Page 27

Jake

“ N ow that I’ve gotten a B+, I feel like we can ease up on the practice questions, don’t you?” I ask, already knowing her answer.

“You want to change methods now that you’ve gotten proof that they work?” Eliana snorts.

“Yes?”

“Not a chance Keeley. Not a chance. I have a bunch of old practice tests from old clients I can bust out. Don’t tempt me.” She challenges me.

“You wouldn’t.”

“You seem to be running out of things to do the past few times we’ve hung out. I don’t want you to lose your momentum. More assignments would mean more things for us to discuss.”

“That’s a funny way of saying, ‘I get my kicks from torturing you’,” I scoff.

“So spending time with me is torture now?” Eliana teases.

She had no fucking idea. It had been about a week since I’d spent the night taking care of her when she was sick.

A week since I had realized how gone I was for this girl.

Like, I would pass the Beanery on my way to class and think of getting her favorite drink, or hear a song playing on the radio and think about sending it to her because she’d like it. That gone for her.

When I got my exam grade back the first person I wanted to share the news with was Eliana, and not just because she was partially responsible. Because I wanted to see her again.

And I’m glad I chose to go over there or else who knows what state she would’ve been in.

Feverish and panicking over the weight of the world.

I’m glad I was there so she could see she wasn’t alone, and I wasn’t scared of her vulnerable state.

Say what you want about me, I do have a sensitive side.

Years of being forced to play house with my sisters taught me all about how to treat women.

Which is why I heated up some soup and then offered to head out, giving her space to decompress.

But instead of taking the space, she asked if I wanted to watch a movie.

And halfway through 10 Things I Hate About You she drifted off on my shoulder.

I don’t know much about relationships, but I do know that night was more than friendly. No kissing, no sex, just being real. I think they call that intimacy.

Nicole had come home about an hour later, gave me an appreciative smile, and left me with parting words that have replayed in my head every day since.

“It’s nice to see Eliana let someone else take care of her for once.”

I knew it was hard for Eliana to lean on other people, and I was determined to show up for her. I wanted her to feel like the world was a place she could enjoy, instead of a burden she had to manage.

“I feel like we’re due for a celebration.”

“A celebration?” She looks instantly skeptical.

“Yup. I passed my exam, and you were a big reason for that. So a celebration is in order. ”

I wait for the immediate shut-down. Instead she says, “What are you thinking?”

“We have a big game against Boston College this weekend. Why don’t you come out and watch?” Come watch me in my element.

“Oh I was already planning on it.”

That catches me off guard. “I’m sorry?”

“Jake, I grew up in New England. You can’t be surprised that I’m a hockey fan.”

“Well you didn’t exactly treat me like a fan when we met.”

“That’s because I was trying to be professional. And you pissed me off by showing up late.”

“Fair enough. So you’ll be there Saturday?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” She gives me a smile like it's no big deal. “I can’t promise I won’t heckle you if you mess up a play though.”

“I’d expect nothing less. This doesn’t count as our celebration then, since you already had this planned.”

She hesitates for a minute, looking a little shy. “Is there a party planned at Hockey House after the game?”

For once, there actually wasn’t. We’d been pretty swamped with practices and exams the past two weeks so no one had time to coordinate. “If there was, would you be interested in attending?”

“Potentially…” She hesitates, likely wondering what she might be getting herself into.

Her openness to the idea gives me newfound energy to plan something. “We can keep it small. It’ll be fun, and less chaotic.” I would make sure of it. The last thing I wanted was for Eliana to finally let her hair down and regret it.

“Then count me in. But only if you score a goal.”

“Make no mistake, Ellie. I’m scoring a goal.”

“Are we playing a game or taking a nap out there!” Mason yells in frustration.

He’s fallen into the assistant coaching position with ease.

There’d been a bit of tension between us after he’d moved me down to the second line and stuck me with two freshmen but that tension was resolved after we beat UCONN, one of the best teams in our division, and I had to admit there was a method to his madness.

“If you boys actually want to make it to the Frozen Four this year, we have to try harder. We have to act like every game we play is the last game. Understood?” He locks eyes with each and every one of us before leaving the locker room.

