Page 62 of The Penalty Shot (Totally Pucked 5)

“Not sure, kid, ask her. The worst she can say is no. What made you want a tarantula?”

He shrugs as he shovels another forkful of pasta into his mouth. “I dunno, seems like a really cool pet to have. Maybe she’ll let me have a snake. Oh! Or a ferret.”

I laugh and shake my head. I fucking love this kid. He’s hilarious, and so damn intelligent. Sometimes I forget that I’m even talking to a kid. He’s articulate, and hell, I think he knows more about comics and manga than even I do.

“I think that you should keep the research and give it to her. Might help your case. I had a bearded dragon named Gandalf as a pet when I was younger, and it was awesome.”

Abandoning his fork, he contemplates what I said and then nods. “You’re right. Maybe I should make a PowerPoint presentation. I could list all the pros and cons.”

“Maybe. Definitely include lots of pictures.”

When Auden got called in to fill-in for someone at work, who was sick last minute, I volunteered to take Alex somewhere for the day. It isn’t a big deal; I love to hang out with him.

We have plans with Hudson, Reed and Briggs, following our lunch, and I’m excited to introduce him to my friends. That’s why I immediately called them up the second I realized we had the entire day to ourselves. What better way to spend it than on the ice with the guys?

It’s been a while since we’ve all got together outside of hockey with all of them having families and kids, and Hudson and me both moving.

“So…we’re going to play hockey?” Alex asks.

I nod. “Yep. Just for fun. We’ll shoot the puck for a bit and you can meet them. Plus, you get to see a behind-the-scenes tour of the arena. An all-access pass.”

“The guys at my school will be jealous when they hear. A lot of them love hockey. They wear their jerseys all the time. Oh, maybe I can get their autographs. I mean…I don’t really know a lot about hockey, but it’s still hella cool that you play for the NHL.”

“I guess my job is pretty cool. But, it’s still a job. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it, but no matter what, I love hockey. You wanna learn how to play? Do you know how to skate?”

I can see the wheels turning in his head as he thinks about my question. Alex is an intellectual kid. He prefers books, science, and art over physical stuff, that much I’ve gathered in the time we’ve spent together, and I wanted him to know that it was okay to like that stuff. Not everyone plays a sport. I would never pressure him to be anything other than what he wanted to, but if he wanted to learn, I’d be honored to teach him.

“Ash, my mom’s from Michigan, we go every winter. But yeah, I think that would be cool. I mean, you know, whenever you can. I know you’re busy with your season about to start. Practices and stuff.”

While that’s really fucking true, my schedule is about to become hectic as fuck with regular season starting. We play a grueling sixty games a year, and I’m gone for six months of that time, but I’d always make time for Alex. No matter what he wanted to do.

Truthfully, I’ve been thinking about it a lot the last few days, the upcoming season and my time on the road. It’s the first time I’ve been…anxious about leaving. Dreading it more than being excited about hitting the road with my team. That’s because, for the first time, I’m leaving people I care about behind.

I’ll worry about Auden and Alex alone at the apartment. I’ll worry about her taking the metro to work and walking home late at night. I’ll worry about the punks that have been bullying Alex, and whether or not he’s standing up for himself.

Things I’ve never worried about, not until now.

“Never too busy for you, kid. If you want to learn, then I’ll teach you. Every free second I’ve got, if that’s what it takes. Hell, I’ll talk to the guys today when we go and let them know too.”

Alex’s face lights up at my words, and he nods excitedly. “That would be awesome. Thanks, Ash. I finishedBerserkthe other night while I was at Callum’s.Gutsis amazing. I can’t believe I haven’t read it till now.”

He’s referencing the manga that I recommended to him a while back. He’s slowly been making his way through the series.

“It’s one of the best, for a reason. What volume did you finish?”

“Twenty. I really want to own them all for my shelf one day. I’m going to ask for them for Christmas, or maybe my birthday.”

I make a mental note to order all forty of them and have them delivered within the week. He deserves it. His grades are stellar, and he’s a polite, respectful kid. I’ll mention it to Auden.

After lunch, we head straight to the arena, and I use my pass to enter through the team door with Alex trailing behind me. His eyes are wide as he takes in everything, constantly pushing his glasses up on his nose.

I lace up my skates and tape my stick while he gets his skates on, then together, we do a couple quick exercises, more for me because, even though we’re playing for fun, I can’t afford an injury.

When we walk out of the locker room to the ice, Briggs, Reed, and Hudson are already on the ice, talking shit and passing the puck around.

“Bout time you show up,” Briggs teases as he skates up to us, spraying ice all over me.

Fucker.

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