Brett picked it up off the floor and handed it to Country. "You're not enjoying all the attention?"
Country's lip twitched as he strapped on his cup. "I was watching hockey, not performing for the internet."
"The 'internet?' What is this, nineteen-ninety?" Fly teased. "I can say that because I was around when the internet was invented." Everyone laughed. Fly talked like Brett's dad even though he was only thirty-nine. Everyone on the team was between the ages of thirty and thirty-nine, but no matter where they all landed on that continuum, they all felt the same age. He kept forgetting that Fly was hitting the end of the line for the Snowballs, and that realization sobered him even as Country appeared on his phone shirtless.
Sean pushed through the door and hadn't even gotten past Curtis when Suraj said, "Last year with the team, eh, Fly?"
Fly sighed and stuffed his folded clothes into his locker. "Aging out. On to Masters."
The room went quiet, and Brett felt a pang in his stomach. Fly had started with the Snowballs nine years ago. None of the guys had known this team without him.
"Well. Thanks for that downer." Sean stalked past André and Darcy and dropped his gear. Brett shot Tyler a look. Sean wasn't good with change in general, but especially not when it came to the team. "What are you all waiting for? We've got four minutes till we should be out on the ice."
Brett stood and drew a deep breath. Probably not the best time to razz Country about his profile picture, but he couldn’t help himself. “Country, if you take your jersey off, I could film—”
Country snatched his phone and turned off the screen, then handed it back to him. He didn’t say a word, but there were splotches of red on his cheeks.
Brett worked to keep from breaking into a laugh. "See you boys out there." He made his way to the stands and started his upper body workout as the rest of the guys pushed through the door in the boards. The sound of skates slicing through the ice and pucks smacking against the boards was both music to his ears and a shard of glass in his gut. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder with each tricep dip.
Only a few more months.Not even. He wouldn't be able to get on the ice in less time than that, but he would at least be able to drive in a few weeks once he could straighten his knee. He was about to mentally rehearse the timeline to stave off the angst when he paused mid-rep. Penny's face filled his head, and warmth flooded his chest.
What the hell was that?He dropped and pushed up, his arms on fire as sweat beaded on his brow.Was he excited for Penny to move in?Of course, he was. He needed the PT, and she was solving that problem.
But that feeling . . . That wasn't an “I finally got an appointment after calling around Calgary for weeks” kind of emotional response. That was a “she’s hot and I want her to notice me” kind of solar flare.
Brett swallowed hard. He’d spent the past four years working to pay attention to how he felt. That wasn’t something he readily admitted to people who weren’t in recovery, but it was the only way he knew how to cut off the spiral that used to make him want to numb.Feel the feelings.He used to be terrified of that. Now, he let them roll through him without much thought, but the idea of Penny made his insides twist.
Brett’s heart sped as he pushed harder, his arms on fire. He was lonely. He missed Tyler as a roommate. That had to be it. He doubted Penny would be interested in spotting him for bench at the gym or eating wings for breakfast on Sundays, but it would be nice to have someone at the house. All the unknowns of bringing in a new roommate and the fact that all his normal coping skills were moot had to be the source of the tightness in his chest.
Then, as if in rebuttal, the image of her looking around his living room while he sat on the couch flickered in his mind. The way she tucked her black wavy hair behind one ear. The pinch in her brow, her teeth tugging on her lower lip. Brett's hand slipped on the metal bench, and he barely caught himself before dropping to the rubber floor.
He dragged himself up and sat.Okay.It wasn’t only the newness and lack of control. He was attracted to her. That was also normal. She was a beautiful woman, and besides a few short-lived relationships, he’d been single since getting sober. Normal response. Expected even. He would accept it and let it pass through, just like everything else.
"Slacking, eh?" Country grinned as he skated over to the edge of the rink, leaning against the boards.
"You can’t jaw until your arms are bigger than mine.” Brett smirked and pulled up the sleeve of his shirt.
Country scoffed. “My pads and jersey, they’re obscuring everything or I’d show you up right now.”
He probably would. Country worked on his family’s ranch, and after showing up with the team to help repair a fence last summer, Brett had never teased Country again for being a hick. “Look who’s slacking now?” Brett motioned at the rest of the team, dropping their sticks for line skates.
Country cursed under his breath. “Sean’s pissed because Darcy and Suraj missed conditioning last week. This’ll be a thigh burner.”
Brett folded his hands behind his head. “Make it look pretty, bud.”
Country held up his glove and did his best to flip him off even though the thick padding didn’t move much.
“I’m watching that video as soon as I get home!” Brett chuckled and flipped over, carefully positioning his legs, then dropping into a plank as his teammates’ skates scraped against the ice.
He wanted to be out there dashing toward the blue line in unison with them. He’d gladly take a thigh burner any day of the week instead of sitting here letting his heart, lungs, and muscles atrophy. No matter how much weight he lifted or reps he pushed, it wasn’t the same.
“Faster!” Sean barked.
Brett dropped his chest to the ground and pushed back up, keeping most of his weight on his left toes. He wouldn’t stop working until they did.
_____
Penny grunted as she pulled another duffel from the garage. “I think there’s only that long bag with the poles and straps and then my toiletries left,” she said as Kelty passed her on the driveway.
