Three messages.
Skyler had sent three messages before 10 a.m. on a Saturday, and two of them were apologizing for the third.
It was kind of adorable. Definitely golden retriever-esque.
I typed back before my brain could catch up with my fingers.
Me: First of all, how dare you wake me before noon on my day off?
Me: Second, you didn’t trauma dump. You vented. There’s a difference. Trauma dumping doesn’t include maple syrup prank reenactments.
Me: Third, I’m billing you for the therapy session. My rates are reasonable. I accept payment in sliders.
The reply came faster than the tiny dots could dance.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Deal. Next time I’m in, sliders are on me.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Also sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep. Pretend I don’t exist until a reasonable hour.
Me: Too late. I’m awake now. The damage is done.
PuckingSkylerShaw: I’m a monster.
Me: The worst. Truly despicable.
PuckingSkylerShaw: In my defense, I’ve been up since 6. Practice waits for no man, not even men who stayed out too late talking to barbacks and drinking whiskey.
Me: You went to practice on 4 hours of sleep?
PuckingSkylerShaw: Closer to 3. It wasn’t my best showing. Coach called me a “moose on ice,” which I think is Canadian hockey speak for “you look like shit and I’m disappointed in you.”
Me: Ouch.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Deserved, but worth it.
I read that last message three times.
Worth it.
He’d said it was worth it.
Staying out late, losing sleep, and dragginghimself through practice like a zombie was worth it!
Because of me?
No. That couldn’t be right. It was because of the conversation, because he’d needed to vent and Barbacks had been there, and I happened to be part of the package.
Still.
The sunlight that spread through my chest at those two words was harder to dismiss than I wanted it to be.
Me: Get some rest, hockey star. You’ve got games to win and coaches to disappoint.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Game tonight. Home against Boston. You working?
Me: Yeah, we’re showing it at the bar. Saturday Lightning games are basically a holiday for us.
PuckingSkylerShaw: Nice. Cheer loud for me.
