I rolled back around and covered my head with my pillow. I guess I was a glutton for punishment because all I wanted was to fall backasleep so I could dream about her again. If I closed my eyes, I could probably mentally slip right back into the memory.
“If you don’t get up, I’m gonna fight you,” Kappy warned. “I have too much energy after watching last night’s game from a lame desk.” After being forced to retire earlier this season, Kappy became a studio analyst, so he was still in the hockey world, just not on the ice.
“You are not fighting anyone, Richard,” Piper snapped, then she added, “JP, please be agreeable with him.”
Damnit. She sounded desperate. I could annoy Kappy all I wanted, but I hated pissing off the girls.
“Fine.” With a groan, I rolled out of bed, my muscles still aching from yesterday’s game and celebration.
_________
Colt, my other best friend, was hosting the first of many parties this offseason because he was our team captain. I’d eventually get to host a Stanley Cup party at a location of my choosing, but I’d figure that out later.
With a new pool and mini bar, Colt and his wife, Mer, had the perfect backyard for hosting. He also hired a company to set up a bounce house and little obstacle course for the players’ kids, including his eight-year-old daughter, Lucy.
There were actually a lot of toddlers and little kids running around because most of the guys my age had found wives and girlfriends over the past couple years, and a lot of them started families. That was great for them, but almost every single conversation these days worked its way back to something their kid said or did, or some “annoying” aspect of their relationship that they secretly loved.
While half the guys on the team were still single like me, I didn’t quite fit in with that squad either. Most of them were young and wild, bragging about their latest hookups or about how much they drank over the weekend.Next season would probably be even worse because we were expecting a few retirements this off-season, meaning more young guys would be added to our roster.
Across the yard, Kappy was manning the grille. He had Piper’s arms looped around his waist, her cheek resting against his back.Every once in a while, he’d crane his neck to look down at her and crack a joke, making her shoulders shake with a giggle.
Colt was busy talking with some of the training staff, his baby boy, Callahan, resting in the crook of his elbow.
I was happy for my friends, I really was. And it’s not that I wanted their lives in any capacity; I just wanted my own to look a little different.
“You don’t look like a guy who just won the Stanley Cup last night,” Hans said, pulling me from my thoughts.
At about eighty-years-old, Hans was one of my best friends and role models. He was the rink manager of Centre Ice Arena back in Michigan where we all grew up. When Centre Ice folded a few years back, the three of us guys made sure Hans had a place to land. He now managed our practice rink, the Coliseum, here in downtown Chicago.
“Just tired,” I said with a grin. “How are you doing?”
His blue eyes narrowed. “Shoulder okay?”
“Wha-? Oh.” I hadn’t realized I’d been rubbing it. I tweaked my right shoulder during our playoff run but refused to get it looked at in case it pulled me off the roster. “Just a little sore. It’ll be fine after some rest. How are you doing?”
He held my gaze. “You’re sure?”
“I am,” I said with a forced chuckle. “I’m not Kappy, no need to worry.” Kappy was known for hiding injuries or problems until it was way too late.
“Good.” He wagged a finger at me. “You let me know if you need any help, yeah?”
“Yeah.” I smirked. “Same with you, old man. How are you doing?”
“I’m just fine.” His bright eyes crinkled at the corners with a fond smile. “I was just about to get going.”
“Oh.” My eyebrows pulled together. “Already?”
“Yeah, like you said, I’m an old man,” he croaked. “I need my sleep. Summer hockey camps start up tomorrow.” He shakily got to his feet. “I need to be ready for the next batch of troublemakers.” He arched a bushy white eyebrow.
I grinned at that. We were probably his worst troublemakers back in the day. “Let me know if you need any help. I’ll knock some heads if you need me to.”
He nodded. “Will do.” His eyes went to Colt and Kappy, thenback to me, and his throat bobbed with a swallow. “I wanted to say thanks for inviting me,” he said slowly, like he was trying to choose the right words. “It means a lot that you boys still include me.” His chin wobbled, making panic rise up in my throat. Hans was never one to share his emotions.
“Hans, are you—”
“It’s okay.” He held up his papery thin hand, trying to brush it off. “I’m okay.” He forced a smile as he started shuffling across Colt’s lawn.
“Well, no thanks needed,” I said, walking with him to his car. “We still owe you for being obnoxious assholes back in the day.”
