I sink back into the booth as his implication hits me like a blueliner in front of an open net: I’m Nicko. But right now, I don’t look like it.
If I return to my life as planned, everyone will spot the difference right away.Hartwill spot the difference right away, since the Nate he knows was completely unharmed when climbing into bed last night.
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me,” I groan as I bury my face into my hands. My head is already racing with all the possible consequences of being trapped in my brother’s life: another week of missing out on my classes; another week of training and playing with the Bats instead of working on getting my spot back.
Another week of living with Hart.
“It’s just until the bruise has faded enough to cover it up,” Nate tries to reassure me, but I don’t want to hear any of it right now.
All I can think about is how fixing my own life becomes more and more unlikely.
Xander, October 24th
After our surprise win on Saturday, the first half of the week passes in a celebratory blur. Training is a breeze, and now that we’ve put our fight behind us, Nate and I fly through our different plays and passes. Coach has to separate us for scrimmages to give the others a chance, and I’ve never had more fun sweating through my pads.
I’m looking forward to practice tonight, though right now I’m mostly glad to have finished my classes for the day, ready to enjoy some free time before heading to the rink.
I nod my head along to the heavy beat that’s raging in my headphones, raising a hand in passing at my dorm-mates who are scattered throughout the kitchen and living room.
Habitually, I turn my head to check on my roommate. Nate’s sitting at his desk, legs outstretched in front of him, one hand curled behind his head. He’s leaning as far back as the chair will go, ear pods in, but he is holding his phone up, on a call.
I raise a hand but stay out of it. He’s probably talking to his brother.
Again.
At this point I’m sure a lab could have synthetically grown an entirely new knee, surgically implanted it in someone’s leg,andtaught them how to play hockey in all the time it takes Hoff to recover. No wonder Nate freaked out after falling the other day when his brother milks his injury this much.
“I have to go now. Bye,” Nate ends the call, throwing me a brief nod to acknowledge my presence.
I bite back a comment about his twin and instead focus on the thing that had me skipping back from class.
“Hey, you ready?”
“For what?”
“Ready to go to the shelter? Walk some dogs?” I add the latter part when there’s no sign of recollection from him. I heave a sigh. We filled out the online forms for the dog-walker application to the local animal shelter a good month ago and never managed to make it so far. I know Nate isn’t a dog person, but I didn’t want to go on my own. At least not the first time.
“Did you forget?”
“I uh...yeah. Can’t we go next week? I don’t really feel like going out, and there’s training later...”
“Come on, that’s what you said last time too! No! Let’s go!” I walk over to pull him along by the back of his chair, making him huff—and eventually laugh, even if it’s reluctant.
“Okay, okay!” Nate jumps up, making me stumble. He grins mischievously at that, so I don’t mind looking stupid.
Our squabbling continues until we’re outside and walking along the parking spots. Nate’s car, a Honda Civic, is in the second row. His shoulder bumps into mine as he rounds the way to the driver’s side, where I’m already holding out my hand for the keys. I tilt my head and step back enough to allow Nate to unlock the car.
“Dude, really?”
“Uh, yeah? It’s my car after all?”
I’m well aware of that, of course, but usually I’m the one to drive it. Nate isn’t exactly a great driver, and he prefers to play passenger princess anyhow, making me listen to whatever new music he has discovered or talking about the latest book he’s reading. With a shrug I let him unlock the car and even open the door for him.
“Alright! I’m totally ready for you to get us stuck at a traffic light for three turns again.”
Nate stares at me, then the car key. Then his green eyes dart up to me again. For a moment there’s a stubborn glint there that I don’t recognize. Something that screamsoh, I’ll show you.
A spark of excitement runs down my spine, freezing the teasing smile on my lips. The spell is broken when Nate blinks and looks away. He throws up his hands and mutters something that I don’t catch, busy with shaking off the unexpectedly intense moment.
