He got me with that one, and I couldn’t help but crack a small smile… that I immediately wiped off my face when I caught Coach giving me an intense stare down instead of watching the play down the ice.
I pushed my sweaty hair up. “Nick, do you ever take anything seriously? You’re not pissed we’re kicked out? Coach is gonna give us a fuckin earful,” I whispered.
“Nah, life’s too short, we’re only seventeen,” his signature, easy-going smile slid onto his face. Him and I had been told for years we looked like brothers, besides his dark eyes and my blue ones. It was the dark messy hair and hockey build that we had in common. I could see brothers I guess, but definitely not twins. When it came to our faces, he was pretty-boy, where I was more harsh…just like my father,I couldn’t help but think disgustedly. Nick could probably dress up and hide the trash we came from. That wasn’t true for me. I’d probably stink of it my whole life.
“Look at it this way,” Nick broke through my thoughts. “I got to take on the world with my buddy on the battlefield today. And we won. We fuckin won!” Hecackled.
“You sound surprised,” Ichallenged.
“I mean, they make pretty tough motherfuckers in Detroit. But you’re toe-to-toe with ‘em. You’ll be in the big show one day, bud. My best friend, Benny Griffiths, big time NHLer.”
I felt a bit self-conscious at that, but my chest swelled all the same time.
“You too, bud. Us together or nothin. Team,” I put my fist out for him to punch, and he gave a genuine smile, like I just made his day.
When the final buzzer sounded, I threw my helmet back on before exiting the box to join my team’s lineup to shake hands with the Detroit boys.
I could practically feel Coach’s gaze on our backs as we fell in step with everyone else.
This was not going to be a fun locker room chat.
Whatever. It was better than the earful I’d get from my dad back home if he was watching. I made a mental note not to answer my phone the rest of the day in case he somehow streamed the game.
It was eerily quiet in the locker room as we all undressed, especially considering we won the game…
I looked around and noticed no one would make eye contact with the two of us. It was like we had the plague orsomethin.
Fuck. That was a bad sign. Coach was probably mouthing off about us on the bench to everyone too.
“Hell of a rumble, eh boys?! Two-zip! Way to keep the win!” Nick yelled beside me. His “boy’s” always sounded like “bois.” I couldn’t help but notice his accent sounding stronger. He always sounded more Canadian when he was nervous. It was his tell. A nervous Nick was also not good… not that anyone else could probably tell… but that rarely ever happened.
He earned a couple chuckles around the room from his comment, but everyone shut their mouths when Coach stormed in.
Coach looked slowly around the silent room until his eyes landed on the two of us.
I put my head down to avoid hisgaze.
“No respect for the rules of the game,” he spat. He didn’t even have to say our names. Everyone knew who he was talking to. “You’re refereeing the rest of the season or you’reOff. My. Fucking. Team,” he pointed his finger at us as he yelled, like he was using it to punch those words into us. He was so pissed he was practically seething as he said, “Now I have to play fucking damage control with the scouts for your asses. Y’all want to piss away your talent. I’m determined not to fucking let you. Go talk to Craig. Now.” He spit on the rubber ground as he walked back to his office.
I sat there stunned until I heard the blinds on his office door clash loudly as he slammed itclosed.
Scouts?
Damage control?
Did he say we were talented?
All our teammates were staring at us.
I was not good under pressure.
This was all Nick’s area… and he knewit.
I cut my eyes to his; he gave a playful smile and shrug, like nothing was a big deal. I wish I had his attitude for about the millionth time in my life. Nothing fazed him. I felt anxiety course through me as I finished drying my blades on my towel rag before placing them in mybag.
Nick jumped up faster than I did, and I shakily stood and followed after him.
At least I wasn’talone.
