Hall of Fame

After practice the next day, I once again found myself watching Caleb as he practiced his slapshot. He was getting better, no were near as good as he wanted to be, but I could tell that his practice was defiantly paying off.
It was Friday, which meant there was one week until opening night for the Stars. So Caleb wasn’t the only one out on the ice getting in some last minute repetitions in. On the other end of the ice Jamie and Tyler were working on who knows what, but at the moment it looked like they were doing more arguing then actual practicing. It was amazing that those two got anything done I laughed to myself, but it did give me an idea for a drill tomorrow.
* * *
“Okay boys,” I smiled after the guys were all lined up on the red line, divided into four teams. Each team contained seven players. “The object of this drill is to get your whole team from the red line to center ice, but you can’t move past the red line unless you have the puck, and only one person can have the puck at a time.” I smiled as I delivered a puck to each team. They all looked like they were contemplating this idea, before I added, “And one last thing, if your puck touches the ground you have to start over.” They all looked at me then and I could see the question in their eyes, how do we do that.
“Whenever you’re ready boys,” a smirk crept onto my face as I skated over to stand next to coach.
I smiled to myself as each group tested out a couple of ideas, which either ended in a puck hitting the ice or a disagreement among the group. It was nearing the five minute mark when the last group finally figured it out. The other three groups caught on quickly though, and pretty soon it was a four team race to the finish.
In the end though, it was group four that got all seven guys to center ice the fastest.
* * *
“So you can apparently skate?” Tyler raised one dark eyebrow at me as he handed me the pucks that belonged in the bucket I held, “but have you shot a puck?”
“I have,” I told him as I skated the bucket over to the bench, and he followed. “Recently it has only been on the streets with my cousins though.”
“Well we can fix that, here,” he smiled, a smile he has probably used on many girls, I reminded myself, as he held his stick out to me.
“Tyler I can’t,” I shook my head, as I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.
“Why not,” he questioned, cocky his eyebrow once again, and damn he looked good, now you sound just like every other girl. I nodded in agreement.
My subconscious did have a point, he knew he could get any girl he wanted, and he definitely used what he had. So I told him, “I’m a lefty shot,” which only caused him to frown, or more like pout, but the corner of his lips slowly turned up once again.
“Hold on,” he winked, “I got an idea.”
* * *
Not two minutes later he returned with none other than Jamie Benn. He handed me one of his extra sticks with a smile and luckily I didn’t embarrass myself too much considering the stick was way too big for me and I haven’t actually shot a puck on ice since I was little. We started out passing the puck. After that we ended up taking turns as we shot the puck into the net.
“Shut up,” I told them as I retrieved the puck from the net and passed it to Seguin. “Not all of us are professionals.”
“Apparently,” Benn smiled as I skated back to my spot next to him on the left wing, Seguin took the right. “So have you ever played?” Benn asked with a nod towards the net.
“Hockey, no,” I shook my head as Seguin took his shot at the top left corner, show off. “I played softball.” I smiled, it’s been awhile since I’ve take to anyone about softball.
“Softball,” Benn nodded as Seguin passed the puck to him, Benn looked down at the puck as he pushed it around with his stick. “What position?”
“Center field,” I beamed, loud and proud, just because I haven’t played in over 6 years didn’t mine I didn’t enjoy it.
He took a minute to study me, “I can see it.” He smiled down at me as Seguin skated over.
“See what?” Seguin questioned as he took the puck from Benn.
“She used to play softball.”
“That’s like baseball right?” Seguin looked up at me which allowed Benn to regain position of the puck and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“Yes,” I confirmed, boys, I laughed as Seguin pushed at Benn trying to get the puck back. Benn though was doing a good job of protecting it from him, which is why I do not think he was prepared to stop me as I stuck my stick into the mess and retrieved the puck. Pretty soon it turned into an all-out war. I just shook my head with a laugh as the two guys easily pushed me out of the way, will this was going to be an interesting friendship, I thought to myself.
* * *
And what can I say, I was right.
Sunday morning when I returned from my run I had two lost little, or not so little considering each one stood over 6 feet tall, puppies at my door.
“What do you boys want?” I asked as I approached my door and slid my earbuds from my ear.
“We need food,” they said together, almost as if they rehearsed it.
With a roll of my eyes I unlocked my door and the let the two grown men in, I couldn’t really tell them no, could I.
* * *
Luckily Sunday held no more surprises, but for some reason I was glad that I at least got to see Tyler, so by the time practice on Monday rolled around I was ready to face the world, or maybe not so ready depending on how you looked at it…
“Caleb,” I could feel a smile plastered on my face as Caleb cleared out his locker after Coach announced the rest of the guys who would be sent to the Texas Stars. “If you ever need to talk just call,” I handed him the card with my number on it.
“Okay,” he smiled back, but his eyes were sad as he took the card from my hand. “Thank you.”
“So you know what to do in Austin right