Page 18

That night with Wren had filled me with a boost of energy, and I wanted it again, like a shot of adrenaline, he kept me pumping, but I was using it as my motivation. There was an air of not being prepared to take the next step and have sex with him, and not being completely sure that I was ready, but in the days we kept our hands off each other, it only strengthened my feelings towards my sweet little Wren.

First game of the season was against Green Mountain State University, it was a home game, which meant we had the advantage of having everyone on campus come and fill us with confidence, but there was only one person I cared about being in the stands.

Outside the locker room, I caught Wren standing around, his stuffed orca under arm. He was dressed in a number ten jersey, representing for me, alongside a scarf and beanie. I walked out and he gave me a twirl.

“I wanted to catch you before you gave your speech to the team,” he said. “And I need to go find my seat.”

“You have no idea how ridiculously attractive you look right now.” I scooped him up into my arms. He wrapped his legs around my waist. Pushing him against the wall to hold up against me, I gave him the biggest kiss. It filled me with confidence, not that I needed it, but part of me secretly wanted his confidence in me, the taste of it was divine.

“Lucky,” Coach called after me. “Head in the game.”

Wren smirked, trying to hide his face from being seen. “Go on,” he whispered. “I need to go find my seat.”

“Front row,” I said, peeling him away from the wall and letting him regain his footing. “I want to see you.”

“And I’ll move if you get distracted by me,” he said. “I have a fantasy league to think about. And I want to begin with a good lead.”

“Good boys do as they’re told,” I replied. “And Daddy wants to see you in the front row, where he can keep an eye on you.”

Wren let out a little shimmy of excitement. I loved his reactions to being called a good boy and referring to myself as Daddy. It was almost like he was flourishing now. I loved every single moment of it, even if I was still very new to it all.

The team were prepared for the first game of the season. Anticipation was high, we had to win this, we had to start with a bang, or else the celebration plans would’ve been preemptive, while Wren had reassured me they were manifestations. Oh god, I loved the way he put things, it was so damn special.

“Orcas!” I called out to the team. “We’re going to show the Green Mountain State just who really runs these maple mountains. We’ve beaten them before, we’re going to beat them again. Remember, we’re all moving parts working toward the same goal. Everyone knows the plays; everyone knows what to do. Let’s not go in too aggressively but meet them if they begin bodychecking.” I glanced at Liam and Jack, known for being the biggest guys on the team, and most often in the penalty box.

We stomped and cheered like a war cry, but it was so loud of out the locker room that nobody would’ve even heard us.

The seats were full, packed with support, everyone dressed in the team colors, and jerseys. Some of them had signs, some with my name, but not as many as there had been. A downside to relationships, but as I scanned the crowd and spotted those signs, I saw Wren, and I realized I didn’t need the ego boost of my name or the throws of people asking me out on dates. I had my person.

Nothing beat the thrill of the game, the excitement of competing against others who also desperately wanted to win. It didn’t compare to the friendly games we played within the team. We weren’t hungry enough to compete for points, this was the real deal, and I was going to savor every moment of it.

We played to our strengths from the whistle, and within a minute, I’d scored, firing a puck into the back of the opposition’s net. This is what I was talking about. This was what I meant by starting the season of strong.

Wren jumped from his seat as did most in support as they cheered for the score. He even pressed his orca teddy to the glass, and I had to force myself not to watch. This might’ve been difficult, he should’ve been watching somewhere else, I was easily distracted around him.

After the first twenty minutes were wrapped up with us being up by one, I tried not to look back out into the sea of supporters, but Wren caught my eye from wherever he was, like I could tell in which direction he was in from wherever I was standing.

“Good shot,” Coach said as I squeezed nearly a full sports water bottle in my mouth. “But we should’ve had more rink control. We let them get shots on goal a handful of times. So, with that being said, Marcus you’re up. Freshmen, your time will come, but not yet.”

The pure defeat on the freshmen faces was familiar. We’d all been there, we’ve got practice and train, show the coach and the team what we’re capable of. The first game of the season isn’t the time to try out new strategies or players. I supported the coach with keeping them on the bench, but we had two more periods to get through and we needed more shots on goal from our side.

As the intermission light show happened, Coach continued to tell us how well we were doing, and I rallied myself to focus. Coach noticed and after the group talk, he pulled me aside.

“I’ve never seen you look like a lovesick puppy,” he said, a big grin taking up half of his face. “I’m giving you a free pass to be a lovesick puppy for a little while longer because of that lucky shot you got on the goal earlier, but you’ve got to keep it up, otherwise, I might have to revoke his all-access pass.”

“We don’t have passes,” I said.

“I know, it was a joke. I’m just saying. He’s also trying to do his thing reporting for the college paper, so if you’re both distracting each other, you’re both gonna end up flunking. And I might not mind having you stay on for another year, but it would be too much of a headache, and you know that too.”

I nodded. That wasn’t an idea I wanted to entertain. “Don’t worry, Coach, we’re professionals.”

“You’re twenty-one,” he said. “As long as your professional on the ice, I don’t care what you get up to. I mean, except for—” he scoffed. “Just keep the work up, and then all I’ve got to worry about is our away game next weekend.”

I’d always put pressure on myself, and this wasn’t any different. I was going to make this season as captain the best season the Orcas had ever had. I was going to have my graduation photo in the hall of fame case out in the hallway, and I was going to use that extra spark Wren gave me to get me there.

Catching the twinkle in his eye as the lights above crossed over him were a sign. He nodded, but I could see it was less of a nod and more of him putting his head down to write notes.

As soon as the second period began, they scored, but we caught back up to them after one of the defenders for the opposition decided to throw their stick in front of Ryan who went flying flat on his helmet. A brawl almost broke out, and it might have done if we weren’t awarded a penalty shot which he managed to score with.

