Charlotte and Mitch let me be and I went around the room, taking pictures of some oak barrels that stuck out of the wall for décor, and the food the staff was setting out. I even snapped a few candid shots of the couple and their guests who started to arrive. I wanted to document everything for my friend because the moment couldn’t be replicated.
My phone vibrated in my slacks pocket, and I let the camera hang around my neck as I quickly pulled out my cell to see who had texted.
Coop: It was good seeing you at the game. Are you busy tonight?
I replied:
Hey there. I’m at a friend’s engagement party. What’s up?
I took a few more pictures while I waited for him to text back.
Coop: Guys and I are going out for drinks tonight since we don’t have a game. You should come. I’d love to catch up like we talked about
It sucked that over the three years since Jonah had passed, Coop and I had grown apart. And if I were being honest with myself, I missed hockey. It had felt good to be in the arena and watch the action again.
When the ice first came into view, my thoughts had gone to my late boyfriend, but as soon as my gaze had collided with Tyler’s, everything changed. I had gone from being sad and trying not to think about the past to feeling as though the universe was fucking with me. In a sea of twenty thousand people, the one man who consumed most of my thoughts recently had been looking back at me.
When I’d first told Coop that I would love to get together, I had thought I was lying, but now I felt it would be good to catch up with him because I did miss his friendship.
Me: Yeah, I’d like that too. Let me know where and I’ll meet you after I’m done with this party
I put my phone back in my pocket and returned to capturing Charlotte’s party. As I did, I enjoyed a few glasses of the winery’s sauvignon blanc, and another glass with the baked haddock. Needless to say, when the engagement party was over, I was feeling pretty good.
After ordering a rideshare, I said goodbye to the happy couple and then grabbed my coat and waited outside for the driver. Once he arrived, he took me to my house so I could drop off my camera, discard my tie, and then drove me to the bar in the city where Coop and his teammates were hanging out.
My slight buzz was already fading as I walked into the speakeasy-inspired eatery and made my way through the restaurant and into the hidden bar in the back. Coop spotted me immediately and flagged me over to a table he and four other guys were sitting at. I had to admit that hanging out with a group of men I assumed were all straight wasn’t something I did often. Getting chummy with pro athletes wasn’t the norm for me either. If I were still up to date on all their stats, I would certainly be in awe of these guys. Hell, I was in awe, given what I remembered from the game I just shot.
Coop stood and shook my hand. “Glad you could make it.”
“Me too.”
He turned and said, “Guys, this is my good friend, Hayden.” I shook each man’s hand as Coop continued. “I’m sure you know Butcher, Sexton, Orlov, and Nyström.”
“Of course,” I lied. Coop had no idea I no longer followed the game, but I was familiar with the names from watching them play the night before. “Got some good shots of your fight, Butcher.”
He balked. “Shots?”
“Hayden works forThe Hub,” Coop explained.
“You invited the press?” Orlov questioned in his Russian accent. There was a slight smile on his face, and I had to hope he was teasing.
“Not here for work, but I was promised there would be drinking,” I replied.
“Hell yeah,” Coop bellowed. “Let’s go to the bar.”
I followed him and immediately the bartender came over despite the number of people bellied up to the bartop. “What can I get you, Coop?” he asked.
“Another negroni and …” He looked at me.
“I’ll have the same. Thanks.” Even though I had consumed four glasses of wine over the course of a couple hours, I felt it was okay to have something stronger. I wasn’t driving after all.
“So, how have you been?” Coop squeezed my shoulder.
“Good, man. Working and teaching.”
His brow furrowed. “Teaching?”
I realized then he didn’t know because I had become a professor after Jonah passed away. “I teach photojournalism at Hawkins University.”
