Page 120 of Two Guys One Puck
KTYTOR
We slog into March and the ECAC conference playoffs. Both the Monsters and the Gods made the tournament with good seeds. Seaborn missed the first weekend. I thought about calling him, but what could I even say?
We both won our games in the first round; since we were both seeded so high, they had an easy first game and didn’t need him. We both progress into the second round, which is the best of three games, so we get to spend the weekend in Hartford, at the same hotel, avoiding each other.
We both win the first game, which leaves both of our teams to sit around until our second game tomorrow afternoon. We’re not even playing each other, and the tension is high. We both have different conference rooms for team meetings and films but end up passing each other in the halls all damn day.
Seaborn won’t even glance my way. I’m a fucking ghost haunting these halls. And while this is my fault, I’m annoyed. He hasn’t messaged me at all. I should have expected that, but I hate it. Going from texting all day to nothing is quite the void I wasn’t expecting.
“Who the fuck actually booked us into the same hotel with these ???????” I ask as we settle in our rooms. Coach told ushe’s taping our doors and will have hotel security making sure we don’t leave.
“Speak Ukrainian to me like one of your French girls.” Happy lays out on the bed, rubbing a hand down his chest.
“Please never do that again.”
“What, you think guys are sexy, but I’m not?!” Happy scoffs.
“Honestly, no. I’m not into it. You’re so happy. Is strange. You smile at people all the time. In my country, they would think you’re unwell in your head.” I tap my temple.
“Rude.” He is fighting a smile, so I know he’s not actually mad.
“You must scowl for people to take you seriously. This is hockey.”
“I just can’t. I am happy all the time. I can’t just hide it.”
“All the time.” I wrinkle my nose off put. “No one is happy all the time.”
“I am.” He nods seriously. “I wake up happy, and I’m just happy.”
“Is this the side effect of some medication, you just smiling? Is involuntary, yes?” I poke his cheek.
“No! I’ve never taken even an Advil.”
I make a face. “Seems fake. I do not like.”
“You should try it.”
“Try what?” I ask carefully because this feels like a trap.
“Being happy.” He acts like it’s a switch.
“How would you recommend I do that?” I ask, even more sure I do not want to know.
“Just decide to be happy. That’s all you have to do. Just tell your brain and then click it off.” Happy’s eyes are big, and he’s nodding.
“Are you a… What’s the word you use? Cyborg? No… NPC? Yes. I think is like not player character.”
He flips me off. “I’m more likely to be the main character than you are. I’m enjoying this game.”
“What if we are in a horror game? Then you die first.”
“I don’t like that idea at all.” His brow creases, and I’m a little afraid I gave him a midlife crisis.
I pat his cheek. “Don’t think so hard.”
“You’re right. I’ll just turn my brain off for a while.”
I stare for a second but make myself stop because it’s unsettling.
