Page 4 of Slap Shot at a Second Chance

Chapter 2

Nate

Four Years Later

Who is she?

“Nate! Focus!” the captain of the Maple Creek Lumberjack, my best friend of nine years, roared at me, and I looked away from the mysterious woman who had been taking pictures of us.

“You’re so mean to me,” I murmured as I skated toward the scorer of our team, Andy Daniels, and blocked him from making the shot that had won us so many championships.

“What did you say?” Brian asked as he came toward me and I pouted my lips, shrugging my shoulders as I leaned against my hockey stick.

“I didn’t say anything,” I said under my breath, brooding because he had forced me to come to practice even though I was the star of our beautiful team, and don’t get me wrong, these weren’t just words coming from me, but I hadheardandreadthem too many times not to believe it anymore.

I had worked incredibly hard for this reputation, and for my best friend to pretend as if I wasn’t the best thing that had ever happened on this earth, this team, and him, hurt me a lot!

“He said you’re mean to him,” Andy chuckled as he skated away.That snitch!

Brian placed his hands on his waist and I looked away, pretending I didn’t notice the serious captain look he had etched on his face right now.

I was in trouble.

“Mean? To you?” he asked and I shrugged.

“I didn’t say that, Andy did,” I denied even though the words did come from my mouth this time. I smiled when I noticed he was not going to break out of his authoritative role and leave me alone to brood and whine about how I was being forced to come to practice.It’s not like I was doing anything special either way.

“You’re my best friend.”

“On the ice, I’m your captain, Nate. And need I remind you the national league season is two months away, and we don’t have time to play?” If I were a newbie on this team, I would be shaking in my boots right now from his tone, but I couldn’t see my pumpkin pie any different way other than being my pumpkin pie.

Standing up straight and pushing my chest out, I saluted and nodded to prove I had taken his words to heart.

“Yes, captain! I’m sorry, captain!” I roared and I saw his lips lift a bit before he skated away, shouting at the other members.

“You saw Nate’s spirit, let’s go!” The blinding flashlight brought me out of myspiritsand I saw the woman smile as she looked down at her camera, walking around the practice arena.

Well, time to get serious. I want to look good in those pictures, whatever they are for.

Focusing on the one thing I’d ever loved wholeheartedly, I could see the boys were surprised to see my attitude change; I made sure I did my job extremely well so that Brian could back off a bit.

I understood where he was coming from, the league seasons were always his time to shine as captain, and after taking over one hell of a great captain, Steven, Brian’s character had changed. Even though I was his best friend, I wasn’t afraid to admit that he had a lot of work to do.

Steven was an amazing captain, he was friendly with all the players outside the rink, but once we had a game; I swear the man became a beast. My first year, I would always be shaking in the knees because he was huge and scary, but look at how time flies.

Now I was the huge one, and unfortunately, the scary bit skipped me because I tend to clown around sometimes.I’m ashamed, but what can I say?I still was the star of the Lumberjacks and I fucking enjoyed the benefits of it.

“Everything going well here, boys?” the coach asked as he skated onto the ice, a smug look on his face with his hands in his pockets. Of course, he was happy while the rest of us were a sweating mess trying to catch our breaths.

Damn. Brian knew exactly how to make us sweat buckets.I take back everything I said about him being my pumpkin pie.I think I hated him now.

“Yes, coach,” the other boys groaned as they slowly left the ice and I was close behind them, trying to run away from the coach and captain. The duo were the worst and I barely had any energy for them together.

“I see thestar defendercame?” he mocked and I forced a smile as I raised my hand. Brian clasped my shoulder and he was no longer my captain, but my best friend now.Well, not anymore!

“I think we’re due for another captain,” I joked and Brian hit my back, and just to show how hurt I was, I winced as I pulled myself away from him and the worst duo rolled their eyes. “And coach apparently,” I murmured.

“Boy, your tantrums won’t get you anywhere. See you tomorrow.” He waved smiling and I groaned as I left the ice, leaving the two to converse. They were such aperfect couple.

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