach Franklyn is standing in front of me, staring at me with his usual air of seriousness.
Fuck, he is going to give me a heart attack!
My shoulders immediately slump. I feel like I”m going to take the brunt of this...
“Liam. I”m glad you”re awake. You weren”t in class today, so I thought I”d better check on you myself.”
His ironic tone does not go unnoticed.
“Sorry, Coach. I got... a little food poisoning, and... uh...”
Yeah, I”m running out of arguments. That”s lame. Coach Franklyn looks disappointed, and I can”t deny I deserve it.
“Damn it, Liam, we”ve been over this dozens of times! Less partying and more studying! If you don”t have an impeccable record, you can kiss the NHL goodbye1 ! As you know, graduation isn”t compulsory, but it”s the only way to ensure your future. We don”t know what tomorrow will bring! You”re lucky enough to be able to study, so don”t throw it all away...”
I sigh.
“Yeah, I know, I know. I”m sorry coach, I”ll try harder, I swear.”
“It”s the least you can do. You”re excluded from training today. Catch up on the lessons you”ve missed, and you”ll be able to join in tomorrow.”
Incredulous, I stare at him. Just as I”m about to protest, he cuts me off.
“I am adamant, Liam.”
I raise my hands in resignation and nod.
Without another word, he leaves me with a guilty conscience. I exhale with difficulty and head for the campus café. I still have to eat.
As I approach the entrance, I see Emily sitting by one of the windows. She”s with another student and seems to be enjoying herself, judging by the way she”s laughing and tossing her long blonde hair back. It”s been a long time since I”ve heard such a hearty, sincere laugh. She seems so carefree and happy. And it has to be said, too, that this girl is more of the self-aware hottie type. I bet she”s a bit of a killjoy around the edges. It would be a good challenge to try and make her fall for you...
Damn it, Liam. Just let it go.
It”s definitely a distraction I don”t need. Besides, Coach Franklyn would cut my balls off if he realized what I was thinking of doing with our resident reporter!
I shake my head and walk straight past her without looking.
Once at the counter, I greet my best friend Chase with a big smile. He”s on duty today, since he”s working there as an extra, and flirting - again - with a customer. Typical! He just can”t help himself!
“Chase! Still trying to win over the clientele? Do you talk to them before or after the first date about your quirks in the sack?” I exclaim to display it.
He opens wide offended eyes, and his current crushtakes the opportunity to go away. I burst out laughing as he grunts.
“Coffee, I presume?” he asks.
“That”s right! You”re very kind.”
“You”ve had a rude wake-up call, from the look on your face.”
I make a little pout, as if to say ‘maybe’.
“Let me guess, the coach picked you up while you were still sleeping, and you took a beating?”
So, there are no secrets on this campus?
It”s my turn to scowl. I turn towards the room and meet Emily”s gaze, which seems to be watching me curiously. I try to ignore her and look away, well aware that I”m not helping my case with this asshole attitude. And yet, God knows, at this moment I feel like ogling her.
“Yeah... He lectured me and excluded me from today”s training. The team”s in your hands,” I reply, raising my eyebrows.
“You know he”s right, Liam.”
I groan loudly.
“Don”t you start too! I thought we were friends!”
He smiles.
“Your grades have to come first if you want to succeed in school. You can rank well this year and hope to attract agents for the NHL draft. But you know that”s not your future either. What are you going to do if no team wants you? You”re good. Hell, yeah... But you”re not going to be a pro hockey player forever either.”
I know he”s saying it for my own good, like our coach, but right now I don”t want to hear it.
“It”s okay, Chase. Can we change the subject?”
He raises his hands in surrender and serves me something to fill my belly.
We chat for a while longer until I wolf down my breakfast and get ready to leave. I notice that Emily is gone.
Disappointment creeps into my chest, which irritates me a bit. I”ve got better things to do than think about this girl, who isn”t my kind of girl at all.
Before I leave, Chase stops me and hands me a stack of papers.
“My course notes. Since you don”t have any plans this afternoon, you can make up what you missed and return them to me this evening,” he says with a wink.
“Oh, Chase, you didn”t have to do that!” I reply sarcastically, leaving him to his customers.
Back in my room, I toss the papers unenthusiastically onto my desk. Yes, I should probably go through them and get ready for the next exam... But jogging around campus suddenly seems more fun.
Like an automaton, I slip on my running shoes and head out the door. Learning can wait!
