Page 44 of One Shot

Knowing that not only is she impressed with me, but that her brother would be too sends a chill down my spine.

“Thank you,” I reply. “I must have a good luck charm or something.”

I wink at her.

We head down the hall and out of the arena as everyone leaves to go home for the night. I’m on cloud nine from the win. The only thing that could make this night better is walking out of here hand in hand with Laur.

“See you tomorrow,” Laur calls. “Oh! We have over one hundred pre-orders for the special edition gold jersey that Nick designed already!!! Isn’t that amazing?!”

“Wow, congrats! Way to bury the lead and wait to tell me. It must have something to do with the Wyverns’ good luck charm we have this year,” I say back to her with a sly grin.

She rolls her eyes and links her arm with Bren’s as they leave me standing, watching them leave.

On my walk over to the arena the next day, I find Laur by a tree. My heart leaps into my throat. Her hands are covering her face and she’s in tears. Rage starts to pulse through me ready to tear about whoever hurt her.

I approach her, and she looks up at me. Her ocean eyes are puffy, red, and swollen, like she has been crying for hours.

“I’m sorry,” she garbles between sobs.

“Why are you sorry? What’s wrong, Lauren?”

“I don’t know why I said that.”

She puts her face in her hands again while her shoulders continue to shake with sobs. Sitting down next to her, confused, I put my arm around her shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Lauren?” I ask again.

With her hands still covering her face, she confesses to me how she was doing so well with being around the Wyverns and notfocusing on how Nick isn’t here, but she broke down last night and again this morning.

“I don’t know how you didn’t break down sooner, Laur. I can’t imagine how you feel and how much it hurts. But I can tell you this: you are doing an amazing job. I was blown away by how professional you were interviewing me yesterday. I felt like I was being interviewed by a famous reporter.”

“Really?”

Her shoulders stop shaking as she takes her face out of her hands. She looks up at me, tears still falling. Each tear that falls is like an ice pick to my heart.

“Yes. And look at all the pre-sales you’ve helped to get for the calendar and for the special edition jersey. That jersey was all our idea. You’re honoring him every single game by just showing up and soon people will be able to honor him even more by wearing his design.”

“You’re right. That will be special.”

“You have to let yourself hurt sometimes, though. It’s the only way to get through it.”

She nods, tears starting to clear from her eyes. My hands run down her back soothingly as she leans into me.

“Thank you, Lucas.”

“Anytime. Really. I know you have Bren and Liam, but I can be here for you too.”

She smiles sheepishly and whispers, “Thanks.”

Standing up, I offer her a hand to pull her to her feet. I pull her into a hug. She embraces me like she never wants to let go before stepping back and sighing in relief. Warmth spreads through my body, knowing I can comfort her. We walk together in silence towards the arena for the second game.

Despite number 72’s attempts to start fights and play dirty, we easily win.

The team is expecting to celebrate tonight. My body and mind ache with exhaustion but as captain, I have to show my face. We’ve fought hard the last two games, but we have a long way to go.

The weight of responsibility sets in. I need to ask Laur about Nick’s notebook and be up at a decent hour tomorrow to get in a run or workout before cranking out a paper I’ve been putting off. School still happens even when the season’s busy.

Bren and Laur are waiting outside the locker room again. Seeing her eyes bright with exhilaration from the win lifts my spirts. She’s gorgeous with her hair curled, up in a ponytail, and decked out in Wyverns gear.

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