He's right. It didn’t matter who we were playing or that this was one game of many we’d have to play before we started tournament season.

But I also wasn’t going to play it safe knowing Eliana was in the stands.

I was never one to let an opportunity to show off go to waste.

I wave Craig and Johnny — my new linesmen — over and break down our next few plays before we get called back for the start of the second period.

From the bench, I watch Adam win the face off but struggle to get any pucks past the goalie.

Mason waves for a line change and I come barreling onto the ice, ready to knock any Boston College player on their ass if they even try me.

As I skate over to center ice, I take a second to scan the student section for Eliana, and I manage to find her in a sea of navy blue, screaming one of the chants the band was leading.

“Looking for your mom, Keeley? Pretty sure she’s still sleeping sound in my bed.” James Conoway’s irritating voice is in my ear.

“Five years on the team and still on the fourth line.” I click my tongue. “Not looking too good for you.”

The ref yells at us to stop running our mouths, and I lock back in, eyes fixated on the puck.

The second my stick drops to the ice, I make contact with the puck, easily pushing aside James and his feeble attempt to block me from moving into their zone.

I pass the puck to Craig when I see one of BC’s defensemen come charging behind me, and snicker when he loses his footing and falls in a failed attempt to intercept my pass.

We close in on the goal, and I call for Craig to take the shot.

The goalie is able to block it with his stick, but he loses control of the puck immediately after, allowing me to scoop it back up.

James comes up on my left and forces me into the boards.

We struggle to overpower each other when I decide to send the puck around the boards, hoping either Craig or Johnny is there to get it.

I hear the puck hit the goalie post and turn to see Craig with a look of disbelief on his face, wondering how his shot didn’t make it in.

“Get the rebound, get the rebound!” I shout, nearly diving in front of the net, extending my stick out to block a BC player from icing it.

I skate back a bit from the net, looking for a better angle when I find it.

I settle the puck before making contact with my stick and send it flying towards the top right corner of the net.

I watch the puck hit the back of my net and the entire student section rises up and screams. During our on-ice celebration my eyes find Eliana in the middle of the student section, screaming her head off and decked out in a blue and white Westchester U t-shirt.

I would definitely be upgrading her to a jersey soon.

We’re white hot after I score. Adam hits the ice as soon as my line heads back to the benches, and next thing I know, the puck is sliding between the BC goalie’s legs and we’re up two.

“Look at the two vets leading the charge tonight,” I shout, patting my best friend on the back as he comes around to celebrate.

I redirect my attention to Mason. “Hey Coach, you still think it was a good idea splitting us up? If we’re on fire apart, just imagine how many goals we’d have now if we were together. ”

“If you were half as good at leading your linesmen as you were running your mouth, Keeley, we’d be up by four right now,” he retorts without even giving me a glance.

If he was trying to rile me up, he succeeded.

“Craig, Johnny, watch number 75 out there. He’s big, so he gets winded fifteen seconds on the ice.

And their captain? He likes to act like he’s God’s gift to hockey, but he telegraphs nearly every shot he’s going to take.

Craig, the next time we’re on the ice and you see an opening, I want you to watch James’s stick and take the puck from him.

Pass it over to me whenever you get an opening.

Johnny, I want you near the net ready to take a shot as soon as I send the puck towards you. ”

The freshman looks at me, eyes as wide as saucers. “You want me to take the shot?”

“Did I stutter?”

“I-uh-um, no. No sir.”

“ Sir? I’m your captain, not your grandfather.” My attempt at a joke does little to settle him. “Listen to me. We’ve run this drill at least a hundred times in practice. You got this. I wouldn’t be telling you to take the shot if I didn’t think you could handle it.”

He gives me a small nod before taking a big gulp and following along with the action on the ice, tracking the players I pointed out.

I can tell he’s nervous by the way he barely celebrates Adam scoring another goal.

“Don’t overthink it Johnny, you got this.

” Or at least I hope he did. All I could do was hold my breath and get him the puck.

