Page 21 of Drop the Gloves
“Fuck, if I had your size,” Barczyk said wistfully, then shook his head.“Actually, it’s better that I don’t.I’ve got no restraint.You, though, you’ve got too much.You fix your checking and your fighting, and every team in the league’ll want you.”
“I don’t know about that.”Evan’s cheeks were burning.This conversation wasn’t happening.Riley Barczyk wasn’t gushing with praise over him.Maybe the milkshakes were spiked or something.
“I promise it’s true.”Barczyk’s face lit up.“Hey!I’ve got an idea!”
Evan grimaced.He had a feeling he wouldn’t like Barczyk’s idea.“What?I sign up for boxing lessons?”
“No.I mean, yes, you totally should, but who’s got time for that?I can help.You did all that checking practice with Coach Mel, and it did wonders for you.Huge improvement?—”
“I still don’t check much.”
“But you do it more, and that’s what you needed.And don’t interrupt.The only thing that’s missing is your fighting game.That fight the other day with Smith was weak, bro.Like I know I’ve had some less than stellar fights and gotten my ass handed to me, so I get it, it’s not easy, but that was kind of embarrassing.Good for you for doing it.We’re all proud of you for sticking up for yourself.But yikes, man.Yikes.”
Yep, Evan’s cheeks were on fire.His ears and neck, too.This was the worst.
“And how would you help exactly?Be my enforcer?”
“I do that anyway,” Barczyk said dismissively.“That’s not what you need.If you’re gonna throw your body, even if it’s only now and then, you gotta be willing to drop the gloves too.And you need to not look like a kitten swatting at a ball of yarn when you do it, or people are gonna antagonize you more ‘cuz they’ve got nothing to be afraid of.”
“A kitten and a ball of yarn?”He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.What was he doing here, listening to this?All the stress he’d let go of during mini-golf was seeping back in with every word Barczyk said.
“See.”Barczyk pointed at him and smirked.“You’re pissed right now, but I ain’t afraid because I know you’re not gonna do anything about it.You’re this giant, polite Canadian boy who’ll offer to pay at the end of the meal and thank me for my advice, even though I can tell you fucking hate it.”
Evan gritted his teeth.He wanted to deny it, but it was pretty spot on.He did hate it, he would thank Barczyk, and he would offer to pay.
“Well, you paid for the mini-golf?—”
Barczyk burst out laughing.Mercifully, their burgers arrived, and Barczyk had a mouthful of fries for the next few minutes.Evan thought he’d escaped; he should’ve known better.
“So,” Barczyk said as he chased down his entire side of fries with more milkshake.“I can help you learn to fight.”
“Who says I want to learn how to fight?”
Barczyk snorted.“Yeah right.Every hockey player wants to know how to fight.”Then, after a moment of appraisal, he straightened up.“Oh shit.Sorry.You’re serious.”
“Yes, I’m serious.I’ve gone this long without fighting.It’s not part of my game.”
“Okay, well, that’s great, but itispart of the game of hockey, which you play.”
“Plenty of leagues?—”
“So when you join one of them, you’re set.Right now we’re talking about the NHL, and fighting is definitely still part of the game.If you can throw a few reasonable punches when necessary, it’ll do you a world of good.”
“And you’ll just generously teach me how to do it?Out of the goodness of your heart?”
“Yes?”Barczyk’s nose scrunched up in confusion.“That so hard to believe?”
“Kind of.I mean, what’s in it for you?”Evan pressed.A guy with that many penalty minutes didn’t seem like a team player, so why would he offer to help Evan?What was in it for him?At the very least, he seemed to love being the center of attention.If Evan started laying people out left, right, and center, wouldn’t that detract from the Barczyk Show?
“I won’t have to kick someone’s ass for you when you bite off more than you can chew.Like you did with Smith.”
“You gonna keep rubbing that in my face?”Evan grumbled.He wished he could eat in peace, but he found he wasn’t all that hungry anymore.
“Have another fight where you don’t suck, and I won’t be able to.”Barczyk said it reasonably, like it was the obvious solution to a problem that wouldn’t exist if Barczyk would just drop it.
“And what does your so-called fighting lesson look like?”
“Uh…” Barczyk’s eyes crossed as he thought about it.“I dunno.The curriculum’s a work in progress.Probably like the checking drills.Just...practice.Lots of reps.Make sure you know the basics.”
