“You’ve known Reid for like, forever, right? So you know what he likes,” I say, and he pauses, a smirk teasing at the corner of his lips.
“Not like that,” I say, shaking my head, but I’d be lying if I said the thought of Reid’s big strong arms hadn’t crept into my mind on more than one occasion.
“You want to know how to impress Reid on the ice?” White asks.
“Exactly. So what do I do?”
“Everything he says,” White states matter-of-factly before finishing off the croissant and waving over the waitress to order more.
“So, just obey him? That’s the only way?”
“Pretty much,” he replies, and I sigh and slouch back in the chair.
“Then I’m screwed.”
“Is it so hard to do as you’re told?”
“No . . . and yes. You have to admit, my trick playsare awesome.”
“They’re alright,” he says, and I reach over and grab one of the two croissants the waitress just set beside his mug.
“They’re better than alright, and you know it.”
“I know that as long as you keep fighting against him, none of us will have peace in that locker room.”
“You can’t put all that on me. He’s the captain, he’s the one who’s supposed to encourage us, make us better.”
“What makes you think that isn’t exactly what he’s doing?”
“He’s just so . . . urgh.”
“Pretty sure he feels the same way, kid.”
“I guess I should give his party a miss tonight, then.”
“Why?”
“I doubt he’ll want to see me there. It’s for friends and family, and I don’t fit into either category.”
“And you think you’ll be able to change that by not going?”
“I don’t want to cause trouble.”
“Ha! I call bullshit,” White laughs. “Kid, you’re nothing but trouble.”
“Mean.”
“Maybe, but it’s the truth. Anyway, the coach is treating his party as one of his team-building events, so you have to go.”
“Great. I guess I should get him a gift then too. What do you get a stubborn, wound-too-tight guy like Reid anyway?”
“Beats me, kid. He and I have a tradition for birthdays, so I’m all set.”
“What are you giving him, then?”
“Five hundred rolls of his favorite stick tape. It’s on an auto-rebuy and should be delivered to his house today actually.”
“That’s really smart.”
