Hat Trick 3: Penalty Shot (10 page)

“I told him I’d think about it and get back to him before practice tomorrow so that’s not hanging over us. Oh, man, what if it wrecks the team?”

“Don’t.” I held up my hand. “I’ve been down that path. That can’t be the deciding factor either. Team is one thing, and it has its place. In this case, the choice is between you and Bryan.”

He nodded and his mood seemed to brighten. “It worked for you.”

“The team romance did work for me. It may work for you, it may not. Won’t know until you try.”

“What should we do?”

I shrugged. “Whatever. Go to a movie and dinner like he suggested. Go to a game. I’d say pick a place you’ll both like and feel comfortable without worrying who might see you.”

“I’m gonna do it.” He pulled out his phone and started typing.

“Right now?”

“Yeah,” he looked up and lit up the room with his smile. “Before I lose the nerve.” I downed the rest of my coffee as he typed. It couldn’t have been more than a few words because it didn’t take long. “There. Done. Thanks, Simon. I hope that wasn’t too weird.”

“It’s not even close to the weirdest talk I’ve had.”

His phone buzzed with enough energy to move along the table’s surface.

He took a deep breath before he picked the phone up and read the screen. He shook as he showed me the message. In all caps with “
YES!
” and several variations of smiley faces following it. The phone buzzed again and a window floated up as I watched. “
Let’s talk tomorrow about where.
” I read before he pulled the phone back to read the new message.

“I’m scared,” he said, despite the grin.

“It’s a first date, what’d you expect?”

“I’ve got to get Dee to talk about dating this week.” He looked at his phone again. “I should get going, I’m supposed to be helping my mom.”

“Glad I was here to help.”

“Thanks, Simon.” We bumped fists as he stood.

“You’re welcome. If you get different advice from Dee, let me know. I want to know where I went wrong.”

“Okay. I don’t think you did, but okay.”

It was great he was leaving so happy, a marked difference from the clouds hanging over his head when we started. I wished I could share this with Alex. He’d love to know this was happening on the team. If the date went well, the whole team might be in on it soon enough.

Alex and I were barely into our hotel room before there was a knock at the door. We’d just played a losing game against Ohio State and we were due to meet downstairs for dinner in about twenty minutes.

Alex let Danny in the room.

“Hey,” I said. “This is a surprise. What’s up?”

“It’s actually me that’s got the surprise,” he said.

Alex and I looked at each other, confused. What was Danny up to?

“We’re breaking away for dinner,” he said.

We usually had the option of separating from the team if we wanted, but we were a pretty tight group so it didn’t happen often. If we were in a town where someone had friends or family, a single person might skip the team dinner to hang out with them. But it didn’t make sense for Danny to go out with us.

“I know what you guys are thinking. All three captains are going to miss the team dinner. Trust me. It’s okay.” His phone buzzed and he checked it quickly before continuing. “Let’s go.”

“But where are we going?” Alex asked.

“Someplace good. Someplace you’ll like, a lot.”

We followed him out of the hotel and down the street.

“I think Danny may have lost his mind,” Alex finally said to me as we trailed behind him.

“Do you think we need to worry he’s about to stage a coup to take over the team? Off us here in Ohio?”

“Uh-oh,” Danny said as he turned a corner. “You’ve found me out.” He slowed up and got between us. “I must kill you both. The C must be mine.” He rolled his eyes. “Nothing quite that crazy. This is as simple as getting pancakes, or whatever else you guys may want.”

We were approaching an IHOP.

“I’m always down for IHOP,” Alex said.

We followed Danny inside and, instead of stopping at the hostess stand, he headed into a section of tables. Already seated were Trent, Joey and the other two seniors from the team.

“Happy anniversary,” they said as we took our seats.

I turned red instantly. Every now and then things could embarrass me and this did. It was overwhelming having our anniversary acknowledged like this. And it was a complete surprise because the actual day wasn’t until Wednesday. Danny, Trent and some others usually wished us well, and two years ago Alex involved some of our friends in a big surprise for me. This was unexpected and awesome.

“Oh man, thanks, guys,” Alex said, having the presence of mind to speak. “This is very cool.”

