Chapter 16
Canada’s center slams me into the boards, my helmet bouncing off the glass.
“Better luck next time, Charlotte.”
She spits my name just as the buzzer sounds. I look up to the scoreboard and scream out in frustration.
“Fuck!”
We lost the game 3–1. They scored an empty netter but still. This fucking sucks.
Even though we’re advancing to the quarterfinals, there is literally nothing worse than losing to Canada.
The mood in the locker room post game is…not great. A few of my teammates throw their shit into their stalls, yelling out in frustration. But for the most part, it’s pretty damn quiet.
Before the coaches come in, our captain, Steph, stands and makes her way into the middle of the room.
“This fucking sucks. Feel it. Grow from it. And channel this anger into the next game. Remember what this feels like and work your asses off so we never have to feel like this again here in Sweden. Got it?”
We all nod. Steph does a slow circle, making eye contact with each and every one of us.
“Our rivalry with Canada is as great as it is because we’re both phenomenal hockey teams. But you know what they say, it’s hard to beat a team twice.
So let’s make sure we don’t let it fucking happen.
I want to see them in the gold-medal game.
And I want them to know what this feels like.
” She smacks her chest, emphasizing her point. “Are you with me?”
Choruses of ‘yeah’ and ‘fuck yeah’ ring out as our coaches walk into the room.
Steph takes her seat and the coaches say pretty much exactly what she did. Don’t let the anger consume us. Use this to fuel our future games. And remember we’re here for a reason. One loss doesn’t have to get in our way.
The team’s mood is slightly better after their speeches. I get undressed as quickly as I can, hoping Luke is still here.
He’s never seen me after a loss. I’m usually in a pretty shitty mood, but knowing I’ll see him makes it a tad less shitty than usual.
The arena was packed, every seat accounted for in the stands. Luke was in his usual spot, a few rows up from the glass. I only glanced up at him once, too focused on the game this afternoon.
After the quickest shower of my life, I throw my hair up into a messy bun and speed walk out of the locker room.
The area is crowded, families all waiting for their athletes to join them. I weave between bodies, my head on a swivel for one person and one person only.
“Charlie.”
His voice soothes the sting of the loss with one simple word. I’m in so much trouble.
Turning, I find him with his teammates Wyatt and Brendan, disappointment sinking in my stomach.
I’m not surprised to see them here, but I was hoping he would be alone postgame so I could fall into his arms after this brutal loss.
“Hey, guys.”
My voice doesn’t hold its usual jubilance and Luke reads me like a book.
“Can you guys give us a minute?”
Wyatt goes to argue but Brendan yanks on his arm before he can get a word out. “Don’t speak. Let’s go.”
The two of them walk off somewhere behind me but I don’t pay attention. My eyes are transfixed on the baby blues that are currently assessing me.
“If I remember correctly, you hate losing just as much as I do.”
I roll back onto the balls of my feet and shrug. “That’s what happens when you give your heart and soul to a game.”
Luke smirks and I’m immediately at ease.
I’m not sure why I’m acting so awkward but the moment he tilts his head gesturing for me to come toward him, I throw myself into his arms.
His arms wrap around my back and he squeezes me tight.
“That sucked but you guys will get them in the finals.”
I nod into his chest but don’t say anything. If I could just stay like this for a few minutes, I know I’ll be okay.
“There’s my favorite sister.”
Wait. What?
Is that…Connor?
Luke releases me, but not before rubbing his hands down my arms and giving my hands a light squeeze.
I spin around and there he is. My big brother.
He holds his arms out, waiting for a hug. I’m unsure of how to feel after he just caught me in his best friend’s embrace, but I take a step forward and give my brother a hug.
Connor picks me up, spinning me around, clearly not reading the room.
“Put me down, jackass.”
Thankfully he obliges, but he grabs my shoulders with both hands. He bends down just a smidge and looks me in the eyes.
“You good? I mean besides the loss, is there a reason you needed a hug from my best friend?”
Good lord. Wait until he finds out Luke has seen me naked.
“I’m fine. Just upset, still thinking about the game. When did you get in?”
I do my best to veer the subject away from anything Luke related. Luckily, Connor takes the bait.
“I got an earlier flight so I could be here in time for your game. Tough one but you played well, sis. You were throwing bodies around like your big brother.”
At his last comment I shove him away from me. “Yeah, yeah. I learned from the best.”
Connor slings his arm over my shoulder in the most brotherly way possible. “Aw, Char. You think I’m the best?”
I roll my eyes at his comment. I haven’t seen my brother in months. Even with how anxious I was for his arrival after everything that’s happened with Luke, it feels good to see him. Really good, actually.
Leaning my head into him, I soak in the moment, knowing that it probably won’t last too long. We aren’t the most affectionate siblings but Luke’s words from earlier replay in my head.
Your brother is your biggest fan.
Connor keeps his arm around me as he walks us toward Luke.
“You guys want to go get a bite to eat?”
Any other day this wouldn’t be a big deal. Heck, maybe it isn’t that big of a deal right now. But Luke and I haven’t figured out how we’re going to tell Connor yet. The idea of sitting in between them, acting like nothing is happening, sounds terrible to me. Especially after losing to Canada.
Before Luke can respond, I break away from my brother and start rambling.
“Wow. That sounds like so much fun. But, uh, I actually have team stuff to do. Yeah. Preparation for quarterfinals starts now and all that.” I wave my arms around like a fool.
Connor is looking at me like I’ve grown another head when I hear Luke snort next to me.
Whipping my head toward him, I glare so hard, causing him to clear his throat. He mouths, sorry, to me and I turn to look at my brother again.
“Rain check?”
“Absolutely. Come here, sis.”
Connor reaches his arm out to me and pulls me into a side hug. My body freezes when I feel his lips press against the top of my head.
“I’m so fucking proud of you. I don’t think I’ve told you that yet.”
I don’t know if he’s ever actually uttered those words out loud. My throat closes up and my nose stings as I try to fight back the impending tears.
“Thanks.” The word comes out hushed but I turn into Connor, squeezing him as hard as I can before backing away.
Afraid he might see my watery eyes, I avoid eye contact at all costs.
“Okay, well, I’m out of here. You guys have fun.”
And with that, I turn and frantically find someone, anyone, on my team to use as an escape route.
Luckily, Liv makes her way out of the locker room just as I’m about to leave on my own. I beeline it toward her, pulling her body with me toward the exit with not so much as an explanation.
“What the hell, Char? Where’s the fire?”
Once we’re safe outside, albeit cold, but safe, I put my hands on my head trying to calm my racing heart.
“Connor is here.”
Liv has absolutely no reaction to this news which only frustrates me more.
I throw my hands out to my sides, exasperated. “As in, here. At the rink. With Luke.”
My annoyingly calm best friend and linemate still doesn’t show an ounce of emotion.
“Okay. Did we not know this was going to happen? I mean, they are best friends.”
Groaning, I lean my head back searching for some vitamin D but coming up short due to the cloudy sky. Looking back down at Liv, I do my best to explain my predicament in a sensible way. Even though I’m acting a bit ridiculous right now.
“Yes, but Connor wasn’t supposed to be here until tonight. He walked up to us when my face was buried in Luke’s shirt.”
Liv whips out her phone from her jacket, extremely uninterested in this entire conversation.
“I still don’t see what the big deal is. You guys need to tell him soon anyway. Maybe it’s good he saw you guys being affectionate. Maybe it will help lessen the surprise if he sees how close you two have gotten before you drop the news.”
Huh. I never thought of that.
This is why a girl needs a best friend. So when one is freaking out, the other can be the voice of reason.
“You’re right.”
“I know.” She still doesn’t look up from her phone.
I lean down and grab a handful of snow, pressing it into the most perfect snowball, and proceed to pelt her with it.
“You bitch!” Liv’s laughing now. She stuffs her phone in her jacket then turns to grab some snow of her own.
Then, like we’re little kids again, we chase each other around the arena having the most perfect snowball fight at the Olympics.