I closedthe door behind me and finally let myself look at my phone. I'd seen Nix's text pop up in the dressing room after the game, but I couldn't open it there. Now, alone in my living room, I did.
NIX: I miss you and can’t get you out of my mind. Congrats on winning the game. How are you, babe?
I read the message three times before it sank in. Even then, I stared at it, hoping it wasn’t a hallucination that would disappear as soon as I believed it was real.
I should reply before he regrets sending it.
My hand shook as I typed, erased, and typed it again. Finally, I settled on a message.
PACKY: My mind’s a jumble with everything, but I’m holding in there. Miss you too. How are things?
I sent the message before I could chicken out, then glanced at the clock. 2:37 a.m. Shit. I typed another one.
PACKY: Sorry, hope I didn’t wake you. I probably should’ve waited until morning to reply.
My phone buzzed right away. I fumbled, nearly dropped it, and barely caught it against my chest.
NIX: I’m glad you didn’t.
That wasn’t much, but somehow it was everything.
NIX: Must have been a blast winning the game.
Not really personal, but it was safe. We knew how to talk about hockey.
PACKY: It was awesome. We’ve still got a long way to go.
NIX: Buffalo was the best team on the ice, and you will be next time too. Is Criswell making you practice tomorrow?
PACKY: Yes but he already said we won’t on game day.
NIX: That’s good. Gonna rest tomorrow after you skate?
PACKY: Yes.
PACKY: I’m sorry you guys are out of it.
NIX: We’d have been out of it anyway because we’d be playing you now. Buffalo’s better than we are. Until next season. I skated with the boys today and we’re okay.
NIX: Remember when you tripped over the blue line when you were playing us for the conference title a few years ago? Poetry in motion.
PACKY: Remember when you got a penalty for embellishment? Academy Award performance.
NIX: Fuck you, that was a legitimate observation.
PACKY: Sure it was. Tell me another joke?
We kept going like that until I laughed out loud for the first time in days. When the first hint of morning turned the darkness outside gray, his tone changed.
NIX: I should let you get some rest before practice. Thanks for talking to me, Pack.
I wanted to ask him not to go, to say I needed to talk to him more than I needed rest, but I was afraid of breaking whatever the texting had meant. Instead of scaring him, I wanted it to be a new beginning. Hopefully, it was.
PACKY: I’ve enjoyed it. Thanks for staying up.
NIX: Anytime. Don’t overdo it at practice, okay? I’ll be watching Thursday’s game.
I stared at the word on my screen long after we signed off:anytime.
