Troy pulls me in for a quick hug. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m surprised I didn’t get a call chewing me out.”
“And miss ripping you a new one in person? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Troy was one of my closest friends in college. His wife, Angie? Harper’s best friend. When shit hit the fan, I cut off all contact. It doesn’t surprise me that he now knows the truth about what happened.
“Wasn’t exactly something I was proud of.”
“You know I would have been there for you, right?” Troy tells me. Hurt laces his voice.
“I could barely be there for the girls. I’m sorry, man. If I could take it back, I would.” I bump him on the shoulder. “But I know congratulations are in order for you. I hear Angie is due anytime?”
“Guess I’ll be calling you for parenting advice.”
“I don’t know. The girls said they get a dog if I score tonight.” I laugh.
Troy skates away from me. “I’ll make sure you don’t get a dog then.”
“Are you trying to goad me into scoring?”
“Not with Nick on goal!”
I go back to my end of the ice, watching as Noah chats with a few of the guys. Since he used to play for Colorado before he got traded, he knows the guys better.
If there’s one thing I want tonight, it’s to wipe the ice with the Black Diamonds. We beat them last season, and I’d love to do it again. They’re one of the best teams in the league, and with our schedule this year, it would prove that we’re not a circled win anymore. That teams won’t look at the schedule before the season starts and assume they’re winning against us.
All niceties between the teams are forgotten as soon as the puck drops. Colorado skates hard during the first period to put two points on the scoreboard.
With Brooks-Young in goal, he’s stopping everything we’re sending his way. But by the time the second period starts, we finally get our shot.
Dax takes off down the ice and I’m right behind him. The only person in our way is one of their defensemen. With some quick stick work, Dax fires the puck back to me and I’m sending it sailing into the back of the net.
I’m laughing as the guys come over to congratulate me. I can hear the cheers now.We’re getting a dog!
“Why are you shaking your head that you scored?” Bode asks as we skate back to the bench.
“Two little girls think they’re getting a dog now.”
Bode cackles. Full on cackles at that, the fucker. “They are so getting a dog.”
“They are not.”
I take my seat on the bench and swig from my water bottle as the game starts up again.
“Cap, you are whipped. You would do anything for them. Whether it’s now or in a few months, the girls are getting a dog.”
Damn it. They really are.
I can’t say no to them. And if they get Harper on their side? It’s a done deal.
I turn my focus back to the game. We’ve tied it up by the time we get into the third period, but then Bode gets a lucky shot through the goalie’s legs.
When the final horn sounds, we put Colorado away, 3-2.
“Sorry, man,” I tell Troy as we shake hands after the game.
“I feel sorry for you. Good luck with that dog.” He laughs.
