Page 36 of Hitting the Goal Line
This man is more of a father to me than my own and sees all the potential that I have. I want to get drafted because it’s something that I dreamed of since I was a little kid, but I alsowant to get drafted for him. I wouldn’t be the player that I am today if it wasn’t for him. I want to be able to show him that all his hard work has paid off. I want to be able to make him proud.
The music starts and the announcers start talking on the screen, while everyone in the room goes quiet. Both Sophia and Jainie take one of my hands and I feel a hand on my shoulder, but I don’t turn to see who it is. I already know.
The Dark Knights are announced as the first pick of the second round and all the air leaves my lungs. This is either it, or not. Whatever it may be, I’m definitely not fucking ready.
Someone from the team steps up to the microphone and gives the camera a smile.
“With the first selection of the second round of the NHL draft, the Chicago Dark Knights are proud to select, Blake Jacobi.”
Twenty-two words and my life fucking changed forever.
I can’t help but smile as I remember all the excitement that burst through the room the second that my name was announced. That smile starts to disappear slightly when I remember all the calls from my dad still waiting to be returned, but I push it aside.
That day was fucking amazing and I’m not going to let thoughts of my dad tarnish it.
A month later and I’m in Chicago to meet the team. I’m not signing on to the Knights right away. I’m still going to attending Montana State and playing for them for a few years, keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t get hurt, but the team invited all their draft picks to the city to give them a warm welcome.
And all of this seriously feels like big boy shit.
Especially since this also the first time that I’ve traveled all by myself. Usually if I fly somewhere, either my mom is with me, my sister, or Sophia. This time because school had just startedfor Jainie, my mom decided it was best for her and my sister to stay behind. Hunter couldn’t come with me, because his own season was about to start and he couldn’t get away.
As for Sophia, she used the excuse of packing for school to get out of coming with me. We are set to move in next week and according to her, she hasn’t packed a single thing.
That’s a lie and I know it. The girl is an absolute planner and probably starting packing everything that she wanted to take to her dorm the second she accepted her admissions offer.
She most likely didn’t want to come with me, because of what happened the night of the party. Because she didn’t want us to be in a situation where we would be prone to cross the line again.
Things between us have been awkward at best this last month, and coming with me could have complicated thing even more. So, when she made up the packing excuse, I understood where she was coming from. It doesn’t mean that her refusal to come with me doesn’t sting, though.
I want to share this experience with her, and if I hadn’t said what I did, she would probably be here in Chicago with me as more than my best friend. But this is for the best, for both of us, and I’m sticking to that. No matter how much the organ in my chest is telling me that it disagrees.
“So, Blake. What did you mom feed you and your brother growing up, because apparently that woman has the power of raising pro athletes,” one of the Knights, I think his name is Simon, asks me from across the table at the welcome dinner.
This welcome dinner is at some swanky restaurant that is close to the team’s arena, and I honestly don’t think I’ve had a more expensive dinner. The food is good, not going to lie, but the prices sure as hell made my eyes pop out a little bit. I had to take a picture of it and send it to Sophia. Not only to show how crazy the prices are but also give her a glimpse of the food that she could have been eating right now.
I go back to Simon’s question.
When I got drafted, everyone went crazy when they found out that an NFL quarterback’s brother got drafted by Chicago. It was like everyone was mind blown over the fact that Hunter even had a brother, but even more so that he too would be a pro athlete one day.
It’s freaking insane.
Since I’m sure this isn’t the first time I’m going to answer this question, I decide to mess with the guy.
“Raw eggs, broccoli, turkey meat, cheese and carrots all blended into a smoothie. It’s absolutely disgusting but the woman wanted pro athletes for children, so she forced it down our throats. My brother still drinks it every day.”
The way Simon’s face drops is fucking hilarious. He actually believes me.
When I finally laugh at his expression, he is able to compose himself and finally put it together that I was joking.
“Good one, Jacobi,” the team captain, Sydney, says from next to me, slapping a hand on my shoulder. “He was actually contemplating making the smoothie to try it out.”
“No, I wasn’t,” Simon counters, shaking his head at his team captain.
“Don’t deny it,” on of team’s forwards, Liam Crawford, throws out, pointing his fork at Simon. “We all saw your face. You were planning out your next grocery run.”
“Fuck off.” Simon throws a napkin in Liam’s direction and the table erupts with laughter. This group of guys is fucking amazing. Hopefully they’re still like this when I sign on to the team.
“Did you guys hear that we got a new acquisition this morning?” Someone asks from the other side of the table, his name not coming to my head.
