“Um, sure. Woohoo!”
Ivan?
I suppose if I’m going to do this, I might as well move in with Teddy. The past few days I was alone in my condo sucked after living with Mila all summer. She was busy, but it was nice having people around all the time. Even though this Taranov compound experience won’t be quite as enjoyable. As much as I love andhave missed Teddy, we aren’tthatclose. Not thatanyonecould ever compare to what I feel for Mila.
Ugh, Mila. And if Ivan knows about this trade, surely Mila knows as well…so why is she ignoring me?That’s the real reason I’m sad.In any other scenario, I would bethrilledto move in with my best friend. And the Thunder Bay Rising Tide is arguably the best team in the league right now. They lost in the finals last year, but that was just due to their family tragedy. And then of course, Teddy getting shot halfway through the series put him out as well. Everyone and their mom agrees that with those three back and healthy, next year’s win is a shoo-in.
We file into one of the guy’s fancy blacked-out SUVs and make our way to Teddy’s new home.Fuck, Mila’s old home.
I didn’t notice it before, but the decor here screams Mila.No wonder she’s stressed out living in that gaudy-ass house.This is more hers than Teddy’s at this point. Even with her absence, living in the house she helped make a home brings me a sense of peace.
The guys lead me through the house to the training facility, and wow. This is so much nicer than the one in New York. In fact, everything is nicer here.
“When did you put ice in?” I ask as we head into a full-size rink.
“Oh, I didn’t. Mila had that put in after I started training here.” Teddy hands me a bag of practice equipment. “The locker room is right through those doors. I usually let Gabri and Nikki get through before I go in. There are some things you can’t unsee.”
“You’re stupid. I’m pretty sure I’ll be fine.” I take my bag and follow the Santoris. If Mila designed these locker rooms, I’m sure they are top-notch.
“Whatever, man, but don’t say I didn’t tell you so!”
“So, how are you holding up?” Teddy asks as I step onto the ice.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.”
“I told you.”
“Wait, when did you come in to change?”
“I have my own locker room, silly. Iamthe Pakhan after all, aren’t I?”
“You motherfuck—”
“Hiya champ—” Nikki skates up behind me and throws his arm around my shoulders, scaring the shit out of me in the process. “Whoa, down boy! What’s got you so jumpy all of a sudden?”
“Ask your brother,” I grumble.
I can hear Gabri chuckle from the other side of me as Nikki bends in half, bellowing his laughter. “You get used to it.”
When we’re all done stretching me as far away from Gabri and his monster…thing as possible, Teddy takes his position in the net.
“Alright, Thatch, you and Nikki are going to take turns going one-on-one with Gabri and—”
“Wait, where’s the rest of the team?”
Teddy reaches for his neck again. “Oh, this is just a private practice—”
“We thought it would be better if we broke you in first,” Nikki interrupts. “That being said, let’s see what you’ve got.”
I take my position across from Gabri and wait for Nikki to drop the puck. He’s the best defenseman in the league, and I always dread going against the motherfucker, but my nerves calm the moment it hits the ice. I manage a breakaway andcross over Nikki, but my efforts are for naught as my shot finds Teddy’s glove.
Gabri pats my shoulder as he makes his way to the center, where Nikki will challenge him next. “Great try. You’ve gotten better, Sunny D.”
“Yeah, man, what was that? Your speed and agility are wild. You’re usually dragging the first couple of weeks of preseason, you know, after all that partying you do.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.” I flip Teddy off, then grab the puck. “I spent the summer training with Misha, that’s what. That man isinsane.”
“Don’t I know it.” Teddy’s eyes go blank as he stares into the lights, frozen.
