When he stands back upright, he flashes me a bright smile.
“What did you say to them?” I ask, eyeing him suspiciously from behind my mask. I hope he didn’t speak dirty to them.
“I said to be solid, defend hard, and to be good for you.” He claps my shoulder over the padding. “Now, be big for me, Olsen. We’ve got a game to win.”
We seal the win in overtime when Jackson scores off a near-side pass from Blaine, ending the game 3-2.
The team skates over and taps their helmets against mine. Blaine wraps his arms around me in a hug, and we make our way back into the locker room. Zach hooks his phone up to the speakers, and moments later, “Pink Pony Club” by ChappellRoan is blaring through the room. Peyton whips his jersey in the air, and I do a little dance in the middle of the room.
Thankfully, I manage to avoid speaking to the media, and after the post-W dance in the locker room, I hit the showers. My body is practically vibrating with hyped-up energy. I won’t be able to sleep until the early hours because I’ll be riding this high long into the night.
But when we all climb onto the bus to head to the airport, that high begins to fizzle out. I glance around, and everyone has their heads in their phones. Most likely speaking with their partners. Secret smiles play on their lips. Fingers tapping messages of love and promises of things they’ll no doubt get up to when we land back in Chicago only hours from now.
I drop my gaze to the phone in my hand. The only notifications I have are from Pokémon Go, reminding me I still have a daily bonus item to use before the day is out.
The back of my eyes burns. I hate this heavy weight in my chest, feeling like it’s tugging my heart down into my stomach.
I power down my phone so I’m not reminded of how lonely I am and how I’m too much of a coward to make the first move to change it.
Chapter Five
Hunter
Pulling into an empty spot in front of Matilda’s house, I put my truck into park and turn to face Walt. “Give me a call when you want me to pick you up.”
He hums. “I feel like I’m fourteen again. Do I have a curfew too?”
I arch a brow at his snarky attitude. “Did your parents pick you up at fourteen, or did you sneak through the window?”
He gives me a sideways glance, but the twitch of his mustache gives him away. I’ve already heard all the stories from his rebellious teenage years.
“Mhm, thought so,” I say, then jerk my chin toward him. “I mean it, Walt. I don’t care what time it is. Tonight. Tomorrow. Whenever you need picking up, just call me. There’s no need to try and navigate public transport in your condition.”
Last night, I received a phone call from Matilda letting me know Walt had managed to get himself lost. He isn’t tech-savvy enough to use ride share apps, and he doesn’t trust taxis aftersome of the wrecks he responded to, so he took it upon himself to use the bus. Only instead of making his way home, he ended up going forty minutes in the wrong direction before he realized. I had to ask my chief if I could leave my shift to go and get him and take him home.
Walt’s lucky we didn’t end up getting a call during that time, or it could have caused a lot of trouble. Something I’m making sure he doesn’t forget.
“My condition?” He makes a disgruntled sound. “There ain’t nothing wrong with me, son.”
I give him a pointed glare, not wanting to bring up the fact I had to help him get out of bed this morning when I got home from work.
“Yes, there is. Now, stop being a stubborn ass and get out of my car. Make sure to say hi to Matilda for me.”
He opens the door and murmurs about me yapping on at him as he slowly gets out of my truck.
Before he can shut the door, I call out, “Don’t forget to?—”
“Call you when I want you to pick me up. Yes, sir. No need to tell me five times. Now, you go to the movies and whine to some folk your own age.”
“Talking in the movies is frowned upon,” I smirk.
“Hell, son, I swear you wind me up on purpose,” he grumbles, but there’s affection in his tone.
“I will,” I say before quickly adding, “Talk to some people. Maybe I’ll go to a pub or something after.”
His face lights up, clearly pleased with my answer. “Good. Now, clear off. I’ve kept Matilda waiting long enough.” He knocks his knuckles against the doorframe twice, then shuts the door. I hold my hand up in a wave and wait until he’s safely inside the house before pulling away from the curb.
I doubt I will be in the mood for going to a pub after, but he doesn’t need to know that.
