Chapter 45 Zeke
forty-five
Zeke
We’re so close,” Brooks says as we finish getting on our gear.
“Hey, asshole, don’t jinx us.” I spray water into my mouth. “The last thing we need is to be overly cocky on the ice.”
“I’m sorry, did Mr. Cocky himself just tell me not to be too cocky?” Brooks zips up his bag.
“Trust me, Brooks, I know we’re winning this game. I just want us to go out there and play like this was our last game.”
I told Avalon last night that we were going to win this game.
I know we are. We’ve been on fire all season, and we’ve been playing great during the playoffs.
Hopefully, Declan will wise up and play in this game instead of using his stupid injury as an excuse because the win won’t feel the same if he’s not on the ice with us.
If I’m lucky, Ember’s in the stands because our conversation got through to her. This means that Declan will have no choice but to play.
“We’re definitely winning this game,” Fletcher interjects. “Or I’ll owe Tate $100 bucks.”
“I’m sorry, Tate’s betting against us?” Jaxon scowls.
“Not technically,” Fletcher continues. “She just knows how competitive I am, so it just amped it up, you know?”
“You’re a weird man, Fletch.” Jeremy chuckles. “But whatever gets us that win.”
Declan walks into the locker room, and the tension increases. Since Cam swung at him during practice, everyone just waits for the shoe to drop. Like at any moment, Cam could go after him again, and no one knows which side to be on.
“Hey, Golden-Boy,” I begin, “you playing tonight? Or are you still too hurt to play?”
We all know he’s not in pain. Or at least not enough to keep him off the ice. I remember when we were thirteen, Declan got hit hard during a game, so hard that they broke his wrist. He played the rest of the game without telling anyone.
So, whatever “injury” he has would never be enough to keep him away from the game.
“I don’t know. I’ll see how I feel once we’re closer to game time.”
“We’re pretty much there now,” I respond.
He shrugs, pulling his phone out of his locker and staring at the screen. Then he throws it back in.
“No word from her?” I step toward him, and he shakes his head.
“Can I talk to you?” Cam walks over to us, and everyone’s eyes are on him and Declan.
I guess the other shoe’s about to drop.
“Look, man,” Declan begins. “I know with everything that’s going on right now, you’re pissed at me, but can we not do this right now?”
“I think there’s no better time to have this conversation than right now,” Cam responds, and Declan squares up, ready to take a punch if that’s what’s coming to him.
“Alright,” he continues, “what’s up, Bowman?”
“I want to apologize.”
My eyes dart to the guys, their eyes already on me. No one in this room saw that coming. Not only was Declan seeing Cam’s sister behind his back, but there was also a big blowout between Declan and his sister just a few weeks ago.
Declan tilts his head, almost as if he didn’t hear Cam right. He turns toward Jax, then looks at me before turning back to Cam.
“You want to apologize?”
“Yeah,” Cam says. “I had no right to blow up on the two of you the way that I did. Truthfully, I think it was more out of pain than anger. Ember and I have told each other everything since we were kids. Finding out she was keeping something like that from me. It fucking sucked, man.”
“I can imagine how you feel,” Declan replies. “You don’t have to apologize. Not to me anyway.”
Cam squeezes Declan’s shoulder. “You’re a pretty cool guy, Declan. You’re good for her.”
“Well, I don’t know if she sees it that way,” Declan continues. “I don’t know if we’ll ever be what we were again.”
“Don’t give up on her, okay? She loves you. I don’t know how I didn’t realize it sooner,” Cam says.
“Me either, man, it was pretty fucking obvious,” I interject, and they laugh.
“Yeah, I really should’ve realized at that banquet when you started dancing with my sister,” he adds. “What can I say? I’m a little slow sometimes.”
He heads toward the door to leave the locker room.
“Cam,” Declan calls after him, “thanks.”
Cam nods before leaving. The second he’s gone, all of us are around Declan.
“What the hell just happened?” Declan lets out a sigh of relief.
“I never thought I’d see the day that you and Cam were on good terms,” I respond. “And I sure as hell never thought he’d apologize.”
“Especially after you broke his sister’s heart,” Fletcher says, and I whack him in the back of the head. “Ow.”
“All I need is for his sister to hear me out.”
“I think she will,” I begin. “She loves you.”
“Why do I feel like you know something I don’t?” he asks, and I shrug.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
Ican’t believe we won.” I jump into my truck and start it as I turn toward Avalon.
“You did tell me you guys were going to win this game.” She smiles, and seeing her smile is almost better than winning.
