“Well, you don’t see me packing a bag for Las Vegas, do you, Alexei? Or in talks for Rookie of the Year. Fuck, without you, I’d probably be in a hotel next to a Denny’s in fucking Iowa.”
I can feel the tears start to come and I have to stop. Icannotbe crying when I see Ethan on that plane. I look out the window, willing the tears down.
“Just…don’t. Ok?”
He puts a massive hand on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Ok, Jamie.”
We getto the airport before Ethan, for which I am eternally grateful. I walk to the back of the plane, finding Matty and Lindy arguing with Gagnon over a deck of cards.
“Um, hey guys. Can I grab a seat with you?”
Lindy looks confused, but is absolutely incapable of rudeness. He shoves his bag under the seat in front of him. He exchanges a look with the other two, Matthews finally the one to risk asking.
“Did, uh, you and Cap have a fight or something?”
Yeah, I knew this move would stir up some questions. I wish they weren’t quite so close to home. At least my sleepless tossing and turning gave me a chance to think. I lower my voice.
“Did you seeThe Neutral Zoneyesterday?”
I figure the best lie is one that’s uncomfortably close tothe truth.
Lindy nods.
“Yes! Park pictures. I didn’t even know Cap could smile!”
I love how kind he is. That absolute turd of an article and all he could think is how nice it is to see Ethan smile for a change.
Gagnon is not so pure of heart.
“This about that bullshit about him being your ‘friend’?”
It turns out scare quotes look really menacing coming from a 6’3” Quebecois enforcer.
Apparently, Matty also saw the article, a grimace forming on his face.
“Anyway, his agent thinks it would be best if we…aren’t. Friends, I mean.”
Again, their eyes meet.
“Look, I really don’t want to talk about it. What are we playing?”
With that, Gagnon starts to deal.
Throughout the flight,I see Ethan keep poking his head into the aisle, looking backward to where I’m sitting, as though this weren’t his own idea.
Alexei seems to have noticed, too, and has moved up front to watch video with him. A curl of jealousy flares inside me, and I try to put it out.
On the bus to the hotel, I sit with Lindy again. This time, Ethan isn’t just confused, he looks…angry? Holy mixed signals, Ethan.
At the hotel, we unload, getting an hour to ourselves before we pack back up for a short practice skate. As I open my duffel, I’m grateful for the room to myself. Just minutes later, I’m hanging up my game clothes as I hear a loud pounding on the door.
“Open up, Jamie, I know you’re in there.”
What thefuck?
I rush to the door, pulling him into the room before anyone canpoke their head out into the hallway. Just what we need —Captain Comes Calling at Rookie’s Room.
