Game Winner (Penalty Kill 3)

But after talking to my father, as if that was confirmation that it’s real, I’m filled with nerves. So much is riding on this game for me. What if I mess it up? What if I screw up so badly that it ruins my chances of playing in the NHL forever? There are so many things that could go well, but so many things can go wrong too. I would be ruined if anything less than great happened.

I’m almost so nervous that I want to call Presley and talk to her, but that won’t make my surprise work. I’ll have to suffer alone for now. When my phone rings, I almost jump. It’s just Presley though.

“Hey, Smarty,” I answer nonchalantly.

“It’s a day like today when I wish you were here, so I could tell you to fuck me and we’d have amazing sex to make my day better,” she says.

I laugh at how she skipped hello. “God Levi would like nothing more than to grant your wish.” I pause, quit joking, and add, “That bad of a day?”

“Yes,” she whines. “And where’s God Levi when I need him? He’s in another state.”

Grinning, I say, “You just confirmed that I am indeed a God. You realize that, right?”

“Levi,” she gripes. “I’m serious.”

“All right. Tell me about your day.”

“It sucked! From the moment I got out of bed, things that could go wrong, did. I’ve got way too much homework to do. I was so buried in it that I forgot to go to Trev’s game, which makes me a terrible sister, and there’s still more homework to do! I should probably go do that instead of whining to you.”

I smile. “I love you, Presley. Whine to me all you want.”

“Thanks, Levi. How was your day?”

“Good,” I say casually. “Why don’t you drive down here to see me for tonight?” That would make her day better and it would calm my nerves.

“I wish I could, but I’m drowning in homework. Maybe some time next week?”

“Yeah, okay.” I’m a little disappointed, but it’s completely understandable. It’s a long drive, and she would have to leave really early to make it make in time for her morning classes. It wouldn’t be worth the trouble just for us to see each other for a few hours. “Go do your homework and I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

“Love you too, Levi.”

To get my mind off everything, I change and go to the gym to work off my worries. The next few days are going to be crazy while I hide from Presley about the game and prepare myself for my first NHL game. When I get back from the gym, feeling the burn in my muscles, Landon and Jayson decide we need to celebrate being called up, so there’s a huge party at our place tonight.

I shower at the fitness facility because it’s late when I leave. The party is already in full swing. The music is loud and the furniture in the living room has been moved to along the walls, so people are packed together while they dance. Jayson comes through the crowd of unfamiliar faces with a grin on his face and a beer in each hand.

“Congratulations!” He yells, handing me a beer.

“Do we even know half of these people?” I ask.

“Nope.” He smiles.

I take a swig of beer as we walk towards the kitchen where most of our teammates are. They yell out congratulations and slap me on the back. A drinking game starts in another room, taking most of the guys that way. I lean against the counter, nursing my beer, and watch everyone around me.

There’s a girl in the corner who is making out with some other guy. There’s the bodies mixing together in dance. There’s a couple guys walking up to two other girls, probably hoping to get laid tonight.

“This party is for you, isn’t it?”

I was so absorbed in my people watching that I didn’t realize a curly redheaded girl had walked up to me. “Uh, yeah?” I don’t understand the point of her question.

“You aren’t doing a good job of celebrating by standing in here all by yourself.”

The only person I want to celebrate with is hours away. I drink some beer and eye her before I answer. “Maybe this is how I celebrate good news.” I almost ask her how she suggests I party, but that might not come across well. Instead, I say, “I’m assuming you already know, but I’m Levi.”

She shakes my hand. “Tracie.”

“Nice to meet you, Tracie. Who’s your connection here?”

“I know Jayson and most of the other guys. You’re one of the exceptions.” Tracie takes a step closer to me, almost blocking me in.