Playing to Win

I held out my hand. “All I want is for you to come in here and learn a song for the talent show. Deal?”

Payton held out his hand. “Deal.”

“Alright, man. I’ll see you next week.”

Payton shook his head. “No, man. I’ll see you tonight. First game. Remember?”

Oh, yeah.

Crap.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Jordan

I’d never had a boyfriend before. Holding hands in the hall at school, waiting for each other during passing periods, feeling that sweet little flutter in my stomach whenever he smiled that smile, the one meant just for me- I liked it.

I’d begun to think all my worries about dating a teammate were foolish. We went to school, went to practice, made out in his backyard. Hockey didn’t become an issue. Even my dad and brother seemed pretty cool about everything. Joe teased me relentlessly, making kissy faces whenever I skated passed him during practice, but what did I expect? As far as Dad, he limited his concerns to flipping the back porch light on and off when he felt Asher and I had been secluded in the darkness too long.

Even Leo had let up a bit.

Tonight, however, we had our first hockey game. Asher offered to give me a ride to the rink, but I declined. I knew myself. If tonight ended with disappointment, I wouldn’t be good company after the game. A part of me needed the separation from him in case things didn’t go how I wanted them to.

Several members of the team clustered around Dad’s office two hours before the game started. On his door a single sheet of white paper had been taped. The sheet listed who would be in the starting lineup that night.

Asher hadn’t arrived yet.

I walked down the hall toward the door and that sheet by myself, my heart pounding. I wanted that starting spot so badly I could taste it. Asher and I had avoided any conversations about the team other than to complain about drills and sore muscles to each other.

My brother, Joe stepped out of the middle of the huddle of players. He didn’t see me at first, but when he did, his expression went from steely determination to wariness.

Asher would start.

I stopped in the middle of the hall. Joe approached me. He knew I wouldn’t want his pity, but I gratefully accepted his support when he ruffled my hair as he walked by on his way to the locker room.

Hockey was a team sport. Dad made the best decision for the team. I got it, I really did. But it still hurt.

I dressed for the game in the women’s locker room. Loud metal head music echoed from the men’s locker room down the hall along with the deep intonations of my teammates as they razzed each other and got pumped up for the game.

I told myself to buck up. I wanted this. I’d have to dig deep. Even playing off the bench, my team needed me. I couldn’t let them down.

Dad made sure all the guys were properly dressed before calling me into the locker room for a pre-game pep talk. Asher sat in the front with all the other starters, easily the best looking guy in the room. I still thought him too pretty to be a hockey player. His eyes caught mine and I forced a smile. He didn’t need to be worried about my feelings at a time like this.

We had a game to win.

And we did win. I went in a few times to give Asher a breather, but for the most part, he’d been the guy. To say I’d been humbled would be an understatement. My butt dragged out of the locker room to find Asher waiting.

“Hey.” He took a step toward me, then stopped, his eyes worried.

“Hi. Good game.”

“I, um-”

“Jordan,” my dad’s voice interrupted. We both turned to find him standing in the doorway to his office. “I need to talk to you for a minute.” He glanced at Asher. “Now.”

Dad disappeared back into his office.

Asher frowned. “What’s that about?” I could tell a part of him didn’t want to let me go. Sweet. He needed some reassurance.

Rising onto my toes, I kissed his cheek.

He sighed, all visible tension draining from his body. “Can I wait for you?”

“I’d be mad if you didn’t.”

One side of his mouth curled into a crooked smile. “Can’t have that, now can we?”

I walked backwards toward Dad’s office. “I’ll be right back.”