I shifted in my seat and focused on Dave’s voice, trying to ignore what was happening in my pants. When thinking about ice baths didn’t work, I tried suicide drills and nuclear war. No luck. I despised Packy for making me feel like this, and hated myself even more for letting it happen.
“Ready, guys?” Dave asked.
I nodded, and Packy shot me a look I couldn’t read.
After the sound tech gave us our mics and ran a quick test, he gave a thumbs-up. Dave looked into the camera, delivered a quick intro, and turned to us. “Let’s start simple. How’s the goodwill tour going so far?”
“Smooth as fresh ice,” Packy said. “We met some fantastic kids today, and a few hundred fans gave us a welcome we won’t forget.”
While I tried to think of something to say, he started talking again. “Nico hasn’t started a fistfight yet, so that’s a win.”
I forced a smile. “Only because the league’s watching. Give it time.”
Dave laughed. “Sounds like you’ve found a rhythm. How does it feel, traveling together again after all these years?”
“Familiar,” Packy said. “We’re flying to Houston tomorrow, and I’m sure he’ll steal the window seat like he used to.”
“AndI’mpositive Packy will talk way too much while I’m trying to nap,” I said.
Dave chuckled and glanced at his notes. “You were roommates in college?”
“Briefly,” I said.
“Two miserable years,” Packy added. “Nico finally got kicked out for never showering.”
I leaned closer, still smiling for the camera. “Lies. You couldn’t handle the competition.”
Narrowing his eyes, he said, “I handled it fine. Stop saying shitty things about me.”
He shifted in his seat, and I jumped when his knee brushed mine. Damn static electricity.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I whispered.
“Maybe you’re just rusty.”
Dave laughed and said, “Guys, let us in on the secret. What’s therealstory?”
I sat back and looked into the lens. “We shared a dorm room. Mostly studied and trained.”
“Mostly,” Packy echoed, rolling his eyes.
Dave nodded. “You ended up on rival teams after college. Has that been hard?”
“Challenging,” Packy said.
“But good,” I added. “We played a little one-on-one today at the school. It brought back good memories.”
Dave’s expression sharpened. “That’s interesting. Many people think you don’t like each other. This obviously isn’t true, but I’ve seen the scowls and fights. When your teams face off, do things ever go too far?”
“Sure,” Packy said. “Nico still owes me dinner from the last time I stripped the puck off him.”
I shot him a look. “Bull. You wish you could strip anything off me.”
The laughter hit us all at once, and when we quieted, Dave tilted his head. “Sounds like a friendly rivalry.”
“Very friendly,” I said. “The kind where you plot each other’s untimely deaths between periods.”
That set Pack and me off again, making us laugh louder than before. His eyes were bright under the lights, and the air shifted like it had at the school.