“I know, but now that we did, oh fuck, it feels amazing. We’re one game closer to being champions, and I never thought we’d get to say that.”
“You guys played one hell of a game. Jay was quite impressed.”
“Where is Jay?”
“He told me he’d see me back at the hotel and that I should enjoy celebrating you tonight,” she responds.
“I’ve missed you; you know that?” I begin. “Honestly, all I could think about during the game was this.”
I lean forward, connecting her lips with mine. Every win has felt so much better since I’ve been with Avalon. It’s nice to know I have someone supporting me off the ice and that it won’t just be celebratory sex with a person I don’t plan on ever seeing again. But rather with someone I love.
“I’ve missed that too. Your mom was texting me the whole game. She said your parents are planning on coming to the finals.”
“Yeah, she said if she’s feeling well enough, they’ll make the trip,” I say. “Which kind of worries me. She hasn’t really traveled since she was diagnosed, but I think it’ll be good for her.”
“So, how do you want to celebrate your win?”
“I could think of a few things.” I grin.
“I bet you could.” She laughs. “But I’m sharing a hotel room with Jay, and as supportive as he is, I don’t think he’d be thrilled at us having sex in that room.”
“Who said it had to be in a hotel room?” I waggle my eyebrows. “It’s been a while since we’ve done it in my truck.”
“Zeke,” she turns around, looking out the rear window, “do you know how crowded this parking lot is?”
“Most people are gone,” I reply. “But obviously, I wouldn’t make you do something you aren’t comfortable with. There’s a pretty spacious bathroom on the main floor of your hotel.” I wink, and she rolls her eyes.
Then she looks toward the back cabin of the truck and then at me.
“You still have the privacy shields for the windows?” She bites her bottom lip.
“They’re in the back.”
“It’ll have to be a quickie,” she adds. “You said earlier that the guys will expect to see you out tonight because of the win, so if you take too long, then they’ll come looking for you and—”
“Or you could just come out with us tonight,” I suggest. “Maybe it’ll be the perfect opportunity to introduce everyone to my girlfriend.”
“I don’t want to overshadow tonight by meeting your friends,” she responds. “We’ve waited this long. What’s a couple more weeks? I’ll meet them once my boyfriend and his team are champions.”
“Because if we don’t win, you’ll break up with me?”
“Obviously,” she jokes. “Then I’m gonna start dating a player from the winning team.”
“Ha ha.”
“Clock’s ticking, Harris,” Avalon teases, tapping her watch. I tilt my head toward the back seats, and Avalon climbs over the center console, and I pull my hoodie over my head.
She grabs the privacy covers for the windows, placing them on the back two, and handing me the ones for the front. Once the windows are covered, Avalon leans forward, wrapping her hand around the neck of my t-shirt and pulling me toward her, bridging the gap between us.
Her mouth is soft against mine as I slide my hands across her cheeks. The second her lips part, I take the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
“Are you gonna get back here?” Her lips brushing against mine once more. “Or are you gonna leave me hanging?”
“I have no plan to leave you hanging.”
She smiles, pulling her sweatshirt over her head, “Then prove it.”
I debate how to climb over the seats. It’s not as easy for a six-five hockey player to climb over the center console as a five-foot female.
“Tick, tock, Harris.”
“Maybe I’ll get out and get in through the back door, no pun intended.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She laughs.
“Give me one second!” I open the car door, but as I do, I’m greeted with a familiar face.
“Hey, man,” Fletcher says, “I thought that was your truck.”
“Yeah, uh, hey.” I look at Avalon, and she slides down in the seats. “I assumed you’d be, um, out, you know, with the guys.”
“I was waiting for Tate,” he replies. “But she just texted that she headed out with Brinley and Alex.”
“Well, Ember and Declan looked like they were making up on the ice, so I’d assume they’re skipping the festivities.”
“Everyone else is meeting at that pub we went to for dinner last night,” he continues. “There’s a bar not too far from there that we’ll go to after we get some food. Maybe we can take your truck over.”
“No!” I argue. “Marcus drove down for the game in my car. But he met a guy during the game, and they’re hooking up nearby, so he’ll need the car.”
“Oh, shit, yeah,” he adds. “I didn’t see Marcus in the stands.”
“You know him… he likes to blend in,” I lie. “I think the walk will do us good.”
“Yeah, because who doesn’t love to walk a mile and a half with hockey gear after a long game.”
“Exactly.” I place a hand on his shoulder, turning him around. I give Avalon an apologetic look as I shut the door, but she just laughs.
It's not exactly how I planned on tonight going, but I guess it’ll have to do.