Thrown Off Balance (Python’s Hockey #1)

1. Cody

Cody

I blow out a deep breath as I take my spot on the ice. It’s been a long day and I'm tired of practicing. I just want to go home and climb inside the hot tub to soothe my sore muscles.

“You think you can beat us?” Brandon, one of the new guys on the team faces off with my twin brother, Jax.

I don’t know why these young bench warmers think they have the skills to beat the first line. We’ve put in more hours on the ice in the past month than they have in the past three. They like to talk crap, but when push comes to shove, they’re not making goals during games, we are.

I take my place as the right wing. Jax is the center and a beast on the ice. I’m proud of him and how far he’s come. He has incredible skill on the ice, but he had to overcome some anger issues to get here.

If you had met him outside of hockey, you’d think he’s this laid-back guy who doesn’t have a care in the world.

But if you put ice skates on him and give him a puck, he becomes this aggressive monster.

He’s spent more than his fair share of time in the penalty box and it took him a long time to figure things out and learn to keep a cool head during the game.

Tanner is our left wing and he’s amazing. He’s pretty much unstoppable. He isn't afraid to slam players into the glass, but he knows how to stay out of the penalty box.

“I'm confident I could beat you with half the number of players on my team.” Jax smirks. He loves getting under people’s skin and pushing their buttons.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s possible. I think we should stay on the ice after practice and you can show me exactly how you can beat us.”

“I’d love to, but will your mommy be upset if you aren’t ready when she comes to pick you up?”

Brandon mutters a string of curses, making Jax’s smirk grow. He knows this guy is a loose cannon and he loves to light the fuse.

“Tsk, tsk. If Mommy heard you talk like that, she’d put you in timeout. Those are bad words for little boys,” Jax coos.

Coach blows the whistle and Jax steals the puck before Brandon even realizes he should start playing.

Jax is able to get around Brandon and the rest of the offense before they can stop him.

He pulls back his hockey stick and slams it forward with more force than the goalie is anticipating.

The goalie misses it by mere inches, giving us a point.

“Dang, Brandon. I thought you were going to wipe the ice with us? Are you too tired to keep up with me? Is it already your nap time? I could get you a blankie and a binkie. I'm sure Coach will let you nap under his desk if you ask real nice.”

I chuckle and shake my head. Brandon is messing with the wrong person. Jax will never back down from a challenge. Honestly, Jax doesn’t back down from anything. He doesn’t care what it is or how it might affect him. If you come at him, he will rise to the occasion.

“Robinson, reign in your brother,” Coach calls.

I groan as I skate towards him and grab his arm. He doesn’t stop smirking at Brandon as I pull him back to our side of the ice.

“What’s going on, Broseph?” He blinks at me like he wasn’t just egging Brandon on and itching for a fight.

“Stop screwing with the punk, Jax,” I groan. I don’t know why I constantly have to be his babysitter.

“Hey, he started it. It’s not my fault the idiot thinks he’s God’s gift to hockey. He’s a pain in the butt and needs to be taken down a peg.” Jax tries to fold his arms across his chest, but it’s too difficult with our gear on.

“Or twelve. He could definitely be taken down twelve pegs,” Tanner growls. He can't stand Brandon or any of the other rookies. He doesn’t like dealing with their pride and attitudes.

Sure, the first line is full of cocky players with big attitudes and even bigger smack talk, but we’ve earned it after years of warming the benches.

“Yeah, see, Cody. I'm not the only one who thinks so.” Jax motions to Tanner like that’s going to help his case.

Tanner is great on the ice, but the man has some issues when it comes to keeping his opinions to himself.

He’s always outspoken and it gets him in trouble more times than not.

When you put him and Jax in the same room, we always have to worry about someone overhearing their conversations and it being bad for the Pythons.

I know this talk won't go my way unless I can think of something to trick Jax into laying off Brandon. Coach has noticed the sudden change between the two of them and if Jax doesn’t start behaving like the mature adult he’s supposed to be, he’ll be benched.

“Want to make this practice interesting?” I wiggle my brows, hoping to get him a little more intrigued. This is my only shot at defusing the situation.

“What are you thinking?” Jax skates a little closer, curiosity burning in his blue eyes. Sometimes it’s weird staring at him. It’s like I'm staring in the mirror, yet not. Even though we’re identical twins and most people can't tell us apart, our personalities make it obvious.

“I bet you can’t go the rest of practice without saying a single word.”

“And what do I get if I win?” He arches a brow.

“You can have a party at our place,” I sigh, knowing I'm going to regret this, but I don’t have anything else to offer him.

“What kind of party?” He narrows his gaze on me.

“I don’t know, a party! Twenty people tops.”

“Thirty.”

“You don’t know thirty people, Jax.” I shake my head.

“I know hundreds of people. Jeez, there are like fifty people living on Mulberry Lane alone.” He rolls his eyes.

We grew up on Mulberry Lane. It’s this magical place most people don’t believe is even real.

Our dad and his best friend built seven houses for them and their friends.

The houses form a circle and, in the center, they built an oasis for us.

It was the best childhood you could ask for.

We were always surrounded by loved ones.

We might not be related to anyone by blood, but they’re our family through and through.

Now that all the kids are growing up, Dad and Uncle Blake are building houses on the outer circle for some of the kids.

So far, our sister, Charlie, and her husband have one house, and our sister, Sophia, and her husband have another.

They’re currently building my house and Jax’s, but they won't be finished for a few more months.

“Yeah, but you’re not inviting people from Mulberry Lane to a party at our house.”

“Why not? Uncle Linc is awesome. He’s always the life of the party.”

“Because he’s like twice our age, Jax. You don’t want to party with him.” If I wasn’t wearing a helmet, I’d be pinching the bridge of my nose and praying for patience with my brother.

“So… I can invite thirty people. Obviously the first line, probably some Pit Bulls, and some ladies.” He wiggles his brows.

The Pit Bulls are our city’s professional baseball team.

Charlie and Wyatt both work for them and so do a few other people we grew up with.

We’ve developed relationships with most of the guys on the team.

They’re easy to hang out with because they know what it’s like to be a professional athlete and they understand the troubles we face.

“I said twenty people,” I groan, knowing this will end up being over forty people.

“Fine, I’ll invite twenty people.” He grins, skating away from me.

“Jax! I swear if forty people show up I'm going to be mad.” I skate after him.

“I hear you, brother. I can't control if someone invites other people though.”