I suddenly felt a pit form in my stomach as I watched Johnny anxiously fiddle with his gloves as he skated onto the ice.

Craig sends me a look that screams, “Are you sure about this?” and I give him a shrug.

Best case scenario, Johnny scores and builds his confidence.

Worst case scenario, I’d settle the rebound and score the goal myself.

“Damn, they have you babysitting the freshman Keeley? How badly did you have to fuck up to get stuck with that gig?” I roll my eyes. James was on a mission tonight.

“Being a captain is more than having a fancy letter on your jersey, Conoway, not that you would know.”

“You’re one to talk. Everyone knows your boy Adam is the one who holds down the team. You’re just a pigeon riding his coattails.”

My jaw slams shut so hard if not for my mouthguard, I’m sure I would have chipped a tooth.

It was semi-public knowledge that Coach Jameson had needed some convincing to make me alternate captain, despite the fact that the team had voted me into the position.

Whereas Adam was an obvious decision, Coach hadn’t been sure I could handle the responsibility.

I’d like to think I’d more than earned my position over the years, but the topic was still a sore spot for me.

Conoway was one word away from being rammed into the boards so hard he wouldn’t know which way was up.

I feel the blood pumping in my veins— a sign of how much he’s managed to piss me off.

Keep your head on straight , Jake. Win this game and wipe that smug ass grin off his face.

A strong part of me wants to tell Craig and Johnny to step back and let me handle this.

With how riled up I am, I have no doubt I would send the puck straight into the net if I got possession.

It felt like I was going against every single one of my instincts by not jumping in and taking the lead, but I could feel Mason’s eyes burning into the back of my head.

Where Johnny is shaking like a leaf, Craig is cool and composed as he sets up for the face-off against Mark Remmington, one of BC’s top players.

Though I can’t hear it, Craig says something to Mark that manages to throw him long enough for Craig to toggle the puck over to our side and send it towards me.

Johnny takes a second too long to get into position, and I let out a string of curses as James sneaks up behind me and steals the puck.

I dash like a madman across the ice, legs on fire, as I manage to regain control over the puck.

With Johnny clearly too in his head, I look for Craig hoping he's nearby and ready to take the shot. I see him wide open to my right and we lock eyes as I motion for him to get ready. Like a parasite, James is immediately on top of me, relentless. He slashes me in the leg followed by a hard cross-check to my lower back. I listen for the ref to call a penalty that never comes, so I decide to give James a taste of his own medicine. If the refs had blinders on, I may as well use it to my advantage. As I send the puck towards Craig, who’s finally right where I need him, I angle my elbow to jab James right between the ribs.

With him officially off my back, I refocus my attention on adding another point to the scoreboard.

I close in on the goalie who has his eyes trained on Craig and I.

He’s one of the best in the league, and most days, if you’re lucky enough to get one past him, it’s because he’s distracted by the chaos down in front.

I skate back to the center line looking for another angle to attack when I hear Johnny.

“The goalie’s locked in on you guys and he’ll never even see me coming.

Get me the puck and I’ll go in for the kill. ”

“You sure?”

He gives me a firm nod and I notice his nervous look is now replaced by one of sheer determination.

I skate back to my original spot, close to the goal, and make a show of passing the puck back to Craig.

We go back and forth, ensuring the goalie’s attention is on us like a cat tracking a laser pointer.

When I’m sure we have him right where we want him, I shout, “Now!” my eyes locked on Craig, while my stick is aimed at Johnny.

The goalie’s too preoccupied with Craig that he has no idea Johnny’s goal has landed until the buzzer goes off.

4-0 Westchester. I skate over to Johnny, giving him a big bear hug as he stands there, eyes wide in shock.

“Atta boy Johnny! First goal of many for you.”

I scoop Johnny’s puck out from the net and bring it back to the bench where I settle in and watch our third line head out. Mason throws me my water bottle and I would’ve nearly missed the faint small on his lips if not for the words he uttered after. “Alright, Keeley. I see you.”

I give him a small shrug like it’s no big deal, while my heart tightens. It’s about time he sees that Jake Keeley could handle his own.