Page 7

7

“ G ood practice today, guys!” Brett yells in the locker room. “A few more weeks until the playoffs. Let’s stay focused.”

I pull my practice jersey off my back and throw it against the wooden panel of my locker.

Bradley is sitting on the bench in front of his locker, which so happens to be next to mine. He pulls off his skates and places them on the ground. “So dude, I haven’t seen you take a girl home in a while. Are you feeling all right?” Bradley puts his hand to my forehead, checking to see if I have a fever.

I swat his hand away and growl, “Bro, I’m fine. Just been focusing on the game, man. Didn’t you just hear Adamski? Playoffs are right around the corner. My head has to be in it fully.” I really don’t want to talk about this with him right now.

“I’ve known you for almost a decade, man. You’ve never taken a break from women. If you have the opportunity to take a girl home, you always seize it.”

Even though what Bradley is saying is the truth, it still stings that my reputation with women has gotten so to a level so egregious that my best friend is calling me out on it.

I shrug off his comment. “I guess there haven’t been any opportunities then.”

“Um, were you not there at my engagement party? I saw those two blondes at the bar with you. I would say those are two opportunities right there.”

“Well, I decided not to take it. Just because an opportunity presents itself doesn’t mean you have to take it, bro. They were too desperate for attention. I am not about that anymore.”

“Are you telling me that my best friend for almost a decade, Tristan Peter Lawson…”

“That is not my middle name,” I interject.

Bradley ignores me. “...has turned into a romantic and wants to actually pursue a woman?”

“So what if I do, man? I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Maybe I want what you and Jen have. Have you ever thought of that?” I still avoid looking at him. I am scared that he will see right through me and read my mind: the only person I’ve ever thought of being with long-term shares the same last name as him.

“Wow. I didn’t realize that’s what you wanted. I hope that you find her soon, because let me tell you, finding your person is the best fucking feeling in the world.”

“What are we talking about?” Oakley, our main goalie, chimes in. He still has all of his gear on and his head looks too small for his body.

“Nothing,” I say almost too quickly. My voice cracks in the process.

“Why did your voice go up like two octaves?” Oakley sits down next to me and pats my back.

“Because we are talking about finding Lawson his person.” Bradley volunteers the information without hesitation. Goddamn him.

“I’d really not like to involve the entire locker room in this conversation.”

“Is Tristan Peter Lawson having issues with women?!”

“Oh my God, that is not my middle name. I hate you Bradley for even starting that fucking rumor. My middle name is John, okay? Can we just clear that up right here and now?” Bradley gives me a shit-eating grin as he continues to take off his equipment. I continue, “And no, I am not having issues with women.”

“He’s having issues finding the right woman. Plus he hasn’t gotten laid in a while,” Bradley adds nonchalantly, as if we are in a support group or something.

I press my hands to my face and raise my voice. “Dude, will you shut up?”

“I’m just trying to help.”

“How? By telling everyone my business? And business that is not even true, I might add.”

“So, you are sleeping with random women and you don’t want to find love?” Bradley looks me dead in the eye and bats his eyelashes innocently.

He’s lucky that I love him like a brother, because if it was anyone else infiltrating themselves in my business, this would be a very different story. I pop up from the bench. “I am ending this conversation. I am going to take a shower.” I stride toward the showers. I need to get away from the guys before I punch a hole in the damn wall.

After I wash up and put on clean clothes, Hastings approaches me. Great.

“So, Bradley’s sister. What’s her name again?”

“Brooke. Why?” I glance around for Bradley, hoping he’ll come over and kick Hastings’ ass for asking about his little sister.

“Well, I was thinking. I bet I could break that little rule of hers. The one where she doesn’t date hockey players.”

