Chapter 48
Chapter
Forty-Eight
Hunter: I had a terrible experience with my dad today. Would love to talk about it later.
Natalie: I’ll call you tonight before bed.
Hunter: It’s a date.
Cooper pops his head around my doorframe. “You ready to go?”
“Go?” I repeat, glancing around my bedroom. “It’s Movie Monday. Where would we go?”
“Jasmine’s place. She’s hosting.”
After my shitty breakfast with my dad, I wanted to run to the gym or hit the ice. Instead, I listened to music, did some of my PT exercises, and got my head on straight. My first instinct was to stay holed up in my bedroom tonight and avoid the Movie Monday crowd.
But I’m still a part of the hockey team. My injury hasn’t taken that away, and I won’t let my dad and his outlook on life ruin me—and by extension, my evening.
I contemplated crawling into bed and pulling the covers over my head, especially because I feel responsible for Hadley, too. But I’m not alone. I have people I can rely on for help.
Like Natalie. I don’t want to bother her, but I’d like to talk to her. Tell her what’s on my mind and what happened with my dad. Before, I would shrug it off, say it doesn’t matter, but that creates a wall between us. Now, I don’t demand time she doesn’t have, but I let her know I need her. I don’t get mad when she can’t drop everything immediately for me, though. I can wait. She’ll come through.
I was going to show up for Movie Monday tonight because it’s good for me—and it’s in my apartment. But Jasmine’s house? That sounds like a lot of work.
“Nah, man. I think I’m gonna stay here and study.”
Cooper frowns. “No way, you have to come.”
“But—”
“You don’t have a final tomorrow until the afternoon. You can study in the morning.”
“Whoa, did you memorize my schedule?” I hold my hands, warding him off. “Too much. I’ve told you, I’m taken.”
The bum leg doesn’t stop him from messing up my hair, trying to get me in a headlock. Laughing, I punch him in the arm.
“Not my stick hand!” He grins, backing off. “And seriously, Jasmine will be pissed if you don’t come. You don’t want to be on her bad side.”
He’s not wrong. I sigh. “Okay, I’ll get ready.”
I throw on a sweatshirt and a backwards cap to hide my mused hair. Then I follow Cooper out to his truck.
After I buckle up, he drives, but in the wrong direction.
“Uh, dude? Did you forget where your girlfriend lives?”
“Just have to make a quick detour.” He smiles to himself, like he has a secret, and I shake my head. He’s a terrible liar.
“What’s going on?”
After circling the block, he pulls into the hockey arena parking lot. The lot that’s across the street from our apartment.
I laugh. “Why’d you even bother to drive?”
“Effect?” He shrugs. “Makes it more fun for me.”
I pat his shoulder. “That’s what it’s all about.”
“You know it.”
“We going in?” I ask, jerking my head towards the arena.
“Yep.”
I haven’t been back inside since I broke my leg. My home ice… now co-opted by my dad and filled with painful memories. I hesitate, my hand on the seatbelt, and stare at the sign over the main entrance. It’s lit up like a beacon in the dark evening sky.
The James Thompson Hockey Complex.
I’m still bitter he had to add his first name. If it just said Thompson, I could pretend it was named after me. But it’s typical of him—had to make sure he’s top dog.
It’s not a game I’m playing with him anymore. He’s out of my life. Maybe not forever, but I won’t let him taint anything else.
So I take a deep breath, unbuckle, and get out of Cooper’s truck. Hands in his pockets, he waits for me by the entrance.
“You’re slower than molasses running’ uphill in the winter.”
I shake my head at him as I hobble over. “And your expressions are weirder than a sci-fi convention full of super fans.”
He looks affronted. “Don’t knock ComicCon. Jasmine and I are thinking about going.”
I point at the door. “Do you have a key?”
“I know a guy.” His voice is smug as he pushes the door open.
“Lead the way, then.” I give a sarcastic bow, and Cooper rolls his eyes.
I follow him down the maze of hallways that I know in my sleep until we are outside the film room. Built with stadium style seats, it’s like a combination between a lecture hall and a theater.
With a flourish, Cooper throws open the door. “Surprise!”
I step inside, blinking. The room is full of people. The guys on the team, Hadley, Jasmine. Is that Coach Bouchard in the corner?
“Hi, there, handsome.” Natalie appears at my side, her lips stretched in a wide grin.
Picking her up, I spin her—carefully because of my leg—in my arms. After setting her back down, I can’t help but give her a quick kiss.
“What’s all this?” I ask, encompassing the spread of food set up on long tables at the front of the room. The projector screen is pulled down, a movie queued up and ready to go. Someone presses play and the opening strains of Miracle begin. “I thought it was Willow tonight.”
“I convinced Jasmine to change it up.” Natalie smiles and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “You deserve a celebration.”
“You remembered that’s my favorite hockey movie?”
She shrugs. “I remember everything.”
“Then you should know, it’s not my birthday. There’s nothing to celebrate.”
“Not true.” Her lips brush mine in a tender caress. “I wanted you to feel as special as you made me feel. To know that we love you and have your back.”
I’m speechless. She waves her hand around the room, encompassing everyone in it. I don’t know what would have happened if I had taken my draft option and tried to go pro this year. But I definitely would have missed this—Cooper, the guys on the team. Natalie.
Hockey is awesome. But this—the people in this room? This is life.
“I’m the lucky one.”