Page 156 of The Pucking Coach's Daughter
And through it all, I’ve been showing up to hockey practice, learning new plays, studying up on the team we’re facing this weekend. We’ve got a double header at home. The team is finally playing better six weeks into our season. There was a lot of fresh blood who had to learn the ropes, sure, but we were also all disconnected.
Cheating fractures you a bit.
Me
Where is her phone?
Penn
Off.
I call him. I don’t know if he’s with her, but after his last ominous message, it’s not so much a want to talk to her as a fucking need.
“Hey,” he answers. “I’m assuming you’re not calling to hear my deep baritone.”
I roll my eyes. “Just give her the phone, asshole.”
He chuckles.
There’s a slight intake of breath, and my heart goes into double-time.
“Hello?”
“Hey, dream girl,” I say.
“You’re calling Penn now?”
“I needed to hear your voice.” I grip the phone tighter. “How are you holding up?”
She sighs. “I don’t know. I’m going to their game tonight. We’re in the hotel right now.”
“Do you have your own room?”
“Yeah. It’s on the same floor as Dad’s. The players are down a floor, but Penn snuck up here.”
She sounds raspy. Has she been screaming? Or not talking at all?
“You have a game tonight?” she asks.
"I do,” I confirm. “Sunday, too, but they’re both home games. Is there anything I can do from here? Besides tell you that I’ve missed having you in my arms every second of this week?”
If I could, I would get on a plane right this second. Obligation holds me back. I’ve got the C on my chest. That means something to my teammates. They look to me for leadership, and if I fail them…
“I wish you were here.” She sighs.
“Can you do me a favor?”
She waits.
“Can you turn your phone on tonight? After the game, when you’re back in your hotel room…” I pause. “I want to talk to you. But not with Walker staring at you.”
She laughs, and I smile. I’m sitting in my car in front of the arena, and I have to go inside any minute. I’m a fucking idiot for her. If she wanted me to crawl to her…
“Penn wants to talk to you,” she says, her soft voice caressing me through the phone. “Thanks for calling, Carter.”
“I—”
“Hey,” Penn interrupts. “It’s me, so shut up.” More muffled, he says, “I’ll be right back, princess.”