“You are,” Abernathy answers. “And I’m buying you a drink. Those were some great saves you made between the pipes tonight, especially that last one.” It was the goal that would’ve tied us up had it gotten past Locke. The puck bounced off the corner and looked like it was going to shoot past him, but he put out his glove and snatched it out of the air before it hit the ice.
Locke grins. “Thanks, Captain.”
“We’re all going,” Abernathy says, no longer asking. “We’ve got a win to celebrate, and Chalmers’ new wife to meet.”
“I gotta make sure she’s up for that,” I say, playing for time. I wouldn’t mind going and showing her off, but I don’t want her to feel overwhelmed. Springing the reception on her like I did last week seemed like a lot. We’ve secured a date and a location—the first weekend of November at an event space east of town near the mountains—and Hailey got a recommendation from Molly via Maggie for an event planner who she met with and hired while I was out of town. I’m not sure she’s decided whether or not to invite her parents, though. She hasn’t said one way or the other.
My parents are excited to come. I’d let them know why Hailey and I were getting married before it happened. Even though they’d expressed reservations, they’re not the type to cut me off just because they don’t agree with my choices. “We love you,” my mom had said, “and you know we’re always in your corner. We want what’s best for you, always. And if you think this is the best choice, then we’ll have your back no matter what.”
That’s always been their attitude—supportive while also letting me face the consequences of my choices, both good and bad.
And even though I know they think this was a crazy decision, I still think it was the right one. I dunno, maybe in a year I’ll feel differently, but knowing Hailey’s on my insurance and accepting my support while she works toward her dreams doesn’t seem like it could ever be the wrong choice. She hasn’t had the same kind of support I’ve had since Hunter died. It’s time someone showed up for her the way my family and friends have always shown up for me.
“You better convince her to come celebrate with us,” Abernathy says, putting that edge to his tone he uses when he’s being the captain and not just a friend or teammate. “Tina’s beendying to see her again since the spa day they did while we were out of town. She wants to make sure she feels welcome.”
“She came to the game tonight,” I counter. “Shouldn’t Tina have had the chance to see her tonight?”
He wiggles his phone at me. “She texted. Your girl didn’t sit with the WAGs, so she didn’t get to talk to her, and she’s annoyed.”
“Oh, that’s Marissa’s fault,” Dozer chimes in. “She prefers to sit in general seating. And I know she was picking up Hailey for the game, so they were somewhere about halfway up at center ice. That’s her favorite spot.”
Abernathy points at Dozer. “Good to know. I’ll let Tina know that Hailey was with Marissa. It’ll make her feel better because she doesn’t want her to feel lost and alone or anything. She still feels a little bad that Marissa sat by herself so often at first.”
“She likes to do that, though,” Dozer says. “Tina shouldn’t feel bad about that. She enjoys watching hockey, and she loves live games. Sitting in the crowd is part of what she enjoys.”
Tongue caught between his teeth as he types on his phone, Abernathy nods. “Got it. Well, still. Tina’s the mother hen who wants to protect all the new little chicks, whether they want it or not.”
“Noted,” I say, tying my shoes and standing to grab my jacket and bag. I texted Hailey earlier, but she never responded, so I’m going to just wait until I see her to talk to her about heading to the Salmon.
“Maggie and I are in for the Salmon,” Bouchard says, grinning. “She has to finish up some work first, though, so we might be a little later than everyone else.”
Abernathy waves him off. “That’s fine. As long as you actually show.”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Bouchard asks. “We love the Salmon.”
“It’s been ages since we all went there after a game,” says Bowers. “I’m in.”
Abernathy points at me again. “Don’t let me down, Chalmers.”
I hold up my hands. “No promises, Captain.”
“You’re supposed to say, ‘Aye, aye, Cap’n,’” Dozer stage whispers next to me.
Abernathy grabs a towel off Bowers’ locker and tosses it at his face. Dozer catches it, but it still whips around and smacks him in the face, and he groans. “Gross. Bowers dried his balls on this!” And he chucks it at Bowers, but it falls short, landing on the floor in front of Cohen, one of the new guys. He looks at it, makes a disgusted face, and kicks it away, shaking his head as he turns back to his locker.
“Hey!” Bowers protests. “That’s my lucky towel.”
“Please tell me your lucky towel isn’t like Chalmers’s lucky socks,” Abernathy says, looking stern and diffusing the slight tension caused by Cohen’s refusal to participate in our antics. He’s been like that since he got here—keeping to himself, rebuffing all offers of friendship, though he hasn’t been an outright asshole to anyone. Yet. “One person refusing to do laundry is plenty,” Abernathy continues. “We don’t need your musty towel adding to the locker room funk.”
“No,” Bowers replies, sounding sulky. “I just don’t like my towel on the dirty floor.”
Blinking at him for a moment, Abernathy just says, “Kay. See all of you at the Salmon.” Then he turns, grabs his gear, and heads for the door.
Dozer leans over. “You think Hailey’ll join us?”
“Guess we’ll find out.”
Hailey’s standing off to the side with Marissa when I exit the locker room to the waiting area for family and friends, and I grin when I see her. She’s talking to Marissa, so she doesn’t notice me at first.
