“Don’t have too much fun.” Mom points a finger at me as Dad pulls her out of the bar.
“Harper and I are going to head out too.” Marcus appears at my side.
“Are you sure you don’t want to have another drink?” I sling an arm around Marcus, pulling him back toward the table where Harper and Angie are waiting for us. “When are we going to get to celebrate a national championship ever again?”
“You’re starting to sound like Randy.”
“Sue me for wanting to celebrate with my best friend and co-captain.”
“Technically alternate.”
“Whatever. One more. That’s it.”
“Don’t you want to celebrate with the girls?” Marcus’s eyes drift back behind me to the table where I know they are.
“Of course. One more though. Don’t leave me hanging.”
“Fine. But just one.”
There’s a warmth buzzing through my veins. I haven’t overdone it on the drinks tonight. Angie got her own room tonight, as did Harper, so we can all have some privacy.
There will be plenty of time for celebrating with Angie. This is a moment I will be reliving for the rest of my life.
Beating Boston in the Frozen Four championship—seeing Angie’s ex pout his way off the ice—was more than I could have asked for.
Kissing her on center ice after we got the trophy? I don’t know if anything will ever compare.
Maybe a Stanley Cup, but that remains to be seen. Knowing she was in the stands, knowing my entire family and her dads and brother were in the stands, made me up my game. I didn’t want to leave college with any regrets. Not winning the championship would have stung.
So to win in epic fashion—coming back from two down in the third period—made it that much sweeter.
“Two shots of tequila.” I wave the bartender over and order us each one last shot.
“Tequila? Really, dude?” Marcus eyes me warily.
“What? Worried you won’t be able to get it up?”
“Fuck you.” There’s not bite to his tone as he smiles back at me. “I just want to be with Harper right now.”
“I’m right here.” A voice startles him from behind. “You can spend the night with Troy. It’s fine.”
“But what if I want to spend it with you?”
Dude is a total goner for Harper. Not that I can blame him. I’m the exact same way with Angie, who has just wrapped her arms around me.
“Want to get me a shot?” Her eyes are glassy. Not from too much alcohol from celebrating, but from exhaustion. With the weather in Minneapolis, their flight got delayed and they didn’t land until early this morning. We’ll be here for another day or so, but I know she’s ready to pass out.
The bartender drops ours off, and I order one more for her. He’s already there with the bottle, pouring two more with limes on the side. “For both the ladies. This round’s on the house.”
“Thanks, man.”
I hand the shots out and look at the little group of people gathered around me. I never expected to be here at the beginning of the year. In a hotel bar in Minneapolis celebrating our big victory.
“I can’t imagine getting to celebrate this with anyone else. We fought hard to be in this game. I love getting to play the sport I love with some of my best friends.”
“Some of?” Marcus quirks his brow at me.
“Fine. My best friend. And to have you two here”—I look at Angie and Harper—“makes it all the sweeter. This has been quite the year for all of us.”
