Page 99 of O Goalie Night
“What if I decide to get bangs?”
My mother bites her lip. “I really don’t think you have the bone structure to pull them off, but if you really want them I promise not to say anything.”
I choke out something between laughter and crying. My parents aren’t perfect, but I know that they love me and want me to be happy. I’ll take it.
“Thank you,” I say. “That means a lot. Because Foster makes me really happy and I love it here in Ottawa.”
“We’re so glad,” Dad says thickly.
I add, “And I have no plans to get bangs.”
“Oh, thank the good Lord,” Mom breathes.
CHAPTER 39
FOSTER
“You have my permission to date my sister.”
I take a break from gearing up to give a weary look at my current teammate and former best friend.
“I don’t need your permission.”
My response seems to catch him off guard. “Well, too bad. You have it.”
I already knew from Beth that he apologised for his behaviour, but this is the first time he’s talked to me since he left my place two days ago. I’ve been following his previous directive to stay away from him.
“Can I have permission to date your sister?” Austin asks from a few spots down. The bruise on his eye where Ben clocked him is still healing and is currently a deep purple. Even though he apologised for his behaviour at the bar, he doesn’t seem to have learned his lesson.
“No,” we say in unison.
“But you said you owe me.” Austin points to the discoloured skin. Being able to torment Ben was clearly worth the punch to the face for him.
“I said I’d owe you a favour.” Ben rolls his eyes.
“Exactly. And I want that favour to be permission to date Beth.”
My glower must match Ben’s because Will enters the fray.
“I swear to God, Crawford. If you keep running your mouth, I will not pull them off of you this time.”
“Alright, alright,” Austin shrugs before addressing the rest of the locker room. “Anyone else have a hot sister?”
We watch as our rookie gets pelted with several gloves, shinpads, and other various bits of equipment before finally sitting down and shutting up.
“I’m sorry for how I reacted when I found out.” Ben’s eyes are trained on the floor. I don’t doubt the sincerity of his words.
“It’s okay, man. We would have been open with you from the start, but you had a lot going on and we didn’t want to pile on.”
“Still. I never should have made it all about me. If I’d actually talked to either of you about it, I would have realised that you really care about one another. You and Beth have my full support from here on out. You’re a good guy, Fozz. That’s why you’re my best friend.”
I grin at him. “Thanks, man.”
He opens his arms and I accept his hug as our teammates “awww” around us.
“Teammates by chance; friends by choice.” Will holds up his hands to make a heart shape.
“That’s deep, Will,” Ben says, still hugging me. He lowers his voice, speaking directly into my ear. “Deep like the hole I’ll bury you in if you hurt my baby sister.”
