Page 56 of The Closed Off Captain

The last two minutes of the game are so intense, I can’t look away. Northern Michigan gets the puck and sends it sailing to their center who gets it and shoots. Our goalie saves it, and the other defenseman gets it out of there. But Northern Michigan takes control of it again. The puck goes behind the net, and it’s a fight at the boards to get control of it. Greyson gets slammed into the boards, and I groan out loud, feeling his pain. We get control of it, but don’t get past the center. They take control of it again and it’s two of them versus our goalie. I want to close my eyes, but I don’t want to miss it. It’s a battle to keep it out of our net, but our goalie does and gets it out of there. The other defenseman takes it behind the net and sends it to the boards where the left winger is. I glance at the clock. Forty-seven seconds. I squeeze my hands together under my chin and keep my eyes glued to the ice. Our center gets it at the net and battles with the goalie, but their goalie gets it out of there. Our right winger is there and takes it behind the net and circles around and shoots it in the side.Score! I join the screaming fans as thebuzzer scores. I turn to Gunner and throw my arms around him, still jumping up and down. I turn back to the ice and grin from ear to ear as I watch Greyson’s team celebrate.

I feel a hand on my back. “Let’s get out of here before it gets crazy.” I nod and step out into the aisle. I let him go first because he’ll be able to make it through this crowd easier than I. He puts out his hand behind him, and I don’t hesitate to put my hand in his. I’m not stupid; I don’t want to get lost in this crowd. He jogs up the steps, and I do the same. I’ve done it enough times to not let my heels bother me. He doesn’t slow his progress when we get to the top, even though we’re joined by fans on all sides. He keeps us moving, and I hang on for dear life. Gunner keeps a solid hold on my hand, even once we get outside as we weave in and out of college students. We finally make it to his truck.

“Thanks for getting us out of there,” I say as he opens my door for me. “That was a such a good game; your brother played so well.”

He gives me a soft smile. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” That soft smile stays with me as I climb in, and he closes the door. I have to shake myself out of the stupor he put me in with that smile. Gunner never smiles. And like that? That soft smile? Never.

Desperate to feel normal, I ask, “Is your brother riding with us?”

“He’ll drive his car and meet us at home.”

“He lives with your mom?” I ask.

“No, but he’s going to stay there tonight while we’re there. He lives on campus.”

“Got it. Does your mom live far from here?”

“About an hour and a half.”

“Oh, wow. It makes sense that your brother stays on campus then.” I pepper him with questions on the way to his mom’s house for a while and relive the game. He’s mostly quiet, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m used to that from him. I quiet afterthe first thirty minutes, and the rest of the ride is mostly quiet. The music plays softly from the radio, and I find it hard to stay awake. I see signs for Rockford, and he pulls off one of the exits. After a series of turns, he pulls onto a well-lit street and pulls into a driveway of a modest home. I glance at the clock and see that it’s almost eleven. I yawn and cover it with my hand. “Will your mom still be up?”

“Yeah. She’ll want to meet you.”

“Oh.” And just like that, it all returns to me. She’ll be expecting her son’s fiancé. “I still don’t understand why you didn’t just tell your family the truth about us.” Gunner grabs our bags and shoos me away when I try to grab mine. “I think we should just tell her the truth; she’s going to figure it out in like thirty seconds of being here.”

“Figure what out?” he asks with a glance towards me. He stops next to me, and I take him in for a moment. He looks so much like the professional athlete that he is with his ball cap on, several bags on his shoulder not even bothering him, and his black athletic pants and t-shirt that’s tight around his biceps. I turn and face the door. “There’s no way we’re going to pull this off.” He puts a hand around my back and almost pushes me towards the door.

“Don’t back out on me now, Leissman,” he says in his low voice.

I spin towards him. “Why do we have to pretend? Just tell her the truth.”

“Because my mom’s good friends with Jenny’s mom, and I don’t trust her not to tell her that we’re not the real deal.”

The door opens before I can say anything. “Gunner.” Gunner drops his arm from my back and steps forward to hug the short woman. With his words ringing in my head, I can’t focus on anything else. When they pull apart, and Gunner’s mom turns to me, I just stare.

“Hi, Chloe.”

Gunner puts a hand on my back, and that contact snaps me back to reality. I force a smile to my face. “Mrs. Coftman, it’s so nice to see you again.”

"You too, Dear.” She reaches out and pulls me into her arms, much stronger than I would think of a woman of her stature. “Come in, you two. You must be exhausted.”

Gunner lets me go first. “Wasn’t that such an amazing game?” Mrs. Coftman says as we walk further into her home.

Gunner nods, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “Yes, it was.” One of us has to talk while we’re here. “Greyson had a great game.”

“Didn’t he?” Pride shines from her eyes.

“You must be so proud of your boys. What did you feed those two when they were growing up?” I ask.

She laughs. “Mostly peanut butter and jelly.”

I smile. “Well, it must have worked.” I follow her into the living room.

“Gunner, drop your bags off in the master bedroom.”

I frown at her. “Is that your room?”

She waves me off. “Yes, but I want you to have a nice room while you’re here. Besides, it’s the only one with a private bathroom.”

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