Page 48 of Wildcat
I pull up the message I sent last night. I thought it was funny, but maybe I should have gone with another apology.
“Let me see.” He motions with a hand, and since I have nothing to lose at this point, I give Tyler my phone.
He snorts. “Funny. That’s it? One text.”
“I didn’t know what to say when she didn’t respond.”
Ty tosses the phone back. “Try asking how her day is. Better yet, go find her and ask her in person.”
“It’s safer to text.”
“Yeah, Coach is going to kill you.”
He might not be wrong.
I stare down at the screen. “Just… hey, how’s your day?”
“You don’t have to use those words exactly, but yeah. Ask her a direct question about herself. Show her you’re thinking about her and not just trying to prove that you’re not an asshole who can’t work a phone.”
Fuck. That’s exactly what I’d been doing.
“Here goes nothing.” I tap out the text, asking her about her day, and send it before I can overthink it.
“I changed my mind. I need something to do with my hands.” I reach for the food container, and he extends it, so I can grab a few chips. I’ve just tossed them in my mouth when my phone vibrates. My eyes widen.
“Is that her?” Tyler asks.
I nod and open the text, smiling as I read it because I can hear her in the single word.Good.
“Now what?”
“Ask her another question. What she’s doing tonight or what color shirt she’s wearing. Always follow up with a question, and if she asks you one back, make sure you answer it in detail. Nothing pisses off a girl faster than responding with “K.””
“I know what she’s doing tonight,” I say.
“Right.” He chuckles. “Ask her if she’s ever been to Vegas before.”
“How are you so good at this?”
“I did the long-distance thing for a while when I was playing juniors. Pretty much lived with my phone in my hand. You get the hang of reading the other person’s responses and figuring out how to keep the conversation going. Right now, she’s pissed and making you work for it.”
“‘Did’ as in the relationship didn’t work out or it isn’t long-distance anymore?”
He gives his head a shake. “It didn’t work out, but it wasn’t because of the distance.” He stands. Guess that isn’t a conversation he wants to deep dive into. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
I lean back in the chair and tap out another text,Ever been to Vegas?
Her response is quick and concise.Yes.
I smile. She wants me to work for it? Game on.
We getoff to a slow start against Vegas. Jack and Ash are both sitting this one out. Our pre-season games are a chance for the rookies to get ice time, but it’s frustrating without our usual lines.
Coach Miller steps closer to me behind the bench. “Let them hear you out there, Lohan.” He claps his hands three times as our line skates onto the ice. “Let’s go now. Let’s have some fun.”
I push hard, calling to Maverick for the puck as two defenders close him in on the opposite wall. He sends it sailing in my direction, and I move to the middle of the ice, taking the puck straight down the middle toward the net.
