Page 99 of His Jersey

“I’ve had my eye on you for a long time. Glad you finally came to your senses.”

“Remy only just mentioned that you were willing to trade for me.”

“As I said, you came to your senses.” Badaszek skates toward the boards and exits.

I noodle around for a few more minutes before hitting the locker room, where at least half the team is in various stages of post-practice grooming.

Hudson and Liam debate whether the new pads are better than the old ones.

“Tie breaker, Bouchelle?” Hudson asks.

I sit down on the bench to remove my skates. “Who’s going to be more sore tomorrow?”

Liam raps me on the arm. “Good answer.”

“We’re going to grab some grub at the Fish Bowl. You in?”

I am hungry, but that gives me an idea. “Raincheck?”

“Oooh. Yeah. Every day we’re not playing at noon and six,” Hudson says.

“Don’t tell Nat,” Grady says, referring to the team nutritionist and the healthy meals we’re all supposed to consume. The Fish Bowl serves off-plan dishes with all the fried potato and corn products. Splaying his fingers, he starts to list them off.

We all laugh.

“So you guys don’t hit the club after games, huh?”

Hudson snorts. “No, Coach demands too much of us. That gets old fast.”

“I’d like to see him get on the ice at oh-seven hundred hours after a red eye.”

“He should get out there more often,” Liam adds. “I’ve only heard stories of him passing the puck. Legendary stories, but still, it’s a rare sight to see Badaszek in skates.”

I thumb over my shoulder, about to tell him we just scrimmaged together but stay on track. “So, no wild parties?” I ask just to be sure.

“If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re on the wrong team,” Hudson says.

I wave my hands. “No, no. I’m relieved, actually.”

“The rowdiest we get is board game night.”

“Barbecues.”

“Movies on the projector screen.”

“We do volunteer work in the community.”

“Oh, but we do play darts at the Fish Bowl from time to time.”

“Yeah, this guy is lethal. Wear eye protection,” Hayden jokes.

Pierre chuckles. “There’s also the ugly Christmas sweater.”

“Pranks,” Ted adds.

“Popcorn.” Liam chuckles as if that has a secondary meaning.

A warm feeling spreads through me. Yeah. I’m definitely on the right team. I’m sure from time to time, the locker room banter gets PG-13 plus, but these guys are here for the brotherhood and the love of the game. Me too.

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