Page 13 of The Trade Deadline
Morgan Hayes #44 | Connor Carter #12
GOALIES
Vladislav Voronin #33
Logan Stewart #51
Chapter4
Ryan
Ryan wokeup in his bed alone, which was honestly a pretty normal state of affairs for him, but the bed felt strangely empty. For a moment he was thrown, expecting someone to be there and disoriented when there wasn’t. Before he fully regained consciousness, Ryan was thrown back to a hotel room in Switzerland seven years ago.
It hadn’t even been his room, which had made it all the more confusing to wake up and find Lars gone. Not just gone for coffee or breakfast or even a shower, butgonegone: his bags packed and gone, no sign of him except for some crumpled sheets and the musky smell of day-old cologne. Ryan had been fearful enough of getting caught that he understood the rash departure, figuring Team Sweden had an early flight home and Lars had needed to book it. Leaving Ryan to sleep saved them both an awkward goodbye, and it made it easier for their night together to go unnoticed.
In the present day, it was surreal waking up and reliving that long-forgotten moment again. Seeing Lars yesterday must’ve shaken it loose, a suddenly raw wound he’d thought had healed. He didn’t like where that might lead his mental game at the start of the season; he forced himself out of bed so he couldn’t dwell on it.
All things considered, he actually thought his first time seeing Lars again had gone pretty well. He’d said maybe three whole words without stuttering, hadn’t blushed, and had made eye contact. All around a huge win.
…and a relief that Monroe had dragged Lars away before an actual conversation could take place.
Still, it was a confidence boost that Ryan sorely needed. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to having to do it regularly, but knowing hecouldwas important.
It turned out, Ryan had worried for nothing, which became more apparent two days later when Lars joined them for conditioning. He was wearing a Blue Crabs tee that was too big for him (and maybe a little stiff judging by the way he kept pulling at the collar), a Team Sweden hat that earned him some mock boos, and shorts that were definitely short. He looked good, too good, and Ryan began to have doubts. Until Lars actually stopped by to talk to him between sets.
“Hey, Brian!”
Ryan looked around, wondering who Lars was talking to. No one else was at the weight rack and, come to think of it, no one on the team or on staff had a name even close to Brian. Well, no one except…
“Me?” he asked while pulling out his earbuds because nuh uh. That hadn’t just happened.
“Yes.” Lars flashed a smile that made Ryan's stomach flip uncomfortably because he knew that dimple too well. The whole mouth, really, but he was trying very hard to forget that. “Nice to see you again, Brian.”
Okay, he hadn’t misheard. Lars Nilsson actually thought his name was Brian. Considering he’d once very enthusiastically (and loudly) called him Ryan at Juniors, that meant he definitely didn’t remember him.
Ryan didn’t like that. He hadn’t particularly liked when he’d thought Larswouldremember him, but this was way worse. Possibly because it took him completely by surprise. It was actually better, given all the worst-case scenarios that would never happen now. But yeah, huge blow to his ego. He might need to go on Injured Reserve.
Maybe Lars just had a really good poker face?
“We’ve met,” he blurted out before he could think better of it, then wanted to smack himself. He was in the clear,what was he doing!?
“Yes,” Lars confirmed. “When Monroe introduced us the other day. You’re a center, right?”
Not a hint of that “we had a one night stand and we’re going to pretend it never happened” energy. God, he really didn’t remember.
“I am,” he said, and then like a weirdo just stopped. Ryan was normally a perfectly functioning human being who could carry on a conversation with a brick wall if need be. He’d had teammates who were shy, teammates who didn’t speak English, teammates who didn’t particularly like him (and ones he hadn’t much cared for, either), and never had any of those stopped him from politely making small talk.
Right now he sounded like a total dick.
Lars, thankfully, seemed blissfully unaware. “I always like to know the other centers, even though we never get to play together. We drive the team, right? Good to be on the same page.”
For sure!would be his normal go to, followed by some bullshit he didn’t necessarily believe about how overlooked their contributions were. Instead, he said, “I guess.”
Finally, Lars seemed to sense Ryan was…well, Ryan didn’t know what he was right then, but it wasn’t a good thing and it wasn’t worth anyone’s time to talk to him. He felt like a computer who was struggling to keep functioning with a million programs open, begging for a reboot so he could maybe process something again.
“Well,” Lars said, taking a step back and hooking a thumb over his shoulder. “I need to get back to it. Look forward to seeing what you can do on the ice.”
“Same,” Ryan managed. That was at least slightly positive, even if his tone sounded like he’d like nothing less. Then Lars actually turned around, and for a whole two seconds, Ryan made the mistake of watching him walk away. Those shorts didwondersfor his ass?—
