“It’s the Canadian genes. We sense one another wherever we go. It’s why Americans think we know every Canadianthey’veever met.”
I shoot him a sheepish grin. “True. Anyway?—”
“Anyway,” he drawls.
“Anyway, you’re into hockey?”
“Sure. We’re a big hockey household.”
“With a name like yours, that makes sense. How weird is that, huh? You and Cole Korhonen share a last name.”
“Never heard that one before,” he mutters as both of us watch Zach and Pecan fight over who’s the last guy on the ice—Pecan only does it to be annoying. Zachhasto be the last man out after warm-up.
As goalie, Pecan’s allowed to be weird, but hands down, Zach has more quirks.
Eight pulses of the blender when he makes his pregame protein shake.
Eight bites of a banana.
Pecan says he dries his crack eight times, too, during his morning shower before a game, but I can’t corroborate that one.
Eight is his mantra. Has been for as long as he started taking hockey seriously.
Only his number doesn’t fit the pattern—87.
He says it does though because it starts with 8.
Boys.
“Hey, Cole Korhonen’s Canadian, right?”
“I think so.”
Humming, I ask, “It’s the first time you took a seat with me.”
“Figured we knew each other well enough to endure a game together.”
“Ha!” Something about his droll humor never fails to get me chuckling.
“Plus, it’s kind of empty in here. I didn’t think it was wise to switch seats before.”
“Yeah, Alec’s on a campaign to get more butts in the stands. Right now, it’s mostly alumni watching.”
“Why?”
“They sucked last season. Who wants to watch their team suck? It’ll get better now that Zach’s here so they’ll win more consistently,” I predict. “He’s like watching magic happen.”
“You know why Zach didn’t play in the NCAA last year?”
I stiffen at the question. “Why do you ask?”
“Curious why he’s only a walk-on when he’s damn good. I saw him play a couple games when he was in the CJHL but he never moved into the CHL.”
“He got into Oakwood at the same time as Pecan and I, was invitedto play and everything, but he deferred a year because—” My voice turns wary. “You a secret Zach stan or something?”
Zach doesn’t know the half of the bullshit I go through as his friend. He thought that scene with Addison was bad? I’m his ladder—get to him through me.Story of my life.
“I guess I am? I want the Oakwood Dukes to win and he’s the fastest way to get that to happen, but I’m not sitting with youbecauseof him, if that makes sense.” He chows on popcorn. “After that showdown with Addison at Dopie’s, I guess you’re used to people using you.”
