Page 101 of Pucked Together

I hit his arm, and he feigns pain as he rubs it, laughing.

“You have it,” I say without thinking.

He stops laughing, “Have what? Your kid?”

“No, you idiot. The penthouse.”

He stops right before we enter the locker room. “Are you serious?”

I turn to him, taking off my red and yellow mask and holding it under my arm.

“Dead, serious. I thought you loved that place.”

“No, yeah, I do...it’s just.”

I think back to the times I’ve had him over. My neighbors.

“Your step-sister and her little friend?” I cock my head. “They’re quiet. Keep to themselves, mostly.”

He scoffs.

“Say the word and I’ll talk to Frank. It’s yours.”

He hesitates for only a split-second before slapping me on the back again and saying, “Ok, brother.”

We shuffle inside and the boys are already taking their turns in the showers and throwing around tape from their sticks at each other.

“Hey, Balsy bear! What's it like coming back to a still losing team after so long?" Hicks is at my side in nothing but a towel and jamming a hairbrush into my face like he's an interviewer.

"Oh, you know what they say," I play, "the underdogs get the biggest comebacks."

The boys hoot all around me.

"And the season's not over yet," I add.

"No, it's not!" yells Fergie from his place at his stall.

The hollering dies down as heels click against the floor just outside the locker room. "Everyone decent?" Rina calls from the hall.

"When are we ever?" Zane answers back, already stripping out of his top, revealing his wall of muscles.

"Cover up," I say, throwing my towel at him after wiping the sweat off my forehead.

Rina steps in, "Hell of a game, boys."

"Thanks, Ri-na," we all chant in mock schoolboy voices.

She rolls her eyes.

"Balinger, Sincaid. You’re both wanted in the press room. Get changed and meet me out there. Fergie, you too."

Fergie salutes her as he's bent over his skates, unlacing.

She turns back to me and Trevor.

"If they ask about the brawl again, I've come up with some talking points,” she says, reaching into the pocket of her blazer.

I hold a hand up. "That won't be necessary."