Page 49 of Common Goal
“You weren’t ready before,” Kyle said gently.
“No,” Eric agreed. “And as weird as it feels to not be wearing it now, I think I’m ready to get back out there.”
“Shields down.”
Eric nodded. “Shields down.” He flexed his fingers, then rested the hand on the table. “This is going to sound silly to you, but I’m nervous about playing without it.”
“Without the ring?” That didn’t make any sense to Kyle.
“Yeah. We head out on a road trip the day after tomorrow, and it will be the first time I’ve played a game without wearing the ring since my second season.”
Kyle thought he understood now. “You’re superstitious.”
“Very. I know the ring doesn’t actually make me a better goalie, but still. It’ll be weird.”
“You’ll have to find a new good luck charm.” Kyle’s imagination went off on another adventure, thinking up a scenario where Eric would be wearing something Kyle had given him under his hockey gear. Maybe a thin leather bracelet...
“I have plenty of superstitions. I don’t need a new one.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
Eric crossed his arms. “No way. You’ll make fun of me.”
“I won’t. I can’t picture you doing anything too wacky. So what is it? Lucky socks?”
“I put my gear on, and take it off, in exactly the same order. Every time.”
“Okay. And what happens if you don’t?”
“I don’t know. It’s never happened.”
“But you’ve done it and played a bad game.”
“Of course.”
“So...”
Eric huffed. “I know. It doesn’t make sense. Just forget it.”
“No! I’m not making fun of you, I promise. I’m just...interested.”
“Interested in how nuts I am.” Eric smiled. “It gets worse. Would you believe that I talk to my goalposts?”
Kyle’s eyes went wide with delight. “Seriously?”
“Dead serious.”
“That seems so...out of character? What do you tell your goalposts?”
“I thank them when they stop a puck that got by me. I complain about other players to them.” Eric shrugged. “It’s a lonely job sometimes, being a goalie.”
“That is extremely adorable. I love it.”
Eric smiled, and then he covered his mouth with one hand as his face stretched into a yawn.
“Do you need to get to bed?” Kyle asked.
“I do. I try to be in bed before eleven most nights. This is two late nights in a row.”
