Page 25 of Rebound
On the dayswe don’t have a game, I like to go to the local community center because they have a hockey rink. The best part is that you can book a time slot, and I usually book it for an hour or two. It’s me, practicing slap shots, skating up and down the rink without any pressure to be good or part of a team.
It’s not that I enjoy being alone. I don’t know anything else. It’s a habit that’s been taught to me and from what I’ve seen of my parents, it’s better off that I’m alone.
If you can be by yourself, you can do anything. That’s what I used to think until I made the brilliant decision to accept the trade instead of retiring. Now I get to watch the Titans be a happy little family while I’m on the outside looking in.
I take a shot, and the puck goes soaring into the net. Behind me, I hear applause, and I whip around, annoyed that someone came in when I have the rink booked. My annoyance dissipates as soon as I see who’s standing on the inside of the door.
“Shouldn’t you be in class?” I ask the kid.
He shrugs. “Had a half day.”
“Did you really?” I raise an eyebrow.
Tyler shrugs again and it’s a damn good thing he’s not my kid because the shrug is annoying as fuck. Even if I was this annoying as a teenager, no one was around to tell me.
“Alright, fine. I had a doctor’s appointment. My mom knows about it.” He holds up two fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
There’s no way he was ever a scout. But he’s a good kid, so I let it go. His mother will discipline him if he’s lying. She’s a librarian here at the community center and Tyler usually comes in the evening to spend time with her.
“Put on your skates.” I’m already setting my shot with the other puck I have lined up. Behind me, I hear Tyler shuffling around as he puts on his skates.
As a high school senior, he’s the captain of his hockey team and already has a full ride to Mercer University to play D1 hockey. One day, he’s going to be a Titan, of that I’m sure.
“I watched the game against the Toronto Knights,” Tyler says, skating onto the rink and coming up next to me. “That shot Reese Miller took was a thing of beauty.”
I hand him my hockey stick. “That’s all talent, and lucky for you, you already have it.”
He’s a little shorter than me, with curly dark hair that is falling all over his forehead and into his eyes.
“Get yourself a haircut, kid,” I say. “How are you going to take shots if you can’t even see the puck?”
His bright eyes meet mine. “Girls happen to like my hair.”
“You can get girls when you’re a Titan. You still want that, don’t you?”
The determination in his eyes is all the confirmation I need. For the next forty-five minutes, we play hockey, and I teach him how to take a couple of tricky shots and get himself out if his opponent has him trapped. Playing with him is the most fun I’ve had in a while. He’s just as good as any opponent I’ve ever faced.
“You need to bulk up,” I tell him after.
“I’ve gained five pounds!”
I scoff. “Where? Have you ever seen a bean pole hockey player?”
He sniffs, taking a sip of his water. “I’ve got weight where it matters.”
I roll my eyes. “What am I? A teenage girl? Not even a teenage girl will be impressed because they are smarter than that.”
It’s been a long time since I was a teenager, and I try to recall if I was as obsessed with girls and sex. My mind immediately conjures up an image of a red head, sweaty after a game, pale skin flushed from exertion, green eyes bright and shining with victory.
Tyler and I part ways in front of the library, and I walk out to my car. I never bring my phone inside with me, so I check it now to make sure I didn’t miss any calls. There are messages waiting for me. The first is from my cousin, Elena. She’s sent me an article about our game against the Toronto Knights which mentions me getting into a fight with their player.
Elena
Why are you like this? I swear sports are just a reason for boys to get into fights without getting into trouble.
Roman
We get into plenty of trouble on the ice as well. Are you telling me the world of professional ballet isn’t full of psychological terror?
