Page 82 of Trick Play

Haley stuck out her tongue.

“Oh.” There was a long pause, and I prepped myself for her rejection. “Okay, yeah. Let me know where and when.”

I held the phone away. “What’s the plan?”

Haley and Reid shared a look then shrugged. So helpful.

“Pizza in an hour?” I suggested.

“That works for me. I’ll head up in a few,” Kennedy replied.

“Great, see you soon.”

I hung up, and Haley eyed me. “You didn’t tell her about the Pittsburgh scout.”

“No, I didn’t.”

She crossed her arms. “Why not?”

“I want to tell her in person. I want to see her reaction.”

“Fine.” She pointed toward the closets. “You guys need to change so we can go.”

I looked down at my sweats and agreed, grateful for the distraction. She and I both knew there was more behind my reason for holding back. Nothing in life was guaranteed, but even more so in the NHL. Even if Pittsburgh was interested and picked me up in the draft, I could end up getting traded before ever stepping foot in their training center. I could end up at their farm team in Scranton for the next two or three or more years.

Was there a point in telling Kenny when so much was unknown? I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but how would she take it? Would she be excited it was even a possibility, or would she think I was following her?

No, she understood how little control I had.

I could get on my knees and beg the scout to choose me, and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference. At the end of the day, nothing was personal. They cared about what would be best for the team. What would bring in fans and money? What would help them get another championship?

All I could do was play my very best and hope it was what they were looking for. They might not even need a left-wing on their roster for years. I didn’t let myself dig too deeply into any of the teams since sophomore year. I kept up with the league and top players, but I used to spend hours analyzing what teams would be looking for my position by the time my year came up. It was too much. Wasted time and mental games. At the end of the day, there was no way to know what their plans were.

“You ready?” Reid called from the bedroom.

I buttoned up the shirt Haley had tossed at me and made sure my pants weren’t too wrinkled before I stepped out.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“Only good news tonight!” Haley commanded when we met Hunter and Benjamin in the hall. She pointed at each of them, trying to intimidate them, but Hunter laughed and stepped around her.

Benjamin ruffled her hair, and she growled deep in her throat. “Sure, little one.”

I chuckled and held her back so she didn’t attack. They all knew exactly how to press her buttons. An entire team of older brothers. I was grateful, not only for my friends, but for the others on the team that I knew would watch out for her when we were gone.

I didn’t like thinking about that. We only had one more semester together. Me and Haley. Me and the guys.

None of that tonight.

Good news only.

Chapter 27

Kennedy

Walking up to the table with Ethan’s teammates watching me was more than a little uncomfortable. I knew who Hunter and Benjamin were, but I’d never actually met them. Did they know about our past?

Who was I kidding? Of course they did.