Game Winner (Penalty Kill 3)

I pull it out and see that it’s Pops.

“That was a fantastic game, son,” he says as soon as I answer.

“Thanks, Pops.”

“Are you going out?”

“Yeah, the guys and I are heading out right now,” I answer.

“Okay. Well, have fun, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

We exchange goodbyes and just as I go to put my phone back, Presley is calling. With a grin, I repeat some of what my father said, “Let me guess? That was a fantastic game?”

She laughs. “Yes, it was! I had to call and tell you.”

“Thanks, Smarty. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? We’re all going to a bar and we just got here.”

“Oh, okay. Don’t overdo it or anything,” she orders with concern, but I can’t help but laugh. “What?”

“Pops told me to have fun, and you’re cautioning me. It’s funny.”

She giggles. “Bye, Levi.”

I chuckle at her avoiding to comment on what I said. “Bye, Presley.”

Thanks to her calling, I’m the last to get out of the car. Almost everyone came tonight, so we easily fill this place up. I’m starved, so I order something to eat. Landon grabs my shoulder and shakes it a little.

“Honestly, Levi, you played like shit,” he laughs.

I smile. “And that’s still better than you.”

“Hey,” Jayson interrupts, dragging his eyes away from a pair of girls across the bar. “Don’t be an ass. Look at what we did for you.” He reaches his hands into his big jacket pocket and tosses three pucks on the table.

“Thanks, guys.”

“One for you, one for your old man, and one for your girl,” Landon adds.

“They’ll love that. Thanks,” I repeat, really meaning it.

“We figured you deserved something for your first hat trick ever,” Jayson laughs.

“It was not my first hat trick,” I defend, but it doesn’t really matter.

Food comes and distracts half of us, myself included. Jayson starts talking with one of the guys about the pair of girls. The constant movement of Landon’s eyes tells me that he’s listening to them and watching the girls too. But he still manages to make conversation with me.

“Think the NHL will come calling again soon?” He asks.

“Do you?” I question, because I still don’t want to think about that just yet.

“If you keep playing like tonight, no doubt that they will. We all just have to keep playing our best. You basically disappeared and we haven’t really talked about your-”

“And I rather we didn’t,” I interrupt. “Things are better; let’s leave it alone.”

He nods with understanding. “I’m going running in the morning, if you want to come. Jayson can’t keep up.”

Jayson sends him a glare before leaving our table, walking confidently to the girls he’s been watching. For a moment, I wonder what he says because they seriously laugh within seconds of him opening his mouth.

“Sure, I’ll go,” I finally answer. I need to be working out more anyway and make sure I’m in tiptop shape at all times. I’m even having only one beer tonight. A mental grin appears in my head because being in shape makes me think about Presley.