Page 30 of Lucky Sucker

Checking my phone, there was a text from Luke on there, telling me the team were in training. Most training sessions were closed to keep the team on track, and I didn’t want to be a distraction, but I also had nothing else to do this afternoon.

It took me twenty minutes to walk across campus with my heavy bag of books. And another great debate happened, the one about bicycles or no bicycles. And by the time I’d debated both sides, I was at the player entrance into the rink, which was open for players and staff only.

Usually, I’d have debated with a knot in my stomach but I was the team reporter, it was like having an all-access pass.

The head coach, Mike caught me almost immediately. “I wanted to speak to you,” he said.

“Me?” My voice meek in the hallway.

“Yes,” he said, smiling. “Don’t worry, just wanted to make sure you were ok.”

I walked closer. “I’m fine. I’m still a bit on edge from everything, but yeah, I’m good.”

“Good,” he said. “I didn’t want Luke strongarming you into whatever plan he’d cooked up.”

It seemed like everyone knew this was fake, or assumed it was fake, and they were right, this was a fake relationship. I wondered if he’d done it before. “He’s really sweet,” I said.

“He is, the boy know how to get what he wants, which is why I wanted to make sure you were ok,” he said. “I don’t want that horde of women who usually hold their signs up at the games to get to you.”

Flashes of memories came to me of those women he was talking about. Their signs with ‘Go Lucky’ or ‘Marry Me, Lucky’ in block letters were usually pressed to the glass, and sometimes with a breast or two before they were warned back into their seats. I smiled at those memories. “I think I’ll be able to dodge them if they do come for me,” I said.

“Well, the defense coach is out there if you’d like some dodging tips,” he said.

“I came to make some notes. I’m not going to tell on your strategy, but I want to report on how they do pre-season. I want to get people excited for their games despite what people think of Luke right now.”

Coach nodded. “Then let’s go and see just what the team think of him. There’s a lot you can learn about players with how they train.”

Their training session was chaos, the rink sectioned into halves with a smaller section for the goaltenders. Each set shouting at each other. My shoulder would’ve hugged my ears if they could from the noise alone. They were all dressed in comfortable sweats with colorful scrimmage vests on with their numbers. It was always fun to see them not in their full athletic gear, but my eyes were strictly on Luke, and the way he moved. I was transfixed.

“What type of training is this for?” I asked.

“Puck handling,” he said. “It’s important they can get control of it. And it’s one of the pieces of data I use to help put together the starting team for events.”

Luke skated by so fast, it looked like compressed air pushed his sweatpants against his thighs and revealed a rather impressive bulge. I shied my face away but my eye were shocked and tried to catch another glimpse of it. It was naughty behavior, perverted to be looking at his bulge in the gray sweatpants, but how could I look away when it had made itself known?

“Did he tell you about the other day when we were on the ice and I fell?” I asked. Thinking back on it, the moment had been cute, and could’ve helped solidify the fact we were in some sort of relationship.

“I saw,” he said. “There’s cameras all over this place. I’m still a little wary of his intention with you.”

“You care a lot about the team.”

“I’ve got to. And you kind of remind me of my son,” he said. “Although he’s all the way in Arizona on another team, apparently, he didn’t want to come here. He’s quiet, he’s a little on the sensitive side, and he has a lucky teddy that he takes everywhere.”

How did he know I had Bloo in my bag? Lucky guess, I suppose. “It’s a good luck charm,” I half-lied to him.

“Yeah, well, I’ve always been a big believer in making your own luck, and Luke is that luck on this team,” he said. “I’m glad the issue was resolved with him, but I really meant it, don’t let him play you. I know how these guys can be.”

One of the coaches blew a whistle, signaling a break. Someone from the side was already handing out sports drinks to the players.

Luke came right over to us. His face all blotchy and red from physical exertion. He stopped himself with a show of force, cutting the ice up into a powder, nearly spraying us over the barrier. “Hey Coach, hey Wren,” he said. “How long have you been watching?”

“Five minutes,” Coach said. “I’m just making sure you’re keeping the players in check. Remember, lead by example, Lucky. Especially the freshmen. Make sure they’re included.” He gestured with a nod to the two players seeming to straggle behind the rest of the group getting drinks.

“Will do, Coach,” he said. “I’ll be back in a second.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t be here,” I said as Luke vanished off in a dash on the ice. “I’m just gonna be a distraction at this point.”

Coach patted me on the back. “Normally, I’d agree, but these kids need to see him interact with you,” he said. “I’m not sure how they’ve taken the situation, but as long as the two of you are actually together, it’s a good thing.”

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