The steady sound of my footsteps on the asphalt has a soothing effect and I can feel the fog dissipating in my head. But it”s Emily”s face that superimposes itself on my thoughts. Sitting by the window, laughing with her friend, her blue eyes were literally glowing. Her blond hair begging to be held in one hand, her greedy mouth destined for a kiss, or more...
Fuck, I”m going off the rails. I”m getting a boner just thinking about that little journalist!
I try to shake it out of my head. As this doesn”t help, I increase my running speed, and finally, my salacious thoughts escape.
Back at the dorm, I”m completely out of breath. But I feel liberated and slightly exhausted. All I need now is a hot shower, and I can get down to the lessons Chase has been giving me.
Sitting at my desk, I stare at the pile of papers. It all looks like Chinese to me. Damn it... I”m in big trouble... Maybe a few snippets will stick in my brain if I just copy it down?
I grab a pen and look at the clock. Training started a while ago and I feel out of place just sitting at my desk. I just want to be on the ice right now... If I can”t do what I love, I feel incomplete.
Pissed off, I head for the fridge and grab a beer. I can”t even call one of my buddies, as they”re all on their skates. Resigned, I pull out my cell phone and call my mom. We may not have the best relationship in the world, but somehow, she knows how to be there when I need her.
“Liam, shouldn”t you be at practice?” she asks immediately, sighing.
“Hi, Mom, I”m fine, thanks for asking. How are you and my wonderful sisters?” I answer in my most innocent tone.
“What have you done now?” she insists.
“Nothing at all! The coach just wanted me to stop today so I could concentrate on my studies, because I”ve got exams coming up.”
A little white lie.
There is a short silence.
“Well, I”m relieved. I thought something had happened.”
We chat for a while longer and I notice that I”m starting to feel a little better. My mother has always had a way of triggering a feeling of well-being in me that makes all the dark clouds disappear. There”s only one subject we avoid at all costs: my professional future. She”s not a big fan of the fact that I want to pursue a career in ice hockey. And since discussions on this subject always end in an argument, we don”t talk about it anymore.
When there”s a sudden knock on my door, I put an end to our conversation and get up to open the door. Before me stands Chase with a black eye. I burst out laughing and let him in.
“I forbid you to say anything,” he says.
He heads for the freezer of my little fridge and pulls out a bag of frozen peas. It”s essential for athletes like us to always have these on hand. Then he throws himself onto the sofa. Smiling, I pour him a beer and sit down next to him to toast.
After a moment”s silence, he finally speaks.
“Training without you sucks!”
To which I respond by laughing out loud again.
“Sorry, man! Won”t happen again.”
We stay a while, enjoying the familiar silence.
Chase and I have been friends since kindergarten. He”s like a brother to me. We”ve been through so much together and can count on each other one hundred percent. His bisexuality hasn”t been easy for him to deal with, especially in the ‘sports world’, but I support him 100% and would break the bones of anyone who picked on him because he likes men as much as women. We”re past that these days, and everyone should focus on their own desires. I know that in return, he”ll always have my back.
“At practice, there was a pretty blonde looking for you. Have you been breaking hearts again?” he suddenly asks, waggling his eyebrows.
My heart beats a little faster, but I don”t let on.
“What size bra?” I ask, looking deceptively casual.
Chase rolls his eyes.
“Blonde, blue eyes, pretty smile, hot. Sound familiar?”
I pretend to think, even though I know exactly who it is. And deep down, I can”t help but be delighted that she came looking for me.
“Ah, yes, Emily. She”s from the student newspaper and she”s going to write several articles about us this season.”
Chase nods and looks at me skeptically. I know I can”t get away with my terseness in front of him. After so many years of friendship, I”m an open book to him.
“You”re interested in her, man.”
“What? No! She”s not my type at all. She seems uptight. And what did she say to you?”
I keep a detached air. Chase laughs and pats me on the shoulder.
“I know you, Liam! When was the last time you had any real fun, huh?”
“Last weekend, thank you so much for worrying about my sex life,” I reply, annoyed.
Chase raises his hands in defense.
“Anyway, she doesn”t look like a one-night stand, if you ask me,” he adds. “And yeah, Coach was clear about that, we need to ease up on the extras.”
“It”s true that you”re not defeated, man!”
“I can”t complain. But I”m going to class, so Franklyn”s giving me a break. You should try it,” he retorts.
Touché.
When he gets up to leave, he thanks me for the beer, and I take the opportunity to give him back his notes.
“I only understood a third of it, but thanks all the same,” I say with an imperturbable smile.
He just nods, throws me the packet of peas he had on his eye and leaves.
Alone again, I turn on the TV and flick between channels until I discover an old action movie. I make myself comfortable and immerse myself in another world.
At some point, I wake up, feeling cold and it”s pitch-black outside. I yawn and stretch before lying down in bed. Falling asleep with a distraction is so much easier than waiting for sleep with my thoughts running in circles.
***
“It”s good to see you on your feet so early in the morning!” exclaims Chase, intercepting me halfway to the classroom building and walking beside me.
After a refreshing shower, a cup of coffee and a muffin, I felt ready for class. If I”m honest, the coach”s admonitions and the fact that I didn”t get to train were also enough to motivate me. Today, I”m even enjoying the morning sunshine and fresh air, something I haven”t had the chance to do in a while.
“Dude, are you escorting me or what? Are you afraid I”m going to run off?” I ask my best friend skeptically.
“Some people would kill to have a bodyguard that well groomed!” he retorts cheerfully.
Once in class, the teachers” monologues seem incredibly long, and I can”t wait to get out onto the ice.
The professor wakes me from my half-sleep with a question to which I have no answer. A few students laugh until Chase saves me and whispers what to say. I nod my thanks.
I”ll never be a model student. My talent is on the ice. If I didn”t need this damn diploma to ensure a ‘future’ and never miss another training session, I”d certainly be somewhere else. That”s for sure.
An eternity later, the torture is finally over. Chase and I meet up with the rest of the team for lunch in the refectory before heading off to train. We chat animatedly and joke around together.
I love these weekly lunches together. It”s like an informal sports get-together. The family atmosphere and camaraderie are good for me. It”s a bit like everyone else, given that we”re away from our loved ones for the most part. We”ve become a family in our own way. Crude, with a dubious sense of humor, and a little alcoholic on the side.
When I”m finally on my skates, I feel complete again. I breathe in the cold air and savor the sensation of my feet gliding along without a hitch. Immediately, and very paradoxically, given the rather frigid setting, I burn with an inner fire.
During training, just as I”m about to catch a puck from one of my teammates, a mass of blond hair catches my eye. I inevitably raise my head and look for the silhouette, missing the pass that was holding out my arms.
“Damn it, Liam! What the hell are you doing?”
I grimace.
“Captain, you”re screwing up!” adds one of the guys.
“Yeah, all right, I get it! Sorry, guys!” I reply, more annoyed with myself than with their well-deserved remarks.
I look at Chase, who merely observes me, raising his eyebrows. I look away and note, disappointed, that it”s not even Emily standing there on the edge of the bleachers, ogling us.
Shit, this girl”s gonna make me lose my shit...
I regain my composure and concentrate on the game. I score one goal after another to make up for my indiscretion.
Once the workout”s over, Chase approaches me, laughing.
“Not your kind of journalist, eh?”
“Shut the fuck up,” I say curtly and head for the locker room.
As usual, Coach Franklyn comes over to give us his speech.
“Not bad, guys, but you can do better. Liam, whatever it is that”s on your mind, leave it at home next practice, please. There”s no room on the ice for that kind of distraction.”
“Yes, coach. It won”t happen again,” I growl before heading for the shower.
The hot water helps to calm me down a bit, but I”m still annoyed with myself when I set off for my room.
I need to find a way to put Emily out of my mind. Sleeping with her might be the answer, don”t you think? A smirk stretches my lips.
Liam, you”re such a jerk...
***
In the early hours of the morning, I still feel exhausted when my alarm goes off. Yet I force myself to get up and face the day.
Somehow Coach Franklyn and Chase are right. I need to improve my grades, especially if it means I can have a solid record and prove to recruiters that I”m serious. Who better than a player who knows how to manage his athletic life and his student life?
It”s just that yesterday, I checked the NHL players” diplomas, and it”s no joke. These guys have a lot on their minds, as well as being pretty damn good on the ice. Just look at John Hayden2 , my idol, who has a degree in political science, from Yale University no less.
Don”t fall flat on your face, man. You can do it!
On my way to the campus cafeteria to get my usual coffee and muffin, I trip over a blond boy. More precisely, I bump into him, overlooking only his head.
“Oh, sorry!” resounds a timid voice.
“No problem,” I reply, lowering my eyes.
The rest of my repartee gets stuck in my throat: Emily stands before me, her cheeks rosy and her eyes bright.
“I... No worries, yeah...” I end up mumbling before quickly walking away.
Before her blue eyes captivate me, and I fall into them like Alice in Wonderland3 down the white rabbit hole. It takes a lot of strength not to turn around.
That”s anything but good.
As I arrive at the lecture hall, where I”m supposed to take one of my morning lectures, I notice that a few students have a newspaper in hand. A few of them give me unobtrusive glances, and wave with their chins, rather warmly.
I guess the article about our game is finally out, and from the reactions, it looks positive. I”m curious to know what Emily has written about us, and I manage to get one of the papers by retrieving it from the hands of a girl. I quickly settle down and look for the section about us.
My heart beats a little faster when I find the right page. I start reading and find myself doing it in one go. The article is incredibly well written! Emily has captured the essence of our sport and team spirit perfectly. I can”t even hear the teacher start; I”m so captivated by her words. She really has talent. And for once, there”s no scandal on the horizon. If I didn”t love hockey, I think I”d be tempted to go and see a game, and that”s a really good thing!
I find it hard to follow the rest of the course. I read and reread the article, transported by the little blonde”s prose. It goes to show that, in addition to having a great ass, she knows how to write.
When I get to the rink, the atmosphere is happy and relaxed. The guys all tap me on the shoulder as if in gratitude.
“I don”t know what you told that blonde girl last time, but her article is brilliant!” says Tyler, our defender.
“If the stands aren”t full by the next game, I”ll eat my stick!” exclaims Eliot, the goalkeeper.
“No one can resist my charm,” I joke.
That”s when Coach Franklyn enters the locker room and chases us all out onto the ice.
“Enough chatter! You”ll remake the world when you”re dripping with sweat, not before! We”ve got a lot of work to do. Go, go, go!”
I scan the hall briefly, perhaps expecting to find our journalist. After all, she was looking for me last time, yet she hasn”t come back... Maybe she”s found the answers to her questions? Silly me, I should have given her my phone number. Or I could have stalkedher on Instagram... It would have been a good excuse to contact her again. ‘Hey, Emily! I heard you were looking for me, if you feel like chatting over a strawberry milk, I”m in...’ Fuck, I”m rambling! She did a pro job; now it”s my turn to do mine. If she”s drawn attention to us, we”ve got to earn it twice as much.
Chase appears behind me and pats me on the back.
“She”s not here, brother, it”s no use waiting for her like a faithful dog!”
I growl and slap him back. It annoys me so much that he can see right through me like that!
An hour later, a shrill whistle echoes through the air, bringing our warm-up to an end. Panting, I glide across the ice. With each energetic step, the blades of my skates raise icy flakes around my feet.
The coach shouts his orders and we split into two teams. I look at my teammates with pride: these guys are good. As captain, I must be even more so.
Sweat and effort are forgotten as soon as the puck comes into play. With stoic concentration, I get into position, my eyes firmly fixed on the opposing goal. Adrenalin pulses through my veins. Then another whistle blows and we”re instantly in a trance. I glide like a feather to retrieve the puck at lightning speed. Only one thing matters now: getting the attack on goal. But my opponents don”t make it easy. After a few passes, I find the weak point in their game and slip through their defense. Joy breaks out when the puck hits the net, marking my team”s first point.
I smile at my teammates and bang my stick against Chase”s. It”s our way of celebrating a point. But the exercise isn”t over yet. I quickly get back into position, ready for the next attack.
When the final whistle blows and I take off my helmet, I”m dripping with sweat. My brown curls are a mess. I push the damp locks out of my eyes before I spot Emily standing next to Coach Franklyn. They seem to be deep in conversation and, as I approach, they both ignore me. Emily finally thanks the coach and leaves the room without a glance at me. To say I”m disappointed would be a lie. I”m fucking disappointed, yeah!
I tilt my head to the side, puzzled, and watch her walk away. At no point does she turn around.
I frown.
This is the first time I”ve ever been ghostedby a girl. But the truth is, I had it coming. If every time I meet her, I pretend she doesn”t exist, it”s only natural that she”ll return the favor. Am I indulging in a little game of seduction? Come on... It won”t hurt anyone... And after all, if I manage to get what”s been haunting my nights for days, maybe she”ll finally come out of my dreams!
1 National Hockey League.
2 With a degree in political science from Yale University, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes.
3Fantasy novel by British author Lewis Carroll, published in 1865.