Unbidden, a smile comes to my face. Lucy will be here tonight. Her two friends and their parents will be, too. I’d provided the tickets, and Lucy is looking forward to it.
My smile gets bigger. Ella is also coming to the game, and it’s making me antsy to get out on the ice to show off for her. I haven’t seen her since last Friday—five days ago when I presented her with the promise ring—as I’ve been on an extended road trip on the East Coast.
Doesn’t mean we haven’t been involved. We’d texted back and forth while I was gone, both keeping it light, except for the fact I immediately asked her out the morning after I gave her the ring since I didn’t want to have David steal her time out from under me. She said yes, agreeing to come to tonight’s game. Afterward, we’re going to go out for drinks while Lucy has a sleepover at her friend’s house.
We’ve also talked on the phone twice, again keeping things light. We’ve talked about Lucy and about picking up the puppy, which will be ready tomorrow, but Lucy doesn’t know that, and it’ll be a total surprise. We talked about hockey, and I helped her brainstorm an ad campaign she’s working on. Although, admittedly, all my ideas were shit. She’s the creative one.
We did not talk about that kiss we shared, the ring I gave her, or the promise I attached to it. We certainly didn’t talk about the way I fingered her to an orgasm, nor did I bother to ask if she was still seeing David. I had Ella’s attention this week, and I wasn’t going to give it up.
The last of the players straggle in and Coach enters, followed by the assistant coaches and trainers. They all line up against the wall while Perron moves to the podium.
I listen as he runs through the strengths and weaknesses of each of the Royals’ lines. He points out specific matchups between our players and theirs, and where we need to concentrate our best efforts. He makes individualized suggestions to a few players and accepts some back-and-forth discourse to iron out details. It’s a standard team meeting before a game, but there’s never anything standard about what happens when we put skates to ice. Every time, it’s not just giving a hundred and ten percent effort, but about putting our bodies and souls on the line to fight for every single win.
I glance left, then right to see my linemates. Jett notices me looking, then blows me a kiss and I snicker. I’ve more than gelled with them this past year and even the addition of the standoffish, sometimes prickish, Riggs Nadeau hasn’t weakened the glue holding us together. That says more to the fact that whatever goes on with Riggs outside of hockey, it doesn’t affect his performance on the ice. He’s been a great acquisition for the team, and he makes our second line stronger.
Coach is starting to wind down and I know this as he focuses his advice on our goalie, Legend Bay, as well as our backup goalie, Noah Martin, since Baden got injured. After Coach finishes, the team will disburse to start their pre-game rituals.
Some will head off to the team family room, which will be devoid of family members but full of comfy couches and chairs where they can sit around and relax a bit. Others will hit the buffet and load up on some carbs. Still, others will choose to get in a light workout that won’t strain stamina but will limber up muscles and joints. Some will find a quiet place and meditate.
For me personally, I always get in a light workout, including some time on the bike and stretching. I’ll also sit in the sauna for a bit and if I have any nagging injuries, I’ll let a trainer work on me. After, I’ll hit the food, then I’ll sit in the family room with my earbuds in and lose myself in music that will get me pumped up.
The coach finishes his remarks and people start shifting in their seats, assuming it’s about time to disperse. Instead, he holds his hand up, which garners immediate quiet and stillness, and offers an apologetic smile. “I know you are all anxious to start prepping for the game, but I have two more things to discuss briefly.”
Everyone straightens a bit.
“As you all know,” Coach says in a serious voice, leaning forward to rest his arms on the podium. “Baden had his surgery three days ago. I know you are getting email updates from management and that you all have been updated that the surgery went very well. I just wanted to pass on to you some great news I received about fifteen minutes before walking in here.”