Understatement of the century. I feel like shit today. Have for the last few days. After a long day of practice, I can sleep like the dead. These last few days? I haven’t been able to sleep a wink.
Last night?
Images of a certain blonde plagued my every thought. It’s been five years since I last let myself think of Harper.
Five long years since I last saw that happy face on my feed because of a moment of weakness.
Harper was happy. She had someone wrapped around her that wasn’t me and I cracked. Drank too much and was in a stupor for weeks.
And that was because I saw a picture.
The last thing I expected walking into the girls’ school last night was running into Harper.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dax.”
He throws his hands up in defense. “Hey, you’d call me out if I was skating like shit.”
I smirk at him. “As any good captain would. Make sure you’re okay.”
He butts the end of his stick against my pads. “See? Just making sure you’re okay.”
“It was a weird night.”
“You want to go out and talk about it after practice?”
I shake my head as Coach Andrews blows the whistle. “Nah. I have to get home to the girls.”
“They’re okay, right?” Dax asks.
“They’re good. Giving me a run for my money most days, but they’re good.”
“Who’s giving you a run for your money?” Bode asks, skating over to us and spraying ice over me and Dax.
“You fucker. Really?”
He gives me that cocky smile of his. “Gotta keep you on your toes, Cap.”
“Fucking Bode.” I shake my head at him as I skate back to the line to resume practice.
It goes by in a blur of missed shots and wide passes. Not a banner day for me by any means. I breathe a sigh of relief when it’s finally over.
I always say I earn my keep in practice. It’s where you work hard to become the best player, and the games are just a bonus.
Not today.
Today was one of the rougher days.
And all I want to do is go home and collapse.
“What did our teacher say?”Sadie asks the minute I walk in the door.
“Your teacher?” I ask, wrapping her in a hug before Sam tackles me.
“Yeah.” Sadie looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You said if we got good reports we could pick what we make for dinner.”
“So did we?” Sam asks.
“Oh, right.” I scrub a hand over the back of my head. “Your teacher wasn’t there.”
