Page 5 of Bitter Pucking Rivals

“But just for the fun of it,” Coach Edmund says, anticipation building with every word, “your coaches and I have also agreed to do these matches with randomized team members.”

A wave of shocked responses wash throughout the crowd of hockey players, and slowly, a tumultuous racket starts building up when it becomes clear that a fair amount of the guys are against the idea. Coach Edmund can only chuckle into the microphone, but the rest of the coaches stand up from their seats to send stern warnings to their respective teams, effectively shutting up the loud jeers and protests.

I’m kind of fired up myself, my emotions torn between excitement and dread. But the latter emotion isn’t exactly productive, given that it’s clear that we’ll have to participate in these team shake ups whether we like it or not. Resigned, I sigh and close my eyes.Let the games begin.

CHAPTER SIX

4:09 pm

HAYDEN

After the welcomingceremony is concluded, we’re escorted to an adjacent building. A thick glass door separates us from whatever’s on the other side of the door, and once said door is open, thewhooshof cold air confirms that we’re headed straight into the frosty clutches of an ice rink.

But there’s more than one rink here. As we file deeper into the building, it comes clear that there are four rinks in this massive building. My jaw drops as I process just how big the footprint of this building is.

“This place didn’t look so big from the outside,” Declan says under his breath. I nod my head in agreement. I’ve seen two-rink arenas before, but four? I guess people around here take hockey very seriously.

The staff escorts us to the stands and I admit it’s weird to be on this side of the rink. Meanwhile, the coaches head to a small stage that’s lodged between the nearest two rinks. This time, it’s Coach Montgomery—head coach of the Wildwood Wolverines—who’s on the mic.

“Alright, boys, when I say your name, I want you to come down and line up in front of us,” Coach Montgomery instructs as he explains that he’s about to start announcing the roster for the first team. We’re not left with any time to talk amongst ourselves and prepare to be split up, which noticeably rattles Julian.

Quickly, he gestures for us to huddle up. “Okay, boys, just make sure you play fair and please don’t tarnish Somerset’s reputation,” Julian says as succinctly as he can, but he’s only really looking at one person while he makes his plea.

“Is there a reason you’re staring at only me, Julian?” Dom questions, trying to feign innocence. Unfortunately, the mischievous grin he’s failing to hide isn’t doing him any favors. Julian only shoots him one stern look, but it immediately destroys Dom’s little act. “Alright, alright. Sheesh. I’ll make sure to behave,Dad.”

A couple of us laugh at this new thing forming where we call the captain our dad, and it’s honestly both on-point and amusing at the same time. Julian doesn’t seem too bothered by it—as long as we behave otherwise.

“First team, here we go,” Coach Montgomery says. It’s clear that he’s taking pleasure in this chaotic first exercise. He begins reading off the paper in his hand. “Miles Cooper, Brooklyn Bates…”

Miles looks at us rather nonchalantly. For being the youngest member of our team, he sure has found his footing rather quickly. “See you guys at dinner time, I guess?” He waves goodbye as he stands up and rushes to line up in front of the coaches.

Brooklyn Bates, however, is taking his sweet time going from the Wildwood Wolverines’ area to the line forming near the stage. The dude creeps me out, if I’m being honest. He always has this severely disinterested and disconnected look in his eyes, but every time he’s in the rink, he’s a freaking beast. It’s like he bottles up all of his energy, and the only place he lets anything out is on the ice. Coach Montgomery continues to call names for the first team, the roster a mix of guys from each college.

Next comes the second team. “Ansel Adams, Logan Valdez…” Coach Montgomery noticeably winces when he mentions the latter’s name. “Julian Myers…”

Ah, damn it,I think. I wanted to be in Julian’s team. Not to mention Ansel is not on my team, either. My heart sinks to my stomach as I realize things aren’t looking too good for me. See, forming a hockey team involves ample consideration regarding player chemistry. There’s nothing more comforting than playing a game and knowing the people on your team understand how you think and will always back you up. In my case, I’m not very vocal, but Julian and Ansel are the ones who have the best understanding of how I play on the ice, and now I’m not on their team.Great. I can only hope that I’ll have some of my teammates on whatever team I end up on. The initial two teams already reaped like three of our guys, and there’s still six more teams to be formed.

Coach Montgomery continues listing off the remaining teams. My pulse races increasingly quicker as the Somerset roster thins out. Dom and Jared get sent to the third team, while Evan, Cato, and Gabe get assigned to the fourth team. Nathan gets teamed up with Marcus Little from Wildwood over at the fifth team. And that leaves the sixth and final team for the night, which I’m defaulted to since my name hasn’t been called. For fuck’s sake, this is like high school all over again.

“Guess they’re not splitting us up, huh?” Declan says. He tries to play it cool, but I know for a fact that he’s relieved as hell to be teamed with a familiar face. I feel the same, but I’m playing it much cooler than he is. That is, until I realize?—

Coach Montgomery clears his throat after taking a sip of water. He did just list off a lot of names, so I can get why he’s parched. “Would the remaining players please line up? Don’t make me call your names one by one because I’m not going to,” he says, an expectant look on his face.

I let out a huff, not really wanting to look over at the Wolverine’s side. “Come on, let’s go before we get shouted at,” I say to Declan after a moment. I stand up and drag my feet to line up in front of the coaches. Declan stands on my left, while the person who lines up to my right is none other than that bothersome Theo Sanders. Even out the corner of my eye, I can see the tiny smirk on his face. But wait! There’s more! Joining us on this absolutelyfabulousfinal team is the intense and mouthy team captain of the Wolverines, Xavier Bishop.

While some of these Wolverines aren’t exactly my favorite guys, there’s no denying that our team is fairly stacked. So if I have to play with the enemy, I might as well be paired with some of the best, right?

CHAPTER SEVEN

4:45 pm

HAYDEN

I’min the locker room with my brand new team when the thoughts from earlier resurface. It’s strange, my sudden, inescapable, intrusive thoughts. I’ve been in the boys’ locker room a million times before, and I’ve never been even the slightest bit embarrassed until now. It’s an irritating sensation, being frustrated with myself. But I have to shake the frustration before I get out on the ice. There’s simply no other option.

And let me make this clear: I’m notcompletelyoblivious. Moving away and studying at Somerset has opened my eyes. I’ve broadened my horizons and adopted a more cosmopolitan worldview. So it’s not lost on me that these… thesefeelings… they could be the result of years of repression. Mindless repression, maybe. But repression nevertheless.

Yet there’s a part of me that thinks I’m overthinking. Reading into things. Spiraling about thewhat if. All I can think about right now is:How will I know? How do I find out? Where is my answer?It’s an endless loop of rhetorical questions meant for me and me alone.

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