Page 12 of Dreams
“I’m going to try to forget you just said ‘puck bunny.’”
“What?” Mack feigned insult. “I’m not going to pretend they’re only into me for my devilishly handsome looks.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me. You should meet some of these girls.”
“I don’t want a relationship to distract me from anything right now.”
“Who said anything about relationships?” Mack winked.
Josh chuckled beside him. Mack had been this way for the entire two years Josh lived with him. Some things never changed. Meaningless nights held no appeal for Josh, and anything more would just have to wait. He was a hundred percent committed to becoming more than a third line spare part to this team. Especially now that he was getting his chance. Nothing else mattered.
* * *
Josh felt good as he laced up his skates. First line. He knew he’d never get that chance if it wasn’t for his closeness with Mack. An experiment. That’s all it was.
Mack had an intensely creative mind when it came to hockey plays. The problem was, his wingers weren’t mind-readers, so his out-of-the-box plays fell flat. They wanted to see if their star center-man’s best friend could read his mind.
Josh shrugged. He’d learned to take opportunities any way they came.
He expected to run into the kid in the locker room and was surprised when he stepped out onto the practice rink to find him already there. Josh stood still for a moment, watching him run drills by himself. He was fast, that was obvious.
Looking up into the stands, Josh realized he wasn’t the only one watching. Coach Scott sat there with the general manager.
The kid on the ice was a highly touted prospect, Josh understood that. He was only eighteen, a very recent draft pick, and he looked every bit his age. His tall frame had yet to fill out, leaving him lanky and a little awkward-looking. But he didn’t skate awkwardly. He had a surprising mixture of grace and power.
Josh moved forward and the kid finally noticed him and stopped skating.
“You’re fast,” Josh said.
“And you’re Josh Walker,” he responded, a tight smile twitching on his lips.
“I am.”
The kid skated over to the wall to take a long drink from his water bottle. “Carter Neil,” he finally said.
“Coach send you out here?” Carter lifted his chin in Coach Scott’s direction.
“He did, but I usually come back a few hours after practice for a workout anyways.”
“Me too.” Carter took another drink before setting the bottle down. “What do you say?” He nodded toward the cones on the ice.
“Let’s do it.”
Carter explained the drill he was doing. Josh recognized it and they set off, each trying to best the other.
Josh’s skating was a source of pride for him. The one part of his game he knew was better than most. Carter matched him stride for stride.
They went through a few different drills and before long, they were soaked in sweat and breathing heavily. Josh loved that feeling: when his chest tightened and strained, when his legs ached. It told him he was working hard, getting better.
They both stopped for water. “It’s a bit overwhelming, isn’t it?” Josh asked after a while. “Your first NHL camp.”
Carter studied him for a moment. “I’ve been freaking out a bit,” he admitted sheepishly. “That’s why I had to be on the ice tonight. When I’m skating, it’s the only time I don’t feel like I’m going to puke.”
Josh laughed. “We’ve all been there.”
“But you did it. You made the team out of your first camp and never got sent down.”
Josh quirked an eyebrow, and Carter shrugged. “I may have read up on the team a lot after I was drafted. I want this so bad. Ever since the Jackets called my name, I’ve told myself that this is the year. I’m ready.”
“You’re not the only one who thinks so.” Josh gestured to where Coach Scott was still watching them, alone now.
