Page 45 of Tricky Puck

“Why am I not surprise you’re here obscenely early,” I say to Sabe. He’s taken his role as Captain of the team seriously enough to change his entire lifestyle—so much so that almost overnight he’s started a fucking family to prove it.

As the rest of the guys file into the locker room, they give me shit. I respond as usual with either a grunt or my middle finger. When I finish lacing my skates, I head to the ice to impress coach. Sabien follows me.

Coach Spence stands at the gate with his eyes on his tablet. He nods as we jump onto the ice and skate, automatically racing to outdo each other.

Drills are brutal. My shirt is soaked through to my jersey and I feel like puking. My legs cramp as I step off the ice onto the rubber with only Sabe behind me as last man off the ice. I concede the honor only because he’s team captain.

Jason is shocked when I tell him I’m going back out there.

“What are you doing sitting there. Take your shower and let’s get going.”

“I’m not showering—not yet. I’m going back out on the ice, staying for shooting practice,”

“Shooting at an empty net? Are you sick?”

“I’m committed.”

“You should be committed.” He heads for the showers shaking his head.

I change out my jersey and under armor for dry ones and head back out to the ice, letting Dugan know to leave the lights on.

Halfway through my bucket of pucks, I spot Jason hanging around the boards fully dressed watching me.

“Coach has gone home. Who are you trying to impress now? I’m the only one left and I know where your skeletons are buried so it’s no use trying to impress me.” I skate by him and wink.

“No one in their right mind is here,” he shouts.

I flip him the finger, but with my gloves on the gesture is lost in translation. He laughs because he gets it.

“Call me when you’re finished torturing yourself.”

An hour later, I’m in the locker room dressing after a thorough shower when my phone pings. I’m prepared to tell Jason I’m on my way when I see it’s grandma. A ripple of nerves tenses me, and that’s fucking messed up because I should be smiling the way I always have when I hear from her.

“Grandma, what’s up?” I manage to sound happy, and as soon as I hear her voice, I relax.

“We’re coming up for a visit. How’s that for what’s up?” I can feel the joy bubbling from her and it’s contagious.

“That’s awesome. Who’s coming and when?”

“We’re all coming up for the matinee game on Saturday.”

“The day after tomorrow?” Shit. I’ll need to get Delaney here in a hurry.

“Yes. We can’t wait to meet your girl Delaney. The whole family is coming up, even Rose. I’m so excited, Lincoln. You have no idea how happy you’re making me. Can you get us tickets?”

I struggle to come up with a reply as guilt stings my rusty conscience to life. “Rose is coming? Doesn’t she have a game or something better to do at UNH?”

“She’s the most anxious of all to meet your new girlfriend. I think she’s worried about you. Besides, her season doesn’t start until November. You know that.”

“So that makes six tickets⁠—”

“Make it a dozen.”

“A dozen tickets?”

“Did I mention Delaney’s family is coming up too? Her Grandmother Bernadette and her four Uncles and one Aunt will be coming up.” She lowers her voice with all the enthusiasm gone and adds, “Her parents can’t make it because they’re working. Poor girl.”

My mind explodes. Fuck. My life is officially messed up—and my girlfriend isn’t even for real. Meanwhile I need to figure out how to pull this off because I’m not totally sure Delaney will come to the game even if I drive up north to pick her up. And then I’ll need her to stay over. Shit. She made it clear last time that our deal wouldn’t work if we continued to play in bed.