“Right,” I agreed. “I was worried for a second you were going to pull out your wedding planning folder.”
“Well, I can do that if you want, sweetie.” There was a teasing tint to her voice. “I’d certainly approve. She must be a very special girl if she can put up with you and the rest of the boys on that hockey team.”
“I said no, Mom.”
She was smiling happily as I made a quick exit, still clutching my box of Cheerios.
“Maybe see if Mackenzie and Max want to come for family dinner?” she called after me. She really couldn’t help herself.
“I’m sure they’re busy!” I called back.
“Just ask them when you’re finished at the lake.”
I was hoping Mackenzie wouldn’t show up at the lake at all. While a part of me wanted to see her, another part was terrified this thing between us was no longer just an itch that needed to be scratched. She was stubborn, determined, completely maddening. Yet all those things that had been reasons to stayclear of her, now seemed to be drawing me closer and making me do things I regretted. And getting closer to Mackenzie wasn’t an option, if I wanted to stay on the team. If I wanted any chance of convincing Coach Foster I was the player I thought I was. The captain I wanted to be.
Maybe I needed her to punch me again. Though, knowing me, I’d probably end up liking that too.
Chapter 23Mackenzie
It was only Max’s second time visiting Ransom, but he seemed totally at home. He spent most of his time in the kitchen raiding the fridge or galloping around the house with our little sisters taking turns riding his back. Something about having him here instantly made the place feel a little more like home to me too.
My parents were just as happy to see my brother as they were last time and they flooded him with questions about life at college and, of course, hockey. He seemed to be enjoying Ryker but was typically modest about how brilliantly he’d been playing with the Raiders and kept changing the subject to the Devils, something both my dad and I were keen to avoid talking about. For a moment during the game yesterday, I felt like maybe I was playing well, only for it all to come crashing down in the final few minutes. I wasn’t eager to reminisce about it.
In the afternoon, Max asked if I wanted to go to the lake for a skate, and I jumped at the opportunity. I’d never turned down the chance to play hockey with my brother before, but I also wanted to avoid any more hockey chat with my dad. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one.
Max breathed a sigh of relief as we drove away from the house. “Dad was seriously grilling me about my game yesterday. Apparently, two assists wasn’t good enough.”
It was easy to forget sometimes that my dad was hard on my brother too. His expectations when it came to Max were ridiculously high. Luckily for Max, he mostly lived up to them.
“At least he’s talking to you.”
“Yeah, I noticed he was still giving you the cold shoulder,” Max replied. “I thought he would have come around by now.”
“I’d hoped so too. The fact we’re still losing hasn’t helped. It’s only convinced him he’s right about me. I’ve let in far too many goals.”
My brother took a moment as he considered me. “I’ve watched the game tapes, Kenzie. You’re not the only one on the team who’s made mistakes. Yeah, you let in a few goals, but these were just your first two games. You’ll get stronger and more confident over the next few weeks. But the defense wasn’t working effectively to get the puck out of the zone, and the forwards missed plenty of opportunities too. Reed said a lot of guys from the Devils graduated last year. Sounds like you’re not the only one who needs to improve.”
I stayed silent, and his fingers tapped against the wheel as he continued. “Even your friend Parker made mistakes in those games, and he’s a great player. He’s already committed to Ryker next year, right?”
“Parker’s not my friend.”
“You sure about that?”
“Positive.” I cleared my throat because I realized I’d answered a little too firmly. “I mean, he’s just been helping me train.”
Max shrugged, like it didn’t matter to him either way. I expected my brother would have a much stronger opinion onthe topic if he knew Parker was the boy I’d kissed at our dad’s camp three years ago.
“I’m just saying,” he continued with a sigh, “you’re not solely to blame for these losses. It’s a team game.”
I nodded, mostly just to satisfy him. It was a little hard to agree when only one member of that team was currently on probation.
After a few minutes of quiet, Max finally changed the subject. “I saw you still haven’t unpacked your moving boxes.”
“I just haven’t had a chance yet.”
Max’s lips twisted as he glanced at me. “You’re still not feeling at home here?”
“No, it’s not that…”
