Page 38 of The Game
“I’m not a kid,” he grumbles. “I’m from Pittsburgh. This isn’t getting to know you time, though. I’m not telling you my life story and crying into our gloves.”
“Wasn’t asking you to.” His glare is chillier than the air in the barn. “Look, let’s just finish up a couple more lines, and thenwhy don’t you come back to my place? You can hang with the team.” Perhaps a different method of team bonding will help.
He lights up. “I can come hang out at Beau’s place?”
“Yes.” Hopefully, some of the other guys are home. Seeing as how I usually keep to myself, I’m not that familiar with their schedules. What if I get stuck back there alone with him? Nightmare fuel.
“Okay.” He skates over to his section, and we get going again with the exercise, passing and shooting. This time he makes the pass, so I can take the shot.
Five minutes left before the figure skating team takes over the rink.
“Go wild.” I leave a stack of pucks and get in front of the net to let him take shots on me.
I’m not a goalie, but I stop a lot of them. He tends to go for the showoffy shots. Drilling them so hard at me I’m afraid I might end up with a bruise or two if I don’t snag them. But he’s not analyzing me to see where my weaknesses are or shooting for the high or low corners. That’s something I’m pretty good at, so I definitely have a thing or two I can teach him in these sessions.
“Wrap it up. Let’s shower and get back to my place.”
This may be the first time I’ve invited someone to the team house as if it was my place. I really have been keeping to myself. That’s not like me. Not how I used to be. And definitely not a true member of the team. My baby sister was right. I’ve started mending my fences this year, but I’m going to have to keep itup and probably work twice as hard to bring this doofus along with me.
Fingers crossed my big bonding effort doesn’t end in chaos.
Hail has a Mercedes SUV. I drag in a deep breath of the new car smell still lingering in the air. I’ve never had a new car in my life. Next year. Fingers crossed. I don’t need anything fancy, though. Not like this.
“Nice ride.”
He steps on the gas a little too hard, squealing out of the arena parking lot. I’m thrown into the door. Hope this thing isn’t a rollover risk.
“It was my congratulations present when I got into Lakeview.”
Must be nice. I’m getting a better picture of the rookie now. Spoiled, coddled, getting his superiority reinforced at every turn. Maybe not all his fault he’s got an ego the size of Kansas, or Pittsburgh, I guess.
“Why didn’t you drive in today?”
“Got a ride with Beau. No use taking two cars. I would have taken the bus home if you weren’t coming with me.” I stare at my hands, rather than at the bare trees whizzing by at an alarming right. Don’t need that kind of stress.
“The bus. Gross.”
“It’s not so bad around here. I’ve been on worse.”
“Iwouldn’t do it.”
“That’s because you’ve never had to. Next practice, I’ll take you on the bus. It’ll be good for you. Learn a little patience.”
The car swerves a little when he shakes his head. “Nah. That wasn’t part of the deal.”
I breathe a huge sigh of relief when he pulls up in front of the team house. Not only did we make it here alive, but there are a few cars in the driveway. Looks like everyone is home. Good, good.
Laughter is booming from the small tv room where the gaming rigs are all set up, so I follow the noise.
Beau, JJ, and Grant all have controllers in their hands, and there are carts swerving around on the screen almost as erratically as Hail was driving his SUV. Dev has a well-worn book in his hand, but he’s glancing up every now and again over the glasses perched on his nose to check out the action.
“Hi, guys.”
None of them try to conceal the surprise on their faces when I greet them. There it is. What I’ve earned. Surprise that I’m participating at all with the team.
“Hey.” Beau smiles his perfect smile at me. All straight, shiny white teeth.
“I brought the rookie home to hang for a bit.”