I snort. “I’d like to see you try, Hastings. I’ve known Brooke for a long time and that’s a hard and fast rule that she never breaks.” I grab my hat from the hook on my locker and put it on. “Trust me.” There is a heavy weight in my stomach, and I don’t know if it’s because of Dean’s interest or because I hate the fact that she has that rule. Either way it shouldn’t matter. She’s not my sister. But if it was one of my sisters, I would do everything in my power to keep them away from a guy like Hastings.

“Do you want to make this a friendly bet? Maybe you can get something out of it, Lawson,” Hastings says with a devious smile. I don’t like where this is going.

I tie my shoes. “What the hell are you talking about, man?”

Dean says smugly, “If I get Brooke to be my girlfriend by the end of the season, you have to step aside for the captain’s spot and endorse me. Captain’s spots are decided mainly by the team, right?”

It is obvious that he knows nothing about me or Brooke. “Right.” I say cautiously. Why does he even want to pursue Brooke? “But why even bring Brooke into this? You know that Beckett will kick the shit out of you for even thinking about dating his little sister, right?”

“I am not afraid of Beckett. I get punched out on the ice all the time.” Yeah, because you’re a dirty player and a prick of a human . “And as for Brooke, because I love a challenge and I know that I will get her to date me. Plus, she’s hot and I always get what I want.” He pauses and I can feel him staring at me. “And something tells me that you care about her more than you let on, given how much you are fuming right now.”

He’s getting under my skin and I am fucking over it. I scoff as I stand up and throw my duffle bag strap over my shoulder. “You are that confident you can get a girl that has no interest in you and never will. Did you not hear me? She will never break that rule.” Because I am confident in that fact and because I also want to see how badly Brooke is going to turn this asshole down, I say, “All right, Hastings, you have a deal. If you can get Brooke to date you by the end of the regular season, I will endorse you for captain. I’m a man of my word. But, if you fail, then you will step out of the running completely, even as an option for an alternate, and you will endorse me.”

“Deal.” We don’t even shake hands. We just stare each other down like we’re in one of those old Western films, ready to draw our pistols and duel at any moment. Ever since Hastings joined the Storm, we’ve always had a contentious relationship. We are both good at our respective positions and we know it.

Someone clears their throat behind me. “Um, is everything okay, or do I need to step in as a lineman right now and break up whatever the hell is going on between you two?” Bradley’s voice startles me, probably because I already feel guilty that Brooke is in the middle of this war.

“No need to step in, Beckett. We’re all done here.” Hastings smirks, picks up his own bag, and strides out of the locker room. “See you tomorrow.”

I shake my head but I can’t shake the pissed-off look on my face.

“Woah. Seriously, bro, what were you two talking about? Was he also trying to give you advice on your love life? Is that why you have a crazy look in your eye?”

“Nothing. Just Hastings trying to stir up trouble and get under my skin.”

“Well, I hope you can put that aside for next week. I have a huge favor to ask of you and I know that you will be my boy and help a brother out!” Bradley gives me two thumbs-up and a cheesy-ass smile.

I sigh. “Why do I even put up with you? Okay, what do you need?”

“So…Jen kind of scheduled a cake tasting for next Monday, but I totally forgot that I promised Brooke I would speak at her school’s career day.”

“Okay, what does this have to do with me getting along with Hastings?”

“Maybe because I roped him in to do it with me.”

“Why didn’t you ask me to go with you in the first place?”

“Well, I figured that the elementary school wouldn’t want bloodshed after you and Brooke are in the same vicinity. I assumed you wouldn’t want to go, so that’s why I didn’t ask you.”

Even though he has a point, he also knows the next point that I am going to say. “You know I love working with kids. As much as I hate your sister and Hastings, I will put those feelings aside for the kids. But you owe me later.” I point to him and he nods feverishly.

“Thank you so much, bro! I will let Brooke know so that she isn’t surprised when you do show up. See you tomorrow. Are you ready for the game?”

“Always ready.” Talking to an auditorium of elementary school kids is easy. I do press conferences all the time. It’s talking in front of Brooke that I am feeling nervous about because she has always been my toughest critic.