12. Declan #3
Astrid nods. “He’s an asshole.” Then she looks across the table at Beckett and raises her voice. “I wasn’t aware he takes hits in practice because of what he says to Andi.”
“Sometimes in games too,” Beckett says, unapologetically. “Just depends on when he said what.”
“So you keep track of what he says, and you make sure he hurts for it?” Astrid clarifies.
Beckett nods. “Yup. But hockey hits are a little safer than me just smashing his face out in the parking lot.”
Lawson grunts.
“Okay,” Astrid says. “But you should tell him why he’s getting hit. It might stop it.”
Beckett gives a half smile. “Yeah. Okay.”
But he still looks bothered and glances toward the door. I wonder if he’s worrying about Andi.
“So I think it’s going to be complicated to use the horses,” Lawson suddenly says.
He’s watching Beckett.
I am now watching him.
Because Beckett immediately brightens.
Is Lawson changing the subject to make Beckett feel better?
I am very aware that these two men are rivals. Everyone is. It’s impossible to miss. They got into a fight when I was here in person for a game, and the town website has made it clear that the beef between these two men is long-standing, though no one seems to know exactly what started it.
“But the fact that it would be awkward makes it even funnier,” Beckett says.
Lawson nods. “If that’s what you’re going for.”
“We’re always going for funnier,” Beckett says firmly.
“Are you talking about a hockey game?” I ask.
Beckett nods. “Yeah. Friday night.”
“It’s off-season,” I point out.
“Well, it’s really a big scrimmage. We’re continuing to practice once a week, and then once a month, we’re doing a scrimmage for people to come watch.
” He grins. “We decided to make them theme nights. Last month we did otters for World Otter Day. This month it’s knights.
Next month it’s pirates. And August will be princesses. ”
“Princesses?” I ask.
“Yeah. We each come dressed as a kick-ass princess,” Zeke Landry interjects. “Real or fiction. We figured that would be fun for some of our little girl fans.”
“And maybe some boys,” Wes says.
“And good for boys to see you all not afraid to represent women that way,” Quinn Trahan, one of the two female players for Astrid’s league, pipes up.
“Absolutely,” Zeke says.
The way he smiles makes me ask, “Do you have a daughter?”
“Two of them,” he says proudly. “Twins.”
“And they’re into princesses?” I guess.
He laughs. “No. Not at all. They’re very into hockey, though. It was their idea to make it princess night so some of their friends, who think hockey is boring, would be more excited about coming to watch.”
“And then we can show them how fun hockey is once they’re there.” Quinn fist-bumps Zeke.
I look at my wife. “These two teams play each other, and only each other, all season long. Doesn’t that make all of your games scrimmages?”
She rolls her eyes. “Well, we have guest players come play during the scrimmages. We had kids play with the guys for World Otter Day. For the pirate night, we’re going to pull fans who have the best costumes out of the stands and have them play a few minutes.”
I should have known that somehow the scrimmages would be even more bonkers. “Got it.”
Astrid leans in and asks Beckett, “Horses?”
“Fake horses, of course,” Beckett says. “Like those horse heads on a stick. What do they call those?”
“Hobby horses,” Zeke offers.
“Right!” Beckett says. “Those.”
“So, we’ll have those in one hand and our jousting poles in the other,” Lawson says.
“Well, they’re not real jousting poles. They’re still hockey sticks,” Beckett says.
“Sounds like a good way for some people to end up on their asses,” Alex says.
“You’re saying you can’t skate with something big between your legs?” Beckett asks him.
Alex narrows his eyes. “I said some people.”
“If you’re not good at multitasking, just say so,” Beckett says. “And my condolences to Nora.”
“Fuck off,” Alex says calmly, lifting his glass, clearly unbothered.
Beckett grins. “This will be hilarious.” He focuses on me. “So we should back up. Like we gotta know your skill level. What you’re really capable of. Teddy was supposed to start things off, but we can switch that around if we need to.”
I feel my brows rise. “My skill level?” I ask.
“Yeah, like how well you can skate,” Beckett tells me.
“You should just start it off anyway,” Lawson tells Beckett. “You’re the one with the big vision.”
I swear Beckett’s chest puffs at that. “That’s true. I have it all very clear in my mind.” He slides off his stool and heads to the counter, asking for paper and a pen. He returns a moment later with a paper placemat and three crayons.
He begins sketching, and the guys lean in.
I lean over to Astrid. “Why do I have a feeling this is your idea and I’m getting pulled into something?”
She does that very fake blinking I-would-never-cause-you-trouble thing. “Oh no, the horses and…everything…are all Beckett and Nora.”
“I mean, whatever this has to do with me.”
Her sly smile confirms it even before she says, “You know that thing where you are so adamant about us not breaking up?”
“Yes,” I say firmly.
“Well, you might want to hold off on that opinion until you hear about the plan for Friday.”