11. Exhibition
Exhibition
BECKS
We win our exhibition game six-zero.
Vaughn Heston scores the first goal, I score two with two assists from Colsen and, of course, Mack outdoes me with a hat trick.
Tucker is an impenetrable wall and shuts out the local team we played tonight.
Despite the score, it wasn’t an easy game. The minor league team we faced, the Cove Raiders, was scrappy as hell and played a very physical game.
They had some very skilled players. Their defense was especially strong. One of their D-men in particular, Ryan McKenzie, was a constant thorn in our side.
Our first goal was the result of a power play we earned when McKenzie landed himself in the penalty box for smashing Heston into the boards.
The attack came out of nowhere; Heston didn’t even have the puck.
“Jesus Christ on a cracker,” Mack gasps in the locker room when Heston sheds his jersey and protective gear. “Are you alright, Vaughn?”
When you play hockey since you were old enough to hold a stick, you’re used to bruises. They come with the territory. The boards and the ice are hard surfaces, and sometimes we hit them as much as we hit the puck itself.
But the huge, dark purple bruise that covers the entire length of Heston’s left torso is ugly enough to make us all flinch.
“I’m fine, Cap.” He bites out with a smile that looks more like a grimace. “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Right?”
“Sure,” Mack agrees. “But maybe you should go see the team doctor. Make sure you didn’t crack a rib or worse.”
Heston continues to take his gear off. “Nah. I’ve had worse. I’m ok, seriously.”
“I would feel better if at least you had Taryn take a look at you for a second. The season starts next week, and you’re one of our strongest players.”
I had almost bought Heston’s lie that he’s fine. But what he does next makes me think that he’s trying to downplay the amount of pain he’s in.
“Aww, I love it when you praise me, Cap. If you promise to keep those sweet compliments coming, I’ll get smashed into the boards every game until the championship final.”
Yup. Deflection is a dead giveaway. I do it all the time too whenever I want to distract people from how I’m really feeling.
“Shut up, Heston.” Mack laughs, but he returns serious in the blink of an eye. “I’m not messing with you, though. I’ll be following up with you. Make sure you’re ok after you slept on it, yeah?”
“Sure thing.” It’s the answer. “It’s nothing that a good night's sleep and a caring puck bunny won’t fix.”
Mack rolls his eyes, then sets his attention on me. “Great game, too, Becks. Or should I say Beavis?”
“You’re so funny. That nickname doesn’t suck any less tonight than it did when you and Prescott picked it.” I flip him off. “But thanks. You too.”
It pains me to admit that Mack was the star of the game. If I want to live up to his fame and not keep being known as Macklin Shayba’s little brother, I need to up my game.
Another thing that I hate to admit is that from what I’ve seen so far, Mack is a damn good captain and a natural leader. The team respects him and looks up to him, and I don’t blame them.
He’s always been a pretty great big brother too. He’s always looked out for me and encouraged me and offered me support, and advice. The fact that he was born before me and he was already good at anything we ever did isn’t really his fault.
I’m the one responsible for the constant chip on my shoulder; I’m well aware of that.
The only thing I wish Mack understood is how hard it is to live in his shadow every day of my life.
That’s the reason why I decided to go to Bridgeport rather than come to Star Cove. I tried to explain it to him before I even started college.
He didn’t understand. He didn’t get that I wasn’t going to Bridgeport because I don’t care about him, but because I do.
I need room to breathe, to grow into myself and be my own player, my own man.
I hate myself for the resentment I feel every time our parents, our friends, or the world talk about how awesome he is. How he’s gonna be a champion.
And it’s fucking weird because an even bigger part of me is so damn proud of every single thing Mack achieves.
Is it that wrong if I want to get where he’s at with my hard work but without being constantly compared to him?
“Come on,” Prescott gives me a slap on the back. “Let’s go hit the showers. You’re about to find out what a damn good party this school can throw for us.”
Heston stops to chime in on his way to the showers, buck naked.
“Tucker’s right. You’re gonna have to fight the bunnies.
You started the night with a bang by scoring two goals, and you’re gonna end it with a bang too.
By scoring with a hot girl who wants nothing but to show her school spirit by giving you a night you might not remember tomorrow. ”
Prescott shakes his head with a chuckle. “That doesn’t make much sense. What’s the point of scoring the hot girls if you can’t remember?”
“You might not remember, but your dick will.” Heston punctuates the words by gyrating his hips. His flaccid dick spins in sync with the motion, slapping against his muscular hips and thighs.
“Ew, dude.” Our goalie laughs. “Put that away. I thought I told you no one wants to see your helicopter dick when you were a freshman. Besides, we have our first official game of the season next week. And you know what that means.”
I’m about to ask him what that means, but Mack fills in the blanks for me.
“Tucker is right. You know as well as we do that Coach doesn’t believe in taking it easy during the season. We have morning skate at seven a.m. sharp tomorrow, and if you show up hungover, you know there’s gonna be hell to pay.”
“Fuck,” Heston groans. “Don’t remind me. Maybe you’re right.” He turns to me. “On second thought, Becks, have as much fun as you want with the bunnies. But keep the drink to a nice buzz. Or Coach will bag skate us until you puke your own soul out.”
I shrug. “I don’t overdo it with the drink because my body is my temple and all that shit. But I actually think bag skating is kind of fun.”
My teammates’ jaws hit the floor.
“What?” Prescott gawks. “I thought Vaughn was the one who got smashed against the boards. Did I miss you taking any hits?”
Mack answers the question on my behalf. “Nah. There’s no need for that. Becks has his nice boy outer shell. Even our parents will tell you he’s the nicest one between us. But deep down, he’s a freak. Especially on the ice.”
I can’t help but laugh at my brother’s assessment. He isn’t wrong.
“Whatever. I like pushing my limits. If someone tells me I can’t do something, I won’t rest until I prove them wrong. If that makes me a freak, it’s fine by me.”
“Jeez,” Heston’s laugh comes out more like a wheeze. His face contorts with pain as if laughing was too much for his bruised ribs. “I’ll keep an eye on you, then. I’d rather not experience another one of Coach’s punishments if I can help it.”
His hilarity falls flat when it’s clear that he’s in more pain than he wants to admit.
“Vaughn,” Prescott clasps his shoulder to stop him from walking away.
“Are you sure you’re ok? That big hit against the boards wasn’t the only one you took tonight.
That McKenzie kid was riding you hard all night.
I saw him smack into you a few times before that.
And even after he got a major penalty, he came back on the ice still determined to beat the crap out of you. It looked almost personal.”
Heston remains uncharacteristically tight-lipped and our goalie insists.
“True,” Mack agrees. “But I’m a year older than you and I don’t think we’ve ever played his team. Not even during the preseason. He’s a local, isn’t he?”
“He is.” Prescott nods. “And he’s about your age.
I know because the summer after he graduated high school, he did an internship with my dad when he still had his mechanic shop.
He went to school at Star Cove High, and he must have been in your class, right?
You guys were freshmen when I was a senior.
I remember you trying out for the team but not him. ”
A muscle ticks in Heston’s jaw. “He was on the team the year after you graduated. He was good, but he got injured early in the season senior year.”
“Way to reunite with an old teammate.” Prescott gawks.
“Yeah, well. I haven’t seen him since he left the team.
He obviously recovered since he plays for the Raiders.
I don’t know anything else. Now if you’ll excuse me, the beer won’t drink itself and the bunnies won’t bang themselves either.
Let’s get this party on the road. We’re not all pussy whipped like you and blowing off the party to go on a date with our girlfriends. ”
Our goalie chuckles. “You wish you had a girlfriend like Taryn.”
Heston’s smile widens. “You’re right about that. Your girlfriend has the hottest pair of tits I’ve ever—”
“Do not finish that sentence, Vaughn.” Prescott’s smile vanishes and is replaced by a scowl. “Or the bruises McKenzie gave you tonight will be nothing compared to what I’m gonna do to you. Are we clear?”
To my surprise, Thomas and Belkin’s heads snap in our direction too. They both glare at Heston.
“Whoa, sorry. I was just stating a fact. You lost all your sense of humor since you got a serious girlfriend.”
Is he talking to all three of them? I’m a little confused about why Thomas and Belkin should get involved in a brawl about Prescott’s girl.
“Come on, Beavis,” Heston wraps his forearm around my neck, trying to pull me into a headlock. “I’ll be your wingman tonight. Let’s get you laid.”
I shove him away. “Dude. Can you not? Your dick just rubbed against my hip. Nothing wrong if you swing that way, but I don’t. Just FYI. And you’ll have to be my wingman another time. I’m going to the party with Genevieve.”
“You’re going to the party with Gen? As in your brother’s ex?” Heston gawks. “We follow a bro-code here, Shayba. That’s all kinds of fucked up.”
I feel my brother’s gaze on me. Mack is watching me, waiting for my answer.
“Slow your roll, Heston.” I bite out, annoyed. “We’ve known Gen our whole lives. She’s a friend, and it’s my first party on campus. We’re going as friends.”
Some of the tension in Mack’s shoulders eases at my words. “It’s fine, Vaughn. We’re all grown ups and Gen and Becks can do whatever they want. It doesn’t concern me.”
“Seriously?” Heston looks shocked. “Are you saying that it wouldn’t bother you if they hooked up?”
Mack shrugs. “All I can say is that if I were you,” he turns his gaze on me. “I’d think twice before sticking my dick in that woman. Gen isn’t the nice girl we grew up with anymore. Let’s just leave it at that.”
I frown. When I heard about their breakup, our parents had no idea what caused it. “Care to elaborate on that?”
“Let’s just say that Gen isn’t interested in a genuine relationship. She wants someone to control. If you want to go there, be my guest. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
My brother heads to the showers, leaving me with more questions than answers.
I don’t have to justify myself to him, but I meant it when I said I’m going to the party with Gen just as friends. There’s another woman on campus I hope to get to know better.