Page 86 of Slapshot
Coach Keller pushes into the locker room. He’s holding a stack of papers. “Twenty new resumes and they’re all terrible. Dalager, thank goodness you’re here. What do I have to say to get you to stay? Want me to make these knuckleheads clean up after themselves more?” He smiles. A real honest to goodness smile. He shakes the papers at Lex. “That one’s in love with you, so I think I could get him to do just about anything you want. Laundry, spraying pads… you name it and I’ll put him in charge of it.”
Lex’s mouth falls open.
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” I look from Coach to Lex to the rest of the guys. “You’re sure?”
“We’re sure,” they say in unison.
Lex holds up a green jersey and turns it so I can see the back where my last name has been ironed on, then tosses it at me. “You’re never getting rid of us now.”
“Guess not. Did you do all this?”
“Nah. The guys were as anxious to have you back as I was. And Coach Keller, that was coincidence.”
I put on the jersey over my shirt. It might be silly, but it really does make me feel like a part of the team.
“How do I look?”
“Beautiful.” He grins and then puts his hands in his pockets. “I should get dressed.”
“Yeah, okay.” My heart is hammering in my chest. I can’t believe he did this for me. He’s always showing up for me. Big, ridiculous gestures.
“Wait.” I grab his elbow and pull him closer. I hesitate. “I want to kiss you, but I don’t want to get fired or get you benched.”
“Yo, Coach,” Lex yells without taking his eyes off me. “Is it okay if I kiss my girl?”
“Make it quick,” he says in an annoyed tone. “The rest of you stop gawking and get dressed.”
Lex steps forward and slowly brings his lips to mine. This feeling is like nothing else I’ve ever felt. If I think of the past as leading me here, it’s a little easier to accept that I blew up so many good things to get to this better one.
He pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. “Coach kind of stole my glory earlier, but he’s right. I love you. Like a ridiculous amount. Maybe enough to spray the pads every day.”
“That is ridiculous, but I might hold you to it. And I love you too.”
“Ticktock, Vonne,” Coach Keller yells.
Lex chuckles. “I gotta go.”
“See you out there, twenty-three.”
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I wince. Shit, Vivian’s out there waiting for me. I go out to greet her. The stands are packed as usual.
“Look at you,” Vivian says and then laughs. “I’m guessing it worked?”
“You knew about this?”
She nods.
“And you still came? Where are you sitting?”
“Tate’s girlfriend Maggie is saving me a seat.”
“The girlfriend section, really? I never.”
Vivian rolls her eyes. “It’s one game and I’m only here to support you.”
“That’s how it starts,” I tell her. “Next thing you know, you’re head over heels for a hockey player.”
My gaze goes to the ice where the guys from Boston are coming out for warm-ups. “I have to go. Wish me luck.”
