“Look, we have nothing to lose by trying this. I know I’masking a lot, but you’re all great hockey players, and we’re the state champions. If we’re not winning games, then something must be missing. Maybe it’s this.”
The guys were all eyeing each other with some suspicion, as if this must be some kind of trick.
“So, who’s with me?”
A few of them shrugged, but then I saw heads nodding. Eventually, Owen started clapping, and soon everyone else joined in. Seth even let out a surprisingly enthusiastic, “Let’s do this!”
I blinked back my surprise. Had I actually gotten through to them?
“Okay, okay,” I said, quietening them down. “I’m glad you guys are on board, because in honor of our commitment to being a better team, I’ve set up a little exercise. We need to mark ourselves with a visible reminder of our newfound unity and dedication to the team and each other.”
There were even more looks of suspicion now.
“We’re getting tattoos?” Owen asked, horror in his eyes.
“Well, thatwasmy first idea,” I replied with a smirk. “But no…” I waved toward the table behind me and everyone looked on in confusion. “We’re making friendship bracelets.”
The way my teammates stared at me, I thought they would have preferred to get tattoos. Their expressions ranged from shock and uncertainty to amusement and even disgust. But I was completely serious.
“Friendship bracelets?” Seth asked.
“That’s right.”
“This is stupid.” Elliot laughed. “We’re not Swifties.”
The guys all turned to look at him, and I wondered if each of them was thinking the same thing.
But Seth stepped toward the table. “Speak for yourself, Ford.Reputationalways gets me pumped before a game.”
His words seemed to spark the rest of the team into action, and once he’d pulled out a chair and sat down, the guys all moved to follow him. Elliot stayed rooted to the spot, watching all the other players find a seat and get started on their bracelets.
“Seriously?” he asked, his tone incredulous. “This is ridiculous.” When nobody acknowledged him, Elliot turned and marched from the room as quickly as his boot would allow.
“Friendship bracelets?” Mackenzie came to stand beside me, and I was instantly aware of just how much space separated us.
“Hey, it was your idea.”
“I was joking,” she replied. “Besides, we only talked about this last night. You just happened to have a friendship bracelet kit at home?”
“I have a sister, don’t I?”
“She doesn’t really seem the type.”
“She’s not.” Cammie would never wear something as bright and colorful as the beads on these bracelets. “It was a Christmas present she never opened.”
“I knew it.” Mackenzie flashed me a satisfied smile. “So, you going to make me a friendship bracelet then?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
I leaned in close. “Because I don’t want to be your friend, Mackenzie.”
Her eyes widened, but I walked away before I could say anything else we might both wish I hadn’t. I went to join the rest of the team making bracelets, taking a seat next to Owen. Despite their initial uncertainty, everyone seemed to be embracing the idea now, and were already passing completed bracelets to each other. We had about an hour before we had to get to class, and by the time we were done, I had five bracelets gracing my wrist.
Each of them was different. Seth gave me one that alternated red and white beads to match our team’s colors. Jansen included my number and a few devil emojis. Cullen gave me one that was such a random collection of colors I had to assume he’d just picked the beads closest to him on the table. Another bracelet, which had been thrown across the table at me, attempted to spell out my name but could only manage ‘Parka.’ I hoped its designer had just run out of letters.
Mackenzie’s wrists were both covered. I shouldn’t have been surprised so many guys wanted to make her one. I watched her laugh as she exchanged bracelets with Seth, and I couldn’t stop myself smiling with her. There was no guarantee this whole bonding thing would help our team beat the Sunshine Hills Saints, but if it helped Mackenzie feel like she belonged a little more, then it would be worth it.