“So it’s a little unusual to spend your anniversary with your teammates,” Danny said. “This was something we wanted to do since we’re on the road the weekend you usually celebrate. It’s our chance to say thanks. I remember meeting you two on orientation day when we were freshman. You guys had a confidence that was amazing. I was so nervous that day, and then we met. I knew I’d found friends.”

“Cheers to that,” Trent said. “I knew it that day, too.”

“I’m sure we’ll look back at all the team stuff during the season banquet in a few months, so I’m not going to dwell on much of that,” Danny continued. “We wanted to do this because in one way or another we’re all inspired by you two. Not only are you great captains to work with on and off the ice, the work you’re doing with Rainbow High this season is an example for us all. Oh, and the Rainbow High guys gave us a card to pass on tonight.

“Besides dinner, which is on us. We chipped in to send you guys up to Frankenmuth for a weekend. You guys rarely get away during the school year, so after the season’s over, we’re going to make you leave for a weekend. It’s a cute, sorta cheesy place. If you don’t like it, I take responsibility, but I think you’ll love it.”

He then raised his glass, and everyone followed suit.

“Happy anniversary, captains,” he said.

The others at the table said “happy anniversary” in unison and glasses were clinked together.

It was overwhelming in the best way possible that the guys we’d been on the team with the longest were doing this for us. I looked to Alex and was surprised that his eyes were moist. He wasn’t crying, but he was certainly moved. One of us needed to say something. I raised my eyebrows at him and he nodded, which meant I was up first.

I really didn’t know what to say, luckily these guys knew us well enough to wait it out.

“There are many times I’ve said to Alex that we’ve got amazing friends.” I paused again to make sure I kept my composure. “It’s not often you catch either of us speechless. Man. I really don’t have words. It’s safe to say that we know you guys have our backs day in and day out on the ice and off and that we have good times together. But for you to go to the effort to do this is really above and beyond. We’re truly lucky to know each of you. Other Captain?”

I looked to him.

“Being with this man has been incredible. I don’t ever get tired of it. And to have you all take this moment to celebrate our time together is something I won’t forget. Thank you all.” He raised his glass. “Cheers.” He clinked his glass, one-by-one, with everyone else. “I’m going to stop talking now, before I babble too much.”

He sat back in his chair, turned to me, and raised his glass, which I happily clinked before drinking with him.

“One second, guys,” I said, holding up a single finger.

I leaned over, and Alex leaned in my direction. “Happy anniversary,” I said, quietly. I doubt that anyone else at the table heard it. I went in for a kiss. It wasn’t a quick peck, but it wasn’t a make out kiss either. We pulled back, both laughing, just as waiters arrived with onion rings and French fries.

“We ordered on your behalf,” Danny said. “Actually the folks here were very helpful, they’re bringing platters of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes. Pretty much a little bit of everything.”

As he talked, more platters arrived. He wasn’t kidding It was a lot of food, but we were seven hungry hockey players. While I was hungry, I had to force myself to start eating. I was still processing the tremendous outpouring of love. That’s really what it was. Sure, you could call it friendship, but that didn’t give it the significance it deserved.

“You guys did a great job pulling this off,” Alex said.

“And it was easy,” Danny said. “The only thing I honestly wasn’t sure of was the food choices to go with since there’s so much to choose from here.”

“We’re pretty simple guys when it comes to food,” I said. “Especially breakfast.”

“Gotta disagree,” Trent said. “I’ve seen you stand in front of the cereal selection at breakfast, or the Gatorade bin after practice, and think about your choice forever. Simple choices blown into major decisions.”

“What? The cereal choice can set the tone for the day. As for the Gatorade, sometimes I want a specific flavor. It’s worth digging in the barrel to see if there’s a Frost in there.”

“Frame it anyway you want, I wouldn’t call it
simple
.” Trent smiled and rolled his eyes.

“Careful, Trent,” said Joey from across the table. “You might be doing suicides Monday morning.”

“I’ll send him a case full of Frost Gatorade and I’ll be set.”

“I can’t be had for that cheap.”

“It’s true,” Alex said. “It’d take at least two cases.”

