Page 61 of Love You Already
He sends back a group shot of all the guys on the ice. They appear to be practicing, but since I still don't know much about hockey I can't say. Speaking of which...
I pull up a text thread with Beckett. If anyone can teach me about this game, it's him. And maybe it will be just the distraction I need to get me through this time apart from my husband.
Rose
Hey, Beck! Can I ask a favor?
Beck
I do not have the ability to control time and space yet. Please come back in 4-6 weeks to check status.
Ha ha. You're a real comedian! I was going to ask you to teach me about hockey, but since you're being a dweeb.
WHAT?!! Finally! Oh, dear baby ten-pound three-ounce Jesus — I love you. I'm down. Tell me when and where. I'll teach you all I know.
The main house. ASAP. I feel a little silly not knowing what it all means, and the season starts soon.
Roger that. Standby for detailed plans.
As I wait for him to text me back, I move back over to Lachlan to reply to his message.
Rose
You all look great! I'm sure you're giving it your all.
Lachlan
We are. The changes that came down have been good for us all. I'll send you the schedule after practice. We can block off dates then. Sound good?
Sounds great. Good luck with practice!
He doesn't respond to that one. I'm sure he's deep into working with the team already. Turns out the reason they were called back early was because one of their players was injured while on a backpacking trip through Europe. It was an entirely insane situation that should never have happened. It also left them down a player since the second line wasn't strong enough to step up.
The Coyotes traded a player from Baltimore for a draft pick next year and gave themselves better odds for the season. Only problem was that no one knew this new guy. And his position — which I'm totally blanking on — is important enough that he needs to train with everyone to make sure they have a good flow.
I don't have to be a fan of hockey to understand that. Any type of serious training requires understanding all the bits and pieces of how it works. I'm sure there are plays he has to learn, dynamics he needs to overcome. Same with bull riding. It may seem like a singular sport, but there are plenty of support personnel involved that you need to be aware of.
My brother's text interrupts my runaway thoughts.
Beck
When is your next night off?
Rose
Tonight. And then again on Thursday.
Perfect. Meet me tonight at six p.m. Come in comfy clothes and be hungry. It's not a proper game if you're not pigging out.
Understood. See you then.
* * *
I should have known Beckett would go all out for this adventure. The living room of the main house has been transformed into an entirely different place. He's somehow managed to find a massive whiteboard to set up on one side of the room. The coffee table has been covered with a white sheet and Oreos cover the top of it with pretzels sticking out of the icing. My guess would be that those are players.
The TV is cued up with a game from ESPN. I see Lachlan's handsome face frozen on the screen and it hits me then. My husband is a big deal. Bigger than I think I'd comprehended.
“Welcome to Hockey 101. I'll be your teacher today. First and foremost, please tell the class what your reason for learning about the sport is today. We all do best when we know each other's goals,” Beckett crows from his spot near the TV. He's in a Houston Coyotes jersey. More specifically, my husband's jersey.