Chapter 34
MAC
Fee is sitting between my legs, reading her Arts Through the Ages textbook while I watch footage of the last game we played against Niagara.
The only reason we’re able to effectively get anything done like this is because we started our study session with some cardio.
This is my favorite, when we can cuddle, but still get work done—even if mine isn’t of the school homework variety.
I kiss Fee’s neck. “I have to leave for practice soon.”
“Impeccable timing.” She tabs the page with a sticky flag before she closes it and tosses it on the bed beside us.
“I just finished that chapter, and my brain is ready to leak out of my ears.” She stretches and wraps her arms around my neck, tipping her head back until she can reach my jaw with her lips.
“I’ll head to the arena after my studio class, unless you’re going out with the guys after practice. ”
“Nah. We have a big game in a couple of days, so it’s about early nights and lots of rest.”
“Maybe I should sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“Nuh-uh.” I nuzzle her neck. “I sleep better when you’re here.”
“Is that true?” She taps my hands. “I recall us both being under-slept on Monday.”
“I’d been away, though.” I release her and she rolls off the bed, hopping to her feet.
“Mm. Okay. Sleepover tonight, but tomorrow night I’m in my own bed and you’re in yours,” she says.
“We can negotiate later.”
“You mean you can try to convince me to stay later.”
“Maybe.”
We pack our bags, collect Brody and Gage on the way out, and hop into Brody’s car. We drop Fee off at her class and drive to the arena.
“Everything okay?” I ask Gage who’s frowning at his phone as we exit the car.
“My sister’s ex needs a tune-up. The douchebag is trying to get her back. Says he made a mistake.”
“What’s she saying?” I ask.
“All the right things: he’s a jerk, she deserves better.” He shakes his head. “I wish kicking his ass wouldn’t get me suspended from the team.”
“Violence is rarely the answer,” Brody says from his spot behind the wheel.
“Thanks, Yoda,” Gage quips.
“I’m just saying, there are lots of ways to make someone’s life miserable that don’t include breaking their nose or fingers,” he replies.
“Besides, if you wait long enough, karma will come around and bite that guy in the ass. He can’t treat women like that and expect for it not to go sideways on him, especially not when the woman in question has a brother on the school hockey team.
The guy is an asshole. It’s only a matter of time before he gets his comeuppance. ”
“You’re in an introspective mood,” Chase observes.
“I just don’t like seeing people get treated poorly by someone who is supposed to care about them.”
“This,” I agree as we enter the arena.
We hit the locker room and suit up for practice with the rest of the team. A couple of the first years are talking about their summer plans as they lace their skates.
“You hear anything back from any of the summer programs yet?” Gage asks.
“Not yet. How about you?” We’ve applied to a couple of the same places, including the Hockey Academy.
“Me neither. Hopefully soon, though,” Gage says.
“Crossing everything for the Hockey Academy.”
I haven’t mentioned the other programs to Fee, hopeful I’ll get a local spot.
But I’ve been thinking about the alternatives a lot.
Like only having overseas interest, getting called up, but the team is across the country, or in the States.
Would she be willing to try long distance?
At fajita night the Terror crew shared stories about how demanding their rookie years were.
I put my worries in a box and focus on practice as we hit the ice for warm-ups before we scrimmage. I don’t eat ice, and I manage an assist with Brody scoring the goal. Whistling draws our attention to the stands.
“Holy shit.” Gage’s jaw drops. “Is that Alex fucking Waters? What the hell is he doing here?”
Coach blows the whistle. “Stiles, bring it in.”
“Bro. Dude.” Chase claps him on the back. “Is Alex fucking Waters here to see you?”
Brody shrugs, his face turning red. “Dunno.”
Alex Waters is a legend in the sport, much like Roman.
After he retired, him and his former Chicago Rage teammates started the Hockey Academy out in Pearl Lake, near Chicago.
They opened a second program in Toronto a few years ago, and there’s already a five-year waitlist. It’s no surprise since they produce some of the best players in the league.
“Chase, Brody, it’s good to see you boys pushing yourselves this season. I was just telling your coach how excited we are that you’ve applied to come back this year.”
“Last summer was amazing,” Chase says.
“Best hockey camp experience ever.” Brody nudges me and Gage forward. “This is Mac Meyers and Gage Steele. They’re my teammates, but also my roommates.”
“It’s nice to meet you guys.”
I shake Alex Waters’ hand and manage not to pass out. “It’s an honor, sir.”
“You had a rough start to the season, but you’ve made some big gains over the past month. Keep it up and you’ll be fine,” Alex says.
I swallow knives of mortification. “I’m working hard to bring my stats back to where they were last season.”
“Roman has great things to say about you,” he adds.
“That’s good to hear.” I don't want my relationship with Fee to be the reason I get a spot in the Hockey Academy.
“Just keep putting in the time on the ice,” he advises.
I step back and let some of the other guys introduce themselves while the swirling anxiety digs its claws in. Keep it up is the hockey equivalent of a participation ribbon. What if I’m never good enough for the pros?
I’m quiet in the locker room as the rest of the guys chatter excitedly about having met such a legendary player.
Brody is inundated with questions, which isn’t unusual, but the guy hates being the center of attention, so he’ll probably lock himself in his room for the rest of the night and avoid unnecessary social interaction.
It isn’t until we’re in the car on the way back to our place that Brody turns to me. “Dude, you haven’t said a word since the locker room. What’s going on?”
“Alex Waters knows I suck.”
Gage frowns. “What? I was standing beside you the whole time. He didn’t say that."
“Keep it up. He said keep it up. And he knows I had a rough start to the season, and that I’ve been on the ice with Roman.”
“You’ve been on the ice with Hammerstein?” Chase asks.
“Forrest-Hammer,” I correct.
“You know what I mean. Since when have you been on the ice with the most legendary goalie in all of hockey history?” Chase presses. “And why the hell didn’t you tell us?”
“Fee arranged it a while ago. After I had that really shitty game against Windsor.” I clarify the timeline since all of my games were shitty up to that point.
“Well fuck, dude, that’s cool,” Gage shakes his head in amazement.
“You know we would get on the ice and practice with you,” Brody says.
“We’re already on the ice together all the time.
I don’t want you to overdo it on my account.
Besides, it was a one-time thing, and a surprise, and I didn’t really want to say anything because I’m already sucking the teat and even Alex fucking Waters knows.
” I let my head fall back against the seat rest. “What if I never get a spot in the Hockey Academy? I’ll end up being a PT for the hockey team I wanted to play on, but can’t, because I keep choking! ”
Brody pulls into the driveway and turns to look at me. “Bro.”
“It’s fucking true and you know it!”
“Take a breath.”
“Don’t tell me to take a breath! You’ll be a top pick when you’re called up.
” Oh yeah, I’m legit spiraling. But it’s about more than just the Hockey Academy and what next year will look like.
It’s about Fee, too. I love her. I don’t want to lose her, but I don’t want to lose out on hockey opportunities either, and I’m terrified of all the unknowns.
“How about we look at it from a different perspective, Meyers?” Brody says calmly.
“Alex Waters noticed how much you’ve improved this year.
He saw that the beginning of the season was rocky, and he also sees your dedication and willingness to push through, even when it’s hard.
” He sighs. “There is no way I’ll go through a whole season without having a string of bad games somewhere along the way, and when I do, I hope like hell I have the same damn perseverance you do. Stop spiraling. It’s unnecessary.”
“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “No more spiraling.”
Gage claps me on the shoulder. “I’m manifesting that we’ll have the best summer together at the Hockey Academy."
“Amen to that.” Brody gets out of the car. “Now let’s go have a beer and enjoy the fact that we’re all on Alex Waters’ radar.”