“They’re nice boys. Big hearts. I’m glad Noah’s found someone.”
“Oh, he’s not…I’m just watching his sister for him.”
“Friends are good too. He never has anyone waiting,” she tells me, possibly without realizing what she just revealed, or maybe knowing exactly what she’s doing.
Chapter Eleven
Noah
Second Halftime
“We’re heading to Slapshots for dinner. You in?” Tanner asks me while we’re getting dressed.
“Hollywood’s treat,” Donovan adds with a wink, probably because Owen tried to pick up the tab last time we all went out. We didn’t let him, but I don’t think he was doing it to show off. My roommate has money, obviously, considering his dad bought the house we’re living in and isn’t charging anyone rent, but Owen isn’t flashy about it. He just makes sure the fridge and pantry are always full, and chooses pizza or Asian when he’s having takeout, so he can order way too much and share. Which makes me think Owen offered to pay for everyone so he wouldn’t have to try to awkwardly pay for Michael, but I’m not going to bring it up.
“Can’t, I have my sister.”
“Izzie was watching?” Joey asks. “Your mom bring her?”
He thinks he’s being funny, because the one time my mom came to campus, they all decided she was hot, but a weight presses on my chest. My mom hasn’t come to a game since my dad died.
“Please tell me Spring is Callahan’s new stepdaddy,” Ephraim exclaims. Some of the rookies snicker, and a few of the older guys I haven’t gotten as close to, which is something I want to fix now that I’m captain, but there’s also a silence that settles. It’s one thing to make jokes about Joey’s mom, who divorced his dad three marriages ago and widens the age gap with each one, but we’d never joke about replacing his father figure if his dad was dead instead of happily married to someone our age in Arizona.
“If you want to handle Iz, be my guest.”
“Dude, that’s cold. Don’t act like my girl isn’t awesome to hang with,” Joey warns.
He’s met her maybe a handful of times, but this convo is making me wonder if I should try to bring her to the next open morning skate. Sometimes, Coach brings Liv, and we have a lot more fun than when he’s punishing us for being hungover. I’ve been meaning to introduce Izzie to her.
I hurry, and luckily most of my teammates do too, so there are only a few guys left in the locker room when I leave. There’s nothing that says the captain has to leave last, I just thought it was cool when ours did that last year, making sure everyone was good before he peaced out.
I look past the bunnies, about to push through, but my eyes land on Savannah and she smiles shyly, like she isn’t sure she’s supposed to be there. For some reason, I assumed she would wait in the stands again, but my chest grows tight, and I realize that I like having her waiting here for me. Having someone, I correct myself. There are always bunnies and random students, but I don’t have many friends outside of the team, definitely none who would come to see me over another player. But Savannah is a friend. I think?
“Noah!” Izzie yells, but I have to wait until I’m past a few more people to see her. “Two goals and an assist definitely beat mine,” she adds once I have her in my arms.
“I don’t know, assists are awesome. You still score, but I’m sure Billy enjoyed scoring this morning more than I did tonight.”
Izzie often sets others up instead of taking the shot, which I used to be worried was some selfless or lack of confidence crap, but then I found out it’s because that’s what I do at her practices, and she feels like it’s showing off for the coach’s sister to score, but it’s captain behavior to set a shot up for others.
“Munchkin!” Darren exclaims, so my sister is stolen by my teammates, and I’m left with Savannah.
“I’m sorry I came here. Your coach’s wife said this is where we should wait for you. Liv was very insistent.”
“Yeah, she doesn’t back down.” I hope my smile conveys that it’s okay, because I don’t trust myself to say I’m glad she’s here without it sounding like a much bigger deal than it is.
“I should head out, but congrats on the win, and tell Izzie I’ll see her around…or maybe just goodbye,” she adds quickly, as if realizing she’d implied we would do this again.
It hits me that unless I do something, Izzie won’t see Savannah again, and neither will I. “Do you mind waiting to tell her yourself? I think she might hate me if she comes back and you’re gone. Unless you have somewhere to be…”
“No, we had Sunday brunch instead,” she says, then waves it off. “I can wait for her.” She smiles, and that’s when I decide.
“We were going to get some dinner before I take her home. It’ll probably end with ice cream or an equally sugar-filled dessert. Would you want to come with?”
“Oh, you don’t have to?—”
“Please? As a thank you for today.”
“Noah, can Sav come tonight? We tried to get food at the ‘second halftime’, but the lines were too long.” My sister rejoins us with perfect timing.
