“Probably. Like an eighth of the world’s population is on it.”
“I guess I’m going to have to add one more. Against my better judgment. Social media is a trash heap.”
“It can be, but there are some decent spaces on there if you look for them. For the record, I only checked her out because of JJ. It was the peer pressure. Something about that guy. He gets under your skin and makes you think a thing was your own idea.”
“He is a piece of work. But he’s going to be a stellar goalie when he’s all grown up.”
“Yup. Now about Wilder.”
I sigh. “Do we have to talk about her? How are things going with Jazz? You two still good?
The smile that spreads across his face could power his car if he could harness it. “You know we are.”
I do know. She spends as much time at our place as she does at her own. I’m not complaining. She likes to practice new recipes for us, and her baking is unreal. Better than most of the fancy bakeries our parents would take us to when we went on rare trips together.
“Don’t try to distract me. I think you were too harsh on Wilder. Just imagine you had your entire schedule rearranged halfway through the year. She and her team were forced to work their lives around a brand-new schedule. I’m sure they won’t go over on their ice time again.”
He’s probably right, but that doesn’t excuse her filming a social media video on our ice time. “They’d better not.” I mutter. Then I try to imagine what it would do to me if my life got uprooted like that. It would send me spiraling. I don’t handle that kind of unexpected change well.
“Seriously. She’s good people. Give her a little grace.”
“I’ll try.” I shift in my seat at a red light, the click of my turn signal filling in the silence for us. Almost like a clock ticking down to the end of the year. The end of my hockey career. I’ve started obsessing about it. Too many things are a reminder of what I have to let go of when I graduate.
“Good.”
“Listen, Cole. Thank you for all the work you’ve done with Hail this year. He’s really made a U-turn attitude-wise, and it’s taken our team to the next level. We really have a shot at the championship this year.”
“We do. It’s going to be an epic year.”
Our footsteps reverberate across the porch as we make our way to the front door. I drop my messenger bag to the ground, pretending to tie my laces before we head into the house. I need a minute to gather myself before I enter that chaos. The guys are great, but sometimes they can be a bit much. Overwhelming my senses. Particularly when I’m still fresh off a panic attack.
My pause lets me sidestep the brunt of JJ’s enthusiasm. The boy can’t seem to walk anywhere. He hurls his six-four frame into Cole’s arms, tumbling to the ground with a thud when Cole doesn’t catch him.
“Idiot,” Cole says, but there are no sharp edges to the complaint. Just a hint of laughter.
JJ is obnoxious, but somehow endearing, and even the surliest member of the team has grown to tolerate him.
“When do we get to hang out with Luna?” he asks me, but he clearly has enough sense not to try jumping on me. He has a very slight iota of common sense now and again.
“I have a meeting with her on Wednesday. Then we’ll talk.”
Enthusiasm explodes from every pore. “Awesome. I can’t wait. I have this idea for a video we can all do. There’s this dance where everyone lines up in a pyramid.” His voice trails off as he wanders away, still babbling excitedly.
I shake my head. “There will be no dancing. We’re hockey players.”
“The Sirens did it. If a pro team can follow the trends, we can too.”
“Not happening.” Dev’s deep rumble is a solid protest. JJ seems to have become quite attached to him this year. Like a puppy befriending a lion or a bear.
I look over to my best friend, a weak flame of anger making its presence known at the sight of him sitting on my couch, one arm draped around my sister. It’s a reflex. I bargained with our father for her freedom. Logically, I can see they’re good for each other. She brings him out of his shell, and he provides some calm to her chaos, but it’s hard to let go of the protectiveness I feel for my twin. It’s always been us against everyone else.
“Hey, Bo Bo.” Her mouth twists in a mischievous grin, knowing how much I hate that nickname.
“Sissy.” Her nose wrinkles. “You staying for dinner?”
“Yup.”
“Well then, you can contribute to the house you seem to spend more time at than your own and order something for everyone. I’m feeling like curry.”
