Page 117 of Unrivaled Love
We’ve kicked ass at our long distance relationship so far. I’m the king of good morning dancing videos and she calls me while she eats dinner when I’m getting ready for bed. Sending her random texts from the ones I’d compiled in my notes app over the years has helped both of us realize how deep our connection truly runs.
The demands of our schedules are about to test us in new ways. My season starts tonight, she has six weeks to go.
"You ready?" She asks. She understands how tough it is to face a full game after only getting a few minutes in the preseason games. Coach Bradford was testing out a bunch of farm guys at left forward as he rebuilds the fourth line. I had to sit back and watch other guys play my position.
"I am.” My playing minutes might have been low in the preseason but I have busted my ass getting back into shape. I’ll never admit it to Jo but I was glad she was busy with her season over the last month because I have been training non stop.
"Good." She says. I hear someone call her in the background. "Sorry Bry, I gotta go. Call me after and I'll be watching!"
"I will and thanks Jo, I love you." Saying it has gotten easier and easier. As soon as I saw her crumpled against the wheel at the airport I couldn’tkeep the words to myself. Jo had to know what I was leaving with. And the words on her lips sent me into the stratosphere. Each time she repeats it now, I’m reassured we're enduring the distance for a reason.
"I love you too, Bry."
And then she's gone.
My music comes back on and I finish my drive to the Koffee Center.
As tough as it was to get back to where I was at the end of last season, all I needed was to get back out on the ice. As soon as I started playing the game again the nervous energy around my MVP award dissipated.
Coach Bradford especially couldn't give two shits I was last season’s MVP or that we were the reigning champs. In fact, he's been treating us like we're at the bottom of the rankings, which on day one, we all are.
I park and see Duncan just ahead of me. I check the time and see Crosby will be here any second. His pregame ritual is down to the second these days.
"Hey Payday!" I call out to Duncan and he turns.
"Ooo, I like that one." He says as he slows his steps and waits for me.
"It's pretty slick, isn't it? And now you don't have to try and throw yourself another nickname ceremony."
"Why do you guys still rag me for that? It was a beautiful moment and when the ice girls shot the fake money out of their cannons. I definitely saw you smile."
"It was something." I give him. The truth is Duncan was too impatient to wait for the ceremony I had planned for him. Maybe for his 1,000th game we'll re-nickname him.
I button my jacket as I slide my keys into my pocket. I’m in a dusty brown double breasted suit. The pants taper in and show a little ankle before my feet disappear into my chocolate Italian loafers. The tank I’m wearing shows the top of my chest and I plan to send a pic of this fit to Jo later.
I look fucking good.
We stop to answer the social media question for the night which is asking what animal we could beat in a fight.
"Any animal?" Crosby asks for clarification as he sips his iced coffee and catches up to us.
"Any animal," Lydia, our social media admin, confirms.
"Full grown or can we pick like baby animals?" Duncan asks.
"You want to fight a baby animal?" I ask.
"No, but a baby bear is different from an adult bear."
"And you think you could beat a baby bear?" I challenge.
"I think I could wrestle down a baby bear, don't you?" Duncan shifts on his feet to stand taller.
"I think baby bears still have gigantic claws. Crocs, you got anything?"
"No, why is this such a difficult question?"
We all kind of chuckle but no one answers.
