The timer counts down from ten seconds, and the guys casually skate around the rink, knowing we’ve secured the W. When the buzzer goes off, we lift from the bench and hop onto the ice to line up and offer each other fist bumps. That was an easier win than expected. Usually the Polar Freeze give us more of a headache on the ice.
We head into the locker room but not before offering some fist bumps to fans on our way in.
The clatter of pads and skates sound off in the locker room as we all take seats and start stripping down.
“Fuck, I’m exhausted,” Silas says while glancing over at me. “I swear to God that felt like the most intense scrimmage of my life. What the hell got into you tonight?” He looks my way, and I shrug.
“Just doing my job.”
Silas shakes his head. “No, man, that was another level. Even your passes were faster. They were zipping so fast across the ice that I barely had enough time to react. I probably would have scored two more goals had I been.”
“Same,” OC says. “Keeping up with you was hard tonight.”
“Maybe you two should get your shit together then.”
“Ooo, you hear that?” Pacey says. “Holmes is talking a little smack over there. Not sure we’ve seen that side of him in a while. He’s always like . . . it’s all about the team, I love the team, teammates are great. Yay team.”
I give him an unamused look that makes him laugh.
“You know, he’s right,” Eli says, while tearing his jersey over his head with some help from Posey when it gets stuck on his pads. “You are all about the team, so what’s the difference?”
“Nothing,” I say, but when I glance over at Posey, I know he’s concocting something in his head. He has that puzzling look in his eyes, like he’s trying to solve the world’s greatest math equation.
“Wait . . .” he says, silencing the room. “Is this because of Blakely?”
And there it is.
“No,” I say. Even though, if I were honest with myself, talking to her last night felt really good. I went to bed with a smile on my face and a sense of fulfillment I haven’t felt in a long time. Also, I got a texted photo of her on one of the loungers earlier today, smiling brightly with a huge thank-you attached to the image. I thought about saving the picture to my phone but decided that might be a little creepy.
“He’s lying.” Silas points at my face. “Look, he’s holding back a smirk.”
OC leans forward, getting a better look at my angled head. He raises his hand and points above my head. “I can confirm, he’s hiding a smirk.”
“Smirk is confirmed,” Silas says while slapping the bench with his hand.
“Then it is Blakely,” Pacey says.
“Wait, what about Blakely?” Eli asks, looking confused.
“Can we all shut up? It has nothing to do with Blakely,” I say, not wanting the entire team to figure this shit out.
But of course my friends are idiots, and they come flocking in front of me with chairs where they form a circle.
“Does this have to do with the NDA?” Eli asks. “I electronically signed it before the game. Fill me in.”
“Ah, our newest member of the Frozen Fellas,” Posey says. “Welcome.”
They all offer Eli a fist bump.
This has gotten out of control. Next thing you know, we’re going to have branded shirts, notepads, and pens for our next meeting.
Jesus, I could actually see that happening. I wouldn’t put it past Posey.
“Here is the gist of it,” Silas says, getting more involved than I expected him to. Posey must have gotten to him. “Blakely is staying with Holmes. Holmes loves her. Blakely was offered a potential new job that could make her move, and Holmes is unsure if she’s going to take it or not. He clearly doesn’t want to lose her because he’s madly in love. Therefore, Posey came up with an action plan called Break Blakely where Holmes walks around with his shirt off in the apartment and does nice things for her to show her that he’s boyfriend material. We’re in the early phases, but from the rocket in his pants today, and I’m not talking about the girth-o-nater, name courtesy of OC—”
“Thank you.” OC bows.
“I’m going to guess that the earlier phases have started to make an impact, and our friend here is feeling the effects of some female attention from his unrequited love. And obviously, if you tell Penny any of this, we’re allowed to cut off one of your fingers, courtesy of the NDA agreement you just electronically signed.”
