Page 20 of The Trade Deadline
Once they were gone, Lars asked, “I thought rangoon was just the name of the bar.”
“It’s also a dish. Crab rangoons. Fried crab and cream cheese. You’ll love ‘em. It’s their specialty. Plus, y’know.” He gestured between his shirt, the two of them, and their teammates.
“Names are hard,” he said slowly. “Things aren’t like that in Sweden. Or maybe I don’t know English well enough to understand them. Like Jake. Why does everyone call him Soups? Does he really like soup? Or is he like Superman or something?”
Ryan stifled a laugh and pulled out his phone. “Like the soup,” he said as he held up an image of a Campbell’s Soup can. “Campbell.”
Lars’s eyes went wide. “I’ve seen that.”
“Yeah,” Ryan agreed, though he had no idea. “That’s more a cultural thing. Your English is great.”Better than it was seven years ago.
“Better than it was when I started,” Lars echoed his thought. “Being in the States helps, but I still need help.” The server returned with Lars’s beer and another soda for Ryan, and a quiet settled between them as they sipped tentatively at their drinks. Ryan considered whether he should make an excuse to go home or disappear to the main bar for a bit until more people arrived, when Lars asked, “Why does the team call you RJ?”
Ryan had the weird impulse to lie. As much as it had annoyed him (read: pissed him off) that Lars didn’t remember him and couldn’t even get his name right, he kind of enjoyed that Lars called him Brian. He didn’t like that he liked it, because it either meant he enjoyed an excuse to feel superior to Lars or he liked the weird flutter it caused in his chest whenever Lars said it. He never wanted to figure out which it was, so it was probably for the best he just got this over with.
“Because those are my initials.”
Lars frowned, this adorable pinch between his eyes. “Initials? What does it stand for?”
“Ryan Junior.”
“Ryan?” Lars’s head jerked back like he’d been slapped, his cheeks coloring the same rosy tinge as when he went all out at practice and was breathless from exertion.
Ryan nodded grimly.
Lars buried his face in his hands and moaned. “I’ve been calling you Brian like ajubelidiot.” He peeked through his fingers. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I…” That was complicated. Ryan wondered how much to share when Lars abruptly sat up straight and sighed.
“No, I understand. You’re too nice and didn’t want to embarrass me.” He reached across the table top and squeezed Ryan’s shoulder. “I’msosorry.”
And he looked genuinely sorry. Embarrassed, too. He stared at Ryan earnestly, like everything hinged upon Ryan forgiving him for what was an honest mistake (and admittedly a common one—it wasn’t the first time someone had called him Brian).
Ryan sat there, jaw dropping, because what? People like Lars Nilsson didn’t apologize to people like Ryan. Or if they did, they didn’t really care if they were forgiven.
“It’s okay,” Ryan assured him and actually meant it.
“It’s not, but thank you.” Lars removed his hand, leaving Ryan’s shoulder feeling cold and bare. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“You don’t have to—” The server stopped by and dropped off three platters of crab rangoons. Ryan took one and pointed with his chin that Lars should do the same. “They’re better warm and you gotta be quick or?—”
“Food!”
Vorny, the Ivans, and two other teammates Ryan hadn’t noticed rushed the table. Lars quickly grabbed two and held them close to his chest protectively as the rest disappeared far too quickly. With the growing crowd, Ryan was able to lose the weight of Lars’s attention. He even escaped to play darts while Lars stayed at the table, and Ryan managed to keep his distance the rest of the evening. They didn’t say another word to each other, but occasionally their eyes would lock across the room and every time, Ryan could hear the promise as clearly as he had the first time.
I’ll make it up to you.
Instagram: Team Favorites
[Transcript from an Instagram Reel featured on @bmorebluecrabsnhl. During the reel, players are walking from the locker rooms towards the practice rink. They’re stopped at the door to the ice, a microphone appearing from off screen.]
Caption:It’s that time of year! The preseason has started and your Blue Crabs are hard at work. Today at practice, we asked them some very important questions ?????? #crabcrew
Narrator:What’s your favorite color?
Jake Campbell, Right Wing and Team Captain:Blue.
Pierre Laurent, Right Wing and Alternate Captain:Blue.
