“Number 4: Adopt a rescue animal. Remember when Summer and I found an injured raccoon and snuck it into the house that one summer? Then your mom found out and made us bring it to a wildlife rescue? That’s the inspiration behind that one.
“Number 5: Go to an MLB game. Jason Connors. Your sister had the biggest crush on that guy, and he was all about baseball.
“Number 6: Do a Pedal Pub. Again, this was inspired by the Vines, and the fact that the weekend we made this list was the same weekend your dad grounded us for sneaking out to a party the weekend before.
“Number 7: Ride a horse. When we were about five or six, Summer begged and begged you mom for horseback riding lessons. Your mom finally gave in and mine agreed as long as yours would drive me to and from. Anyway, when we got there, Summer started saying her eyes were itchy and started coughing and stuff. Your mom assumed she must be allergic to horses, so we never did get any lessons. Ten years later, when we wrote this list, Summer finally admitted that she had lied about being allergic. She was just terrified and hadn’t realized horses were that big.
“Number 8: Spend an entire day reading in front of a fireplace during a storm. This was more about having our own place to live and not having to deal with you and Lawson always running around.
“Number 9: Write a Book. This was mine. It’s been a goal of mine for the longest time.
”Number 10: Have the perfect Princess Diaries kiss. If you don’t know what the perfect princess-diaries-leg-pop kiss is, youare severely missing out and need to watchThe Princess DiariesASAP.
“And finally, Number 11, I’d like to point out that this was added a couple years later once we’d had a more than a few lackluster experiences: Have life changing sex. I think that’s pretty self explanatory,” I finish with a blush.
“Well, you can easily accomplish all of those here in Calgary. Honestly, you should be able to accomplish them all before your thirtieth birthday. Especially with my help—which I offer for nine out of the eleven goals. I am not helping with number eleven, even though I’m sure one night with me could change your life,” Levi states with a cocky smirk, which has us both laughing until I’m crying again.
Chapter 2
I grab another beer from the cooler on the back deck and take a deep breath of fresh air. Every summer, JJ’s parents let a few of us on the hockey team borrow their cabin so we can come up here for a few days before everyone disappears for summer break. I, on the other hand, am staying right here and enjoying the mountain air all summer as I’ve been doing for my entire life. When I first got decided to join the draft, I assumed I’d go play for an NHL team somewhere in the States. I have to admit, I was somewhat disappointed that I was going to be playing where I grew up; for some reason I thought I’d want to live somewhere else. But now, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s just something indescribable about being able to catch a familiar face in the crowd at every game, whether it be an old classmate, teacher or even my childhood postman.
And here I am getting caught up inmy feels, as my younger sister Sadie would say. I always get inmy feelswhen the hockey season ends. That’s what happens when I go from seeing these guys every day to barely hearing a peep from them in thesummer, and the worst part is some of them I won’t really ever spend time with again with trades and such.
Man, do I love these guys, I think as I look around seeing JJ, our captain. Almost the oldest of our group at twenty-nine, he’s standing by the water talking to Stevi and Donno, both of whom I was drafted with, and are just a little older than I am. Then there’s Packer, the Russian, standing on the deck not far from me not saying much. He’s watching Toby and Chase, two Americans who have been playing hockey together since they’ve been able to tie their own skates, arguing over who’s going to use the BBQ tonight. Those two bicker like an old married couple. Thankfully, the core of the men that I call brothers are staying on the team for at least another year.
Never thought being drafted to a rebuilding team would get us to the second round of the playoffs in four short seasons, but we made it. Did we win? No, but we pushed it to game seven, and considering the team wasn’t even making the playoffs when I was first draftedorthe first year I was on the team, I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of these misfits.
“What are you doing sitting up here alone?” I hear Levi, my best friend on the team, say as he presses another cold can to the side of my face making me jump.
“I was waiting for your pretty face to show up. How come you’re late? Even I got here before you; that never happens,” I say, grabbing the cold can he’s offering.
“I felt bad leaving my new roommate alone already, so I figured I’d only come for the weekend.” This guy, he can never seem to live alone. We lived together our first three years on the team, and last year he had Packer living with him.
“Can’t live alone there can you, buddy?” I ask, laughing.
“Ha ha ha. I wasn’t planning on living with anyone. My sister’s childhood best friend needed to start over, and since she was like a second older sister to me, I did what any capable youngerbrother would do. When she asked if she could come for an extended visit, I bought her a one-way plane ticket and told her I had a bedroom with her name on it for as long as she wanted.”
“I see your taste in roommates is evolving. I’m assuming she’s keeping your bed warm?” I ask with a wink.
“It’s not like that. She grew up with us and spent more time at our house than her own.”
“That doesn’t tell me if she’s hot or not,” I tease.
“She’s off-limits, Ian, so don’t even think about it. That girl needs a break from assholes,” he retorts, giving me a warning look, telling me he’s not joking.
“If that’s what helps you sleep at night,” I answer, a little peeved that he’s underhandedly called me an asshole. Not to mention, that he’s a little defensive for someone who says she’s just a friend. Now I can’t wait to meet this woman—watch her become a permanent fixture in our life. I say “our lives” because all of us are so close that when one of us gets a girl, we all somewhat get a girl. Just last week I changed a tire on JJ’s girlfriend's car when she got a flat and JJ was busy. “It’s not my fault. Women just can’t seem to keep their hands off all of this,” I yell after him as he walks away, gesturing to my six-pack.
The girls I date know the score. They know I’m not looking to settle down with them. They know I like to keep things casual. It’s not my fault they all start thinking that we’re more serious than we actually are. I’ve tried the long-term thing before and it came back to bite me in the ass.
Later that evening, we’re all in the cabin’s game room playing pool and beer pong; everyone is having a good time drinking and laughing. During the season, it’s rare that we really get to let loose like this. Nt only do we barely drink during the season, but it’s also even more rare that we get to do that in private, without having to feel “on” all the time. Between the puck bunnies, everyone with cell phones, and the media, it’s hard to let go and be able to really bond as a bunch of unsupervised guys. Looking around, I see JJ on his phone with a smile pulling at his lips, probably chatting with his girlfriend Ellie. I wonder what that’s like, having someone to check in on, or better yet having someone to check in on you, making sure you’re okay. Someone waiting up after a long road trip or someone to celebrate a win with . . . Even though I’m not ready to settle down, I can’t say that the thought never crossed my mind. I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been a recurring thought since JJ got with Ellie last year.
No, I tell myself with a mental shake. I’ve never wanted to have someone depending on me, or more importantly needing to depend on someone else. I let that dream die a long time ago. As much as I love the idea of having someone by my side, I know it’s not in the cards for me. At one point in time I thought it was, but not anymore. Pondering that moral dilemma, I take a long pull of my beer.
“Yeah, she got divorced and needed to start over . . .” I hear coming from my right, pulling me from my thoughts. I turn to see Levi sitting next to JJ. I find myself straining to hear what Levi is telling him. I’ve never met this woman; this is the first time I’ve even really heard of her. I can’t even tell you what she looks like, but for some reason I’m intrigued.
“. . . she grew up with my sister. Those two were tied at the hip. We lost touch a little though when she got married and moved to the east coast,” I hear Levi explain.
“Doesn’t explain why she’s moved in with you instead of with your sister,” JJ states.