“Sold!” Trent said, slamming his fist on the table for emphasis.

Everyone cracked up.

It was a wonderful dinner. The evening was capped off by everyone gathering under the IHOP sign outside for a picture, which we got one of the waiters to take. That would be an excellent remembrance from this night.

The annual Halloween party at the community center was usually crazy, albeit in a good way. This was my third year working the youth dance and it was always a blast to see the costumes people were wearing, and great to see so many allies come along to have a good time.

I was exhausted. We’d played an afternoon game and then did some trick or treat activities at the rink for the kids who’d come in costume. It was fun, but there’d been no rest. There’d been just enough time to drink down a protein shake and change into our costumes before coming here. Alex looked sexy as hell as Nightwing and I was rocking Spider-Man, although mostly without the mask on because it made talking and seeing difficult, not to mention I didn’t like how it felt against my beard.

We were stationed outside the dance, collecting admission fees and watching the door. A number of players from Rainbow High were already here, including some of the straight ones, either solo or with their girlfriends.

TJ and Bryan arrived together, dressed as Cyclops and Gambit from
X-Men
.

“Coaches!” TJ said, coming up to our table. “Happy Halloween.”

“You guys are lookin’ sharp,” I said.

“Thanks,” Bryan said. “It took a while to get these together, but I think we did pretty good.” They shot each other a grin as they each handed over two dollars.

I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a date. They behaved no different at practice or the games I’d been too since TJ had gotten the “yes.” The fact they showed up together, and dressed similar might mean something. Or it might mean nothing.

Alex took their cash as I stamped their hands for entry.

“You guys stuck out here all night?” TJ asked.

“We’ll be in there soon,” I said.

“You can’t keep him off the dance floor,” Alex said. “As a result, I usually end up there, too.”

“Cool. We’ll see you in there,” TJ said.

TJ grabbed onto two of Bryan’s fingers and they headed into the room together. Now it looked like a date.

“Are they?” Alex looked at me with a raised eyebrow completing the question.

I tried to shrug it off. “Maybe.”

“You know something, don’t you?” We looked at each other. He nodded, understanding I couldn’t say anything. “That’s really great though. If they are.”

We ended up with a small rush of people dressed in basic jeans and sweaters with wings on their backs and various forms of glittery headgear. It was all very sparkly and would look amazing under the lights in the dance space. I greeted many of them by name. As we were taking money and stamping, I saw TJ bolt out of the dance and through the front door.

I hurriedly stamped the people in front of me, and then stopped taking money.

“Can you handle this solo?” I was already away from the table before Alex could say anything.

“TJ!” It was Bryan, looking around the lobby.

“What happened?” I went to Bryan, who looked shaken. His face was white, like he was ill.

“I…I don’t know. We were dancing, a slow song came on and we stepped closer. He suddenly shoved me back. Then he was gone.” His voice broke as tears threatened to fall. “I swear I didn’t do anything.” He wiped his eyes. “At least I don’t think I did.”

“Okay. Stay here,” I said as Walt and Scottie came out along with some other teammates. “Let me go talk to him. You guys hang with him.”

“Sure thing,” Scottie said, sounding exactly like the captain I was hoping he’d be in that moment.

It wasn’t hard to find TJ. He stood in the middle of the parking lot.

“TJ?” I walked slowly towards him. “What’s happened?”

He didn’t turn around. He was shaking, but I wasn’t sure if he was crying or simply chilled. His breath drifting into the air in big puffs was a sign he was taking deep breaths to calm down.

“TJ?” I stopped a few paces behind him, not wanting to invade his personal space if he wasn’t ready. “I’m here to help if you need it.”

“I freaked out,” he said.

“Why?” I took a couple steps forward so I could hear better. “Did Bryan do something?”

“No. He was perfect.” I barely heard him.

“Can you tell me?”

He was silent. I recognized his thinking pause. “He got too close.” He turned, but didn’t meet my gaze. “He’ll know I’m not a boy. I mean, he already knows that, but that close, he’s going to feel I’m not a boy. The illusion only goes so far.” He took in more deep breaths. “Damn it. We should’ve talked about it before we got here. He’s gonna fuckin’ hate me.”