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Arden, standing on my right, pulls his practice jersey up over his head. He then discards his black tech undershirt.
Bare-chested and with his jet-black hair sticking up in all kinds of crazy angles, he sits down on the bench next to me and says, “You looked really solid out there, Hayden.”
“Yeah,” Nils, seated on the other side of me, chimes in. “If the rest of training camp goes this well with the three of us paired up, I think we know where you’ll be starting the first game of the season.”
Yeah, top line at center, just as I planned.
I don’t articulate that out loud.
Instead, blowing out a breath, I say, “I sure hope so. We do have good chemistry, that’s for sure. It’s like we’ve been playing together for a while.”
“For sure,” the guys agree.
Arden then asks me if I’d like to go to lunch with them after we’re showered and dressed.
I’m all in, as getting to know these guys can only serve to make us a stronger unit on the ice.
But it’s not just that. There’s a bigger reason than simple hockey goals.
The truth is I could use a couple friends. I was too much of a loner in Chicago, and look how that turned out.
I guess I’m turning over a new leaf.
I just want my time in Atlanta to be different…in a lot of ways.
An hour or so later, Arden, Nils, and I are seated on the back patio of a casual restaurant. It’s good that the vibe is laid-back since we’re all in jeans and tees.
Lunch has gone great so far.
I’m glad I accepted the invitation to join these two. The big steak salads we’re eating are tasty, and conversation is flowing nicely. It’s been mostly all hockey talk, rehashing our awesome scrimmage and discussing plays.
I like these guys.
They’re cool.
Arden is definitely the more outgoing of the two. Don’t get me wrong. Nils is personable and all, but more chill.
In any case, I feel like all three of us are getting along beautifully. I hope we stay paired up on the top line.
A small breeze kicks up, and a strand of Nils’s longish blond hair blows across his cheek.
Brushing it away, he leans back in his chair and asks, “So, Hayden, where are you staying for now? Did the team put you up in one of those extended-stay hotels? I know that’s fairly standard procedure.”
I shake my head. “Actually, no, I’m not in a hotel.” I take a small bite of steak from my salad, and then lower my fork. After I swallow, I say, “When my agent told me the Thunder were interested in me, I got online and checked out some house rentals. There was one I really liked, fully furnished, and not too big or too small. Anyway, I put a deposit down on it the minute the trade went through. So, yeah, that’s where I’m at for at least the next six months. If things go well here, I’ll look into buying something then.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Nils nods approvingly. “Where’s this house located?”
“Up in Woodstock,” I reply.
“I’m not far from there.”
Jumping into the conversation, Arden says, “Yeah, you’re both in a good location. You don’t have too far of a drive to get to the arena. I bought property way up north and had a house built on a big-ass piece of wooded land. I love being out in the middle of nowhere, but the commute sucks sometimes. Still, all things considered, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
I reply truthfully, “I don’t mind driving. I think I’d prefer something more secluded as well. But that’s a thought for down the road.”
“Yeah.” Arden nods. “Just concentrate on the present for now. You have enough new crap going on.”
I can’t argue with that.
