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We lost the game. No surprise there.
Not only did we get our asses handed to us by Arkansas, we also had the fun of Coach doing the same. He was not happy with our efforts, but then, I don’t think any of us is. It was a shit game, and we need to put it behind us. That’s what I said when I left, but no one was listening to me. Our normal party night had been canceled. We have to come in for a morning skate at the ass-crack of dawn. I’m pretty sure after that ass-chewing, none of us would dare come in hungover.
Tucking my hands in the pockets my hoodie, I head out of the locker room, but before I can get anywhere, Moon is calling me back. “Justice.”
I stop, and he catches up with me, a misplaced grin on his face. We just had our asses whupped; why is he grinning like that? “What’s up?”
He smacks my chest. “Dude, I got a meeting with the South Carolina IceCats. Coach just told me. Can you believe that?”
My heart drops. He has a meeting? I haven’t had shit. What the fuck? But I mask all that for my buddy. I slap hands with him. “Dude, that’s badass.”
“Right? Hopefully I can sign with them.”
“For sure. That would be awesome.”
He nods. “Yeah, I gotta go tell my parents. Coach is taking us out for a late dinner.”
Before I can comment, he runs off. I’m happy for him. He’s my buddy, but what the fuck? Coach has been on me like white on rice lately, and I want to believe it’s because he is trying to make me the player I want to be, but it doesn’t seem like that. I feel as if he’s treating me like someone he just has to deal with. Meanwhile, he’s taking Moon out and getting him meetings. What about me? What about my career? Dread fills my gut as I head out into the foyer. I want to believe that I’m good, that I’m going into the NHL like I want, but why does it feel off?
When a pair of arms comes around me from behind, the grin on my face is quick and effortless. I cover Sofia’s hands with mine and exhale hard as she squeezes me tightly. “Man, I need this hug.”
She presses her lips to my back before coming around to hug me. I wrap my arms around her, hugging her back tightly and holding her like she’s what is keeping me afloat. I nuzzle my nose in her hair, inhaling before she looks up at me, a grin turning up her sweet lips. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Tough game?”
“Awful game.”
Her bottom lip pops out. “I’m sorry.”
“Eh,” I say before kissing her temple once more. “I’m better now.”
Sofia searches my features, and I expect her to pry, but she goes up on her tippy-toes, kissing my jaw. “I thought you were amazing. Even Amelia said that goal was badass.”
I smile. “It was all luck.”
“Hey, a goal is a goal.”
“Amelia say that?”
She beams and winks. “Yup, I’m learning the lingo.”
I chuckle as I squeeze her tightly in my arms. “Where is my sister?”
Her lips turn down a bit. “She had something to do.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” she says, but then she is grinning at me. I feel like she’s trying to distract me. She succeeds, of course. “Let’s get out of here.”
I let out an annoyed groan. “I’ve got a stupid early practice. I can’t be out late.”
“Okay,” she says softly, cuddling into my side. “I have an idea.”
“What?” I ask, chuckling a bit, but she’s already moving, pulling my hand as she heads out the door. “Where we going?”
“Surprise.”
I scrunch up my face. “I don’t like surprises.”
She flashes me a bright grin. “Oh, too bad I don’t care.”
She pulls me as her eyes burn into mine, and all I can do is laugh.
Funny how she can make me forget about everything but her.
It’s pretty fucking great.
