Chapter 33
HOCKEY SHRINES AND FROZEN WAFFLES
FLETCHER
The air is expelled from my lungs on a groan as I slam the player from Winnipeg into the boards.
“Fuck you, Graff,” the young player spits as we chase after the puck.
I get it before he does, handling it with my stick as I skate out of our zone toward the red line.
“Graff!” Shepherd Wafford calls my name, tapping his stick on the ice twice to signal that he’s ready for the pass.
I shoot the puck toward him as he races for the goal.
Calvin calls out to Shepherd and passes the puck to him. He passes it back to me, and I angle my stick just right, shooting the puck straight into the net before the goalie even has a chance to block it. It’s a beautiful goal. The horn sounds, and our goal song, “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy, plays.
I skate over to Shepherd, wrapping him in a giant hug with Calvin and Levine.
“Here we go, boys,” I shout. “Only one more. We got this.”
They shout in agreement, and we skate to the bench, fist-bumping the rest of the team. My shift is done, so I climb over the bench and sit. I drink my water and shift my gaze up to the stands.
Lydia is in the third row of the lower bowl with Zoey and her fiancé, Vincent, at her side.
I wave to the three of them, and Lydia and Zoey wave back excitedly.
Lydia has a big bucket of popcorn in her lap, making me smile.
I’ll have to figure out a way to get popcorn from here at home for her to snack on.
The puck drops, and we win the face-off.
I play three more shifts, and somehow we pull the win when I score again with only two minutes left, bringing us up three-two.
“Way to go, boys!” I say as we storm the ice after the horn blares, our goal song playing once more as the crowd erupts in cheers.
Getting a win is always good for team morale. We have a couple of days off this week with the New Year’s holiday, and an optional practice on New Year’s Day that I will definitely be opting out of. I’ve got better plans.
When I check my phone in the locker room, there’s a text from Grace in the Ruin The Friendship group chat.
Grace
You guys are good to go! The heat is on, and I put out some firewood for you, if you want to start a fire!
Me
Thank you! You’re the best, Grace
Calvin
It’s my parent’s cabin too, y’know.
Me
Thank you, Miller.
Calvin
You are so welcome.
You better not have sex in my room.
Me
Whatever you say
Calvin
I’m serious, man. Don’t defile it. It’s innocent.
Grace
It’s his hockey shrine. He’s got trophies from pre-k in there.
Trigg
I want to see this shrine.
Grace
We’ll get everyone down to the cabin this summer! It’s so much fun. Then you can see the bar I work at in the summers!
Trigg
Sounds fun!
Calvin
No one is allowed in my room.
I turn to my right to look at Calvin. “Couldn’t let Grace take the credit, huh, Miller?”
“I helped.” He frowns. “I asked my parents if we could use the cabin.”
“Thank you,” I tell him sincerely. “I do appreciate everyone’s help with this.”
He sets a hand on my shoulder. “No problem. Happy to do it.”
Calvin, for all his goofing off and antics, really is a great guy and friend.
“Well, when the time comes, and you need help with a girl, I’ll be there.” I tip my head in gratitude.
A pained look crosses his face as he looks at his feet. “Hah, right.”
“What?” I watch him closely.
“Nothing.” Calvin shakes his head. He looks like he’s about to say something, but he shakes his head again. “Nothing.”
If his mood hadn’t soured so quickly, maybe I would press the subject more, but I don’t.
“Well, the offer stands,” I say. “What are you up to tonight?”
A familiar smile crosses his face. “Trigg and I are going out with some of the young kids.” He glances across the locker room to where Levine and Wafford are taking their gear off. “Gotta make sure they don’t get into too much trouble.”
“Have you taken it upon yourself to keep an eye on them?”
As the captain, perhaps this should be my job, but Calvin’s always been a great alternate captain.
“Sure have. You’ve got more important things going on.” He shoves my shoulder again. “I’ve got them.”
I let out a sigh. I have been slacking as a captain. I should be better about it, but this thing with Lydia has taken priority over hockey. “I’m sorry, man. I haven’t been as present this season.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. You’re a great captain, and you’re going to be a daddy now. This is my own personal side quest.”
“You sure?” I ask just to check.
“Positive. Have a fun night, and New Year’s. Keep us updated if you need anything.” Calvin turns to the rookies. “If you two want a ride, the car leaves in twenty, children.”
“Do I have time to eat something?” Shepherd asks.
“Dude, we’re going to a bar,” Jamie says. “They have food there.”
“I want a frozen waffle, though. I put some in the athletic trainer’s freezer. She said I could use the toaster in her office if I wanted to.”
“Oh my god,” I mutter under my breath. “Shepherd, your new nickname is Waffles.”
“Fuckin’ genius, Fletch.” Calvin laughs. “Waffles, you seriously want frozen waffles over bar food?”
“They’re protein waffles,” he whispers, trying to defend himself.
Now, I can’t contain my laughter. “Oh, my god. Go eat your fucking waffles, Waffle.”
Calvin shoos him out of the locker room, and I head down the hall to do a quick cool-down workout, my body still tense and worked up after the game.
Twenty minutes later, I’m showered and heading out to meet Lydia. As soon as I open the door, my eyes hunt for her. When I finally find her, I rush to her side, pulling her into a tight hug. Having her in my embrace soothes me. My body relaxes, tension leeching from it from her touch.
“Good game,” Lydia whispers in my ear.
“What’s wrong?” I pull back, furrowing my brows.
She shakes her head. “Nothing, I’m just exhausted.”
“You’re sure?”
“I promise. I’m good.” Lydia smiles, and I squeeze her to me.
“Let's go home then. You need your rest.”
“You don’t want to go out with the guys?” Her eyebrows knit together.
“Not tonight. I have someone else I’d rather be with.”
A pink flush creeps up her neck and cheeks, and I can’t help but cup her warm cheek in my large palm.
“We can pick up dinner on the way home and have a movie night,” I say.
Lydia sinks into my chest. “That sounds like exactly what I need. This pregnancy exhaustion is hitting me hard this week.”
I lead her down to the parking lot and get her into the car, making sure she’s buckled before I get in and pull the car onto the busy street. “You still have New Year’s off, right?”
I rest my palm atop her thick thigh, reveling in the warmth of her.
“Yep. Are you going to tell me what we’re doing yet?”
“Nope.” I smirk, turning and giving her a sly wink. “You’ll just have to wait a few more days.”
“I’m getting impatient.” Lydia tilts her head to look at me.
Taking her hand in mine, I lift it to my lips, pressing a long kiss to the back of her hand and ignoring the way my cock twitches in my pants from such a simple touch. It’s getting so hard to resist touching her the way I want to, but I know it will be worth the wait.
“I promise, you’re going to love it.”