Coach called us in before the final period and made sure we weren’t going to get distracted by the other team’s want to fight. We could all see it on them, the way they kicked their feet into the ice and almost broke their sticks with the force they pummeled them with.

Liam closed his eyes and hold both hands up. “I’m in zen mode,” he said, letting out a hum. “Ohm.”

“Good,” Coach said, slapping him on his shoulder padding. “Now, we’re up by one. I know you’ve got it in your to do better.”

It took it as a direct message to me. And I also knew it would benefit Wren if I managed to score again. He needed the points for his fantasy team, and I was happy to help. I wanted those brownie points, and I wanted to make tonight special, more special than it was already shaping up to be.

“If they score, we score another,” Coach said. “We’re not going to tie this up. We’re going to show them we’re not going to be goaded into body checks, at least, not until we play them again.”

We erupted into a cheer that was covered up by the sound of music playing through the speakers above. I loved this team so much, and we were going to win, in fact, my goal was to win every single game this season, go to play-offs, get scouted, and become a beast in the NHL.

At least I could dream.

The final period of the game started off strong for us with another shot from me, and Liam doing what he did best and blocked players from getting close. The moment I had eyes on a shot, I was nearly always going to make it. Except for when I was being so incredibly distracted by Wren.

* * *

First game of the season was a success.

We won by a single point that freshmen Mason scored after impressing Coach during training with the way it seemed like he was born with skates on his feet from birth. He could’ve lapped the rink with the way I flew on ice.

In the locker room, we were all celebrating the win, the atmosphere electric, and oddly pungent with body odor.

“How the fuck did you manage to fly by that enforcer like that?” Zachary asked.

Mason’s face turned red. “Well, my mom wanted me to be a figure skater,” he announced. “It’s not something I ever thought about, because I prefer this type of competition. It’s almost like dancing when you pass the opposition and they’re still trying to rush you like a fucking football player.” He snorted.

“Next game, you’ll have all the signs for you,” I told him. “They’re just about to start learning your number and name, trust me.”

He continued to blush. “Well, I’m focusing on the game, I don’t think I have room for a relationship.”

That sounded exactly like something I’d said before, in fact, I’d probably said it at the start of the school year as well. “Good game,” I said. “Now, everyone better be coming over to the Icehouse to celebrate. And remember, no alcohol. And I mean it.” It wasn’t my rule, but I was their captain, and responsible for them, even the seniors who were old enough to drink.

Coach came in minutes later with his congratulations and to second what I’d already told them. “Celebrate tonight, but tomorrow, more training. Make sure it’s not a late night. Ok, well, good game. Next week we won’t have the same fanfare, so just be aware that we won’t have everyone screaming for us.”

This wasn’t our first rodeo, we’d all played before, home and away, we knew what it was like. Some of the freshmen might not have been prepared for the large rinks and stadiums were visited at away games, but the ones close we were able to shuttle bus students to for support.

Once I was changed out into my sweats, I looked at my phone. The team chat was blowing up with emojis and buried beneath it all were messages from Wren. His name brought a smile to my lips.

Liam pulled my head under his arm playfully. “Your boyfriend’s waiting for you out there.”

With a swift slip, I went under and tugged on his arm, pulling it back slightly. “Come on now, you’ve gotta have faster reflexes.”

“Who needs those when I can stampede,” he laughed.

That was true, to be fair. “Alright, y’all,” I said to the players still in the locker room. “I’m heading out, I’ll see you at the house, remember, don’t be buying anyone alcohol, and Julia said she’s baked a cake. Probably one of those healthy ones, so don’t get too excited.”

Pulling a duffle bag of clothes onto my shoulder, I headed out of the locker room to see Wren with his head in his phone, typing away with his thumbs. He didn’t notice me, even as I approached him and placed an arm out against the wall at his side.

“God, you scared me,” he said, pushing out a pout.“That’s not fair. I was—” He tucked his phone away.

“What were you doing?”

“Making notes about the game. I’m surprised the freshmen were allowed to debut on the ice tonight,” he said. “I think I’m going to frame it as how much the team has been strengthened with the new blood. You know, get all the other teams scared. But you could’ve told me about him, I didn’t get him in my fantasy league.”

I kissed his forehead and pulled him into my arms, hugging him. “Yeah, except, you’ve got me, and I’m always going to be played, or I should be.”

Wren’s familiar smell at this point had such a comfort and ease to it. Like marshmallows, I wanted to stuff my mouth with him, and everyone knew how moreish marshmallows were.

“I just wanted to see you before you went off to celebrate with the team,” he said.

“I wanted to take you out for some fries and a shake, maybe, and then we can go celebrate together.”

His eyes glanced away, watching as his front teeth sank into his lower lip. “You don’t have to,” he said. “You’re the captain, you should be with them.”

“Truthfully, I know they’ve got a surprise for me, so I’m actually giving them time to prepare,” I said. “And again, another truth, I really want one of those big beef and maple bacon burgers they do at that diner near your place.”

He tried to pull me as he wrapped his arms around my body. “Ok, but only if you mean it. I don’t want to be a distraction.”

There was an immediate knot of guilt in my throat and stomach, wondering if someone had mentioned it to him. I hadn’t expressed it too much, or at all, I thought. But it was one of my fears, and I didn’t want him putting any stock in it.

“I mean, it’s why we barely saw each other before the game,” he added. “I guess that’s also because I needed you to do your best as well, I’ve got a fantasy league to win.”

Very true, and very cute. “I’ll make it up to you tonight.” I kissed his forehead again and pressed my nose into the little patch of hair swooping out of the beanie. That’s where the overwhelming sweet smell came from. My stomach rumbled. “First, let’s go eat.”