Page 45 of Josh’s Play

He heaved a sigh, and I let him collect himself, a few more tears hitting my skin before he let out one more sobbing sigh and lifted his head. He was looking right at me, and all I could do was look back, much as I wanted to scan the hallway one more time.

“Hi.” He smiled.

“Hey. Good game.” I smiled back.

“Thanks.” We just looked at each other for a few beats before we both started laughing, all of the excitement and energy of the evening manifesting in our shared joy.

“You have a party to get to. I’m pretty sure it’s in your honor.” I thought about Diane, practically insisting I be there. “Tell me about the meeting on the way there?”

Cam looked up and down the hallway, then he kissed me quickly, scooped up his jacket, and bounded back up before saying, “Okay.”

On the way to the group house, I heard about Campbell’s meeting with Denny Maltby of the Buffalo Blizzard.

“He kept everything very close to the vest, but he praised tonight’s game. So did the scout and Coach Weadner. Mr. Maltby said he would schedule another meeting with me. Suggested I bring my parents.”

“Oh my God, Cam, that’s amazing.” Cam had grasped my hand after holding the door open for me in that way of his, and I hadn’t even realized we were still holding hands until we got closer to Cam’s house and could hear the noise of the party up ahead. I let go, and Cam looked down as if he was surprised too.

We kept walking and spoke at the same time.

“You’re coming in, right?”

“Do you want me to stay?”

We turned to each other and laughed again, and much as we could see people milling about in front of Cam’s house, it felt like we were back in that isolated hallway, the only two people in the world.

“Okay, yeah, I’ll come in.” We continued moving forward. “Diane was giving me death stares earlier. Said I had to come.”

I was shocked by how casually Cam said, “Yeah, Noah said she suspects that I like you.”

I stopped in my tracks. “What? Cam! Are you worried about that? Maybe I should go home.”

“Huh? No, it’s okay. She can speculate if she wants. And Noah seemed cool with it. They both did, actually, which is really cool. I’m not worried.”

“You’re not?”

He leaned in close, his eyes infused with energy. “Tonight, babe, I’m not worried about anything!”

I stayed where we had stopped, but Campbell didn’t, and I watched his confident, bouncing swagger as he turned from me and walked closer to his house. Excitement vibrated off him. I’d loved being in the orbit of his energy from that first plowing hug, but I kept my distance as we entered the house, afraid that other people would notice how much I liked it, and more importantly, how much he seemed to too.

The door opened, and it was like a scene from a high school movie, everyone cheering and shouting at Cam in drunken unison. The party enveloped him. A drink was shoved in his hand but not the same red plastic cup that everyone else was holding. His was an oddly shaped beer stein emblazoned with hockey sticks. He took a big sip and smiled that smile that made me want to swoon.

His teammates crowded around him, and someone lowered the music. As I stepped into the living room, Diane appeared at my side.

My phone buzzed, and I replied to a text from Devon, asking if I wanted to meet the gang at The Valley, letting him know I was up to my own fun. On nights where we both might hook up, the very mature rule was that the first one back to the room got to use it. He reminded me of that, and I laughed, looking up to find Diane watching me.

“What?”

“Who’s that?”

“My roommate. Why?”

“No reason. Carry on.”

Diane ignored the funny look I gave her, and my attention was soon transferred to the group of players surrounding Campbell. He caught my eye and smiled as Ethan spoke up.

“Shut the fuck up, everyone!”

Noah followed up with a roaring, “Quiet!”