Page 61 of The Trade Deadline
“I have no idea what goes on in that locker room,” McHockey continued, “but Big Nilly has seen Junior’s talent and is trying to get him to unlock it, which is just what this club needs. You could see it in the way their shifts played off each other versus the Aviators. They were challenging each other, and both of them answered the call bea-u-tifully.”
It’s an interesting idea, and there might be something to it. A lot of players have a competitive drive—to make it to this level, a certain amount of competitiveness is required—but it’s usually fueled by rivalries and the thrill of beating opponents. Russell, despite being one of the more outgoing members of the Blue Crabs, to my eye had always looked more reserved on the ice. Maybe what he needed was a friendlier form of competition: an in-house rivalry nudging him along instead of the more acrimonious ones we sometimes see around the league.
I don’t want to take away from anyone else on the team. Voronin is having an exceptional season in net. The team’s Penalty Kill is fourth in the league. The young talent is starting to look as good as the veterans. But if the Blue Crabs make it to the playoffs this year, it’ll be on the backs of Nilsson and Russell.
Chapter20
Ryan
Ryan blinked awakeagainst the too-bright light of the sun emerging through thick clouds right into his eyes. He groaned in annoyance at the disturbance and turned slightly to avoid the light, trying to fall back asleep. He didn’t want to be on a plane on the way clear across the country to California. He wanted to go back to his dreams, to the fading image of intense blue eyes that could see right through him and the feel of strong hands on him. Hard lips pressed to his and not a single reason to push him away?—
His pillow shifted slightly beneath him, startling him more than the sudden sunlight. He jerked upright in his sleep, self-consciously rubbing his mouth to check for drool as he met Lars’s amused expression.
“Tired?” Lars asked, blue eyes bright with amusement. The corner of his shirt was wrinkled. How long had Ryan been asleep? More importantly, how long had he been leaning against Lars’s shoulder?
“A bit.” His voice was sleep-rough and he coughed to clear it. He also ran a hand through his hair, pulling more than necessary to try to wake himself up. “How long?”
“Pretty much since takeoff. You fell asleep during the first episode ofBay Area Babes. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Tomas you hate his show.”
“Was it that bad?” Ryan couldn’t remember more than an obnoxious intro.
Lars made a face. “The first two episodes made no sense, but by the third I liked the characters enough to see where it was going.”
“Characters?” He discreetly shifted in his seat to better hide his half-hard dick under his sweatshirt. “Isn’t it reality TV? Aren’t they real people?”
“Are you the same person during an interview?”
Ryan felt that he was pretty close to his media persona, but he knew plenty of guys had to put on a front. “Point taken.” He stretched and tried to ignore the way Lars watched him with a little too much interest. “Wanna play Xbox tonight?”
“I don’t think most hotels have them to borrow.” Lars said it apologetically, with this cute downward turn to his right eyebrow.
Ugh. Why was being friends with your crush so hard?
“I brought one,” Ryan said. “And the latest NHL game. They have you on the Crabs and everything.”
Lars lit up. “Really? Do they have my celly from last year?”
“I haven’t played it yet,” Ryan admitted. It wasn’t even his Xbox: it was one of Tanner’s extra game systems. Tanner had been excited to lend it to him and then dumbfounded when he realized there were NHL games he could’ve been playing to get a better idea “what Ryan even did all day that stopped him from smoking weed and drinking.” Luckily that was the point Tanner had fixated on and not the whole “Ryan needing an Xbox to play with Lars” thing and the implications thereof. “We can find out, though.”
“Sweet.”
Before Ryan thought better of it, he decided to ruin his mood by suggesting they continue watchingBay Area Babes.
“Okay,” Lars said as he dug his phone out of his back pocket. “I should warn you that you’re going to hate it.”
“But you love it?”
Lars shook his head grimly. “No, I hate it, too, but I like when I recognize places in Baltimore. It makes me feel like I’m a real Marylander. I’m also curious how Christian is going to sabotage the Dewaa brothers.”
“You’d love soap operas.”
Again, a grim nod. “Probably. We can try that next.”
* * *
They landed in San Francisco and were immediately shepherded onto a bus to the hotel. The team had picked this one specifically for its gym facility, and they were due for two hours of training before dinner. Ryan relished the chance to disappear into his body, to focus on his muscles working and not obsess over stupid Lars Nilsson. Or their game in two days. Or the one after that. And the next.
It was a relief to push himself physically, to find the perfect amount of strain that made everything else melt away to the point where he only had room to think about continuing to breathe. Afterward, as the trainer praised him and he enjoyed the endorphin boost, he quickly realized his mistake. Lars had a hundred kilowatt smile and a chocolate protein shake ready for him, and Ryan was too physically exhausted to mount much resistance.
