Page 18 of Your Kiss Is On My List

“Of course I do. My family is here and then some friends are going to Wildbeast Pizza. Aren’t you going?” I don’t wait for an answer. Standing, I say to the room, “All hands on deck at Wildbeast Pizza. First beer’s on me.” The cheers and whistles are predictable but Nate looks at me like I’ve had a lobotomy. Maybe I have. “What?”

“I thought this was the year to keep things quiet and focused strictly on hockey? Your words, not mine.” He scoffs like he’d never utter those words himself, and he wouldn’t. He’s the wildest of the Wildbeasts.

“I am thinking of hockey. It’s good for team morale. No classes and no skating in the morning. This is one of the few times we can afford to let loose a little.”

“And most of the students aren’t around—what fun is that? No ladies to impress.”

“You can live another night without flirting.”

“Says the guy who has a lady all wrapped up.” I give him a look and I’m not sure what to say. This is my chance to come clean. But I hesitate long enough to let the moment pass.

“That shut you up fast,” he says, returning his attention to the removal of his pads. I’m finished undressing and reach in my locker to grab my shirt, still uneasy about lying to Nate. It doesn’t bother me so much with anyone else. I slip my shirt on and then my boots. Without bothering to lace them, I shoulder my small duffel.

“I’ll see you outside,” I say to Nate.

“I’ll be spending time in the ice bath. I’ll catch up with you, though. Good luck with Coach.”

When I get to the press room, an SPU TV camera is waiting and I breathe a sigh of relief it’s not Summer who will be interviewing me. She works for the school’s station but last I heard she’s moved on to covering the school president’s office. They sent some guy I don’t know, who says his name is Craig Jaworski.

The interview is short and boring because I’ve been warned by Coach to keep it that way if I want to stay on the team. Nate’s the only one who gets away with cracking jokes or going off script even a little. Maybe because he’s the only one of us not replaceable. In fact, I predict he’s going to be in the NHL Hall of Fame someday, that’s how fucking good he is.

“Thanks, Trey. Great goal and better left hook,” Craig says, lowering his mic. The camera is still pointed at us, but the interview is over.

“It was a right hook,” I say and wink. “Next time I’ll unleash my left.” Craig laughs and then waves a hand at the camera. He reaches out to shake my hand and I fist bump him.

Not ready because I’ll never be, I head for Coach’s office—a small room next to the training room. Taking in a deep breath, I knock on the door and step inside.

“Took your time getting here,” Coach says before I finish closing the door behind me. “I don’t have all night to wait for you.” He looks me up and down. “Sit. Whatever you have planned next can wait. You’re going to finish your fighting penalty right here in my office. With some bonus time.”

“Yes, sir.” I keep my eyes on his. No flinching. No complaining. No excuses.

“You know what you did was fucking stupid, right? You let the defensemen take care of Nate.” Nate is the only guy on the team Coach calls by his first name and that’s a very strange factoid to be fixated on right now as I nod in agreement.

“Yes, sir.”

“So what’s your problem? Something going on?” Shock doesn’t begin to describe my reaction to his words and I stumble coming up with a response.

“I… no. Why would there be?” The first thing that comes to mind is Danielle Innocent and our fake relationship. But she has nothing to do with hockey. I can’t blame a foolish lapse in self-control on her.

“Because you’re usually cool under pressure and today you weren’t. Something’s off and if you don’t know what it is, you’d better figure it out fast. Clear?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Go.” He chews his lip for a few beats, watching me as I stand, making me hesitate. “And stay out of trouble.”

When I leave, I check the training room, but Nate’s already gone. He’ll end up getting to WBP ahead of me. I check my phone and see a message from my mom telling me they had to get going but they’ll see me at the next game in Boston in a few days. Hurrying, I push out the door to the hallway near the exit where I know my friends—and Dani—will be waiting. Quashing down the rush, I scoff at myself to fucking chill. She’s a friend underneath the pretense and underneath all my horny desire. She’s more precious than a quick lay, that’s for sure. Or even a long slow one…

Through the boisterous crowd of people in the hall, most of them moving to the exit, I spot her. She’s like a bright beacon wearing a knit hat with a hot pink pompom, appearing even taller because she stands so straight, her eyes searching until they lock onto mine.

Her lips curve up and I feel the answering smile before I think about it. She’s with Lou, Dooley, Heather, Shelby, and Emily. I move past people who pat my back, congratulate me, and high-five me. One man, a teammate’s dad, tells me, “Great right hook,” echoing what the reporter said. I laugh and exchange fist bumps without losing a step until I finally get to where I’m going—straight to Dani. Probably straight to hell while I’m at it.

“Baby,” she says, straight-faced.

“Doll.” I keep my mouth from quirking up but the mirth bounces from my soul and my heart jumps around. It’s way too good to see her standing here waiting for me.

“You are so weird,” Lou says, eying us both.

“I think it’s adorable,” Heather says. Emily fake gags and Dools wears his usual Cheshire cat grin. Then Lou looks past us and her eyes widen. She says under her breath, “Why’s Summer headed straight for us?” I turn in the direction she’s looking and see Summer Philbin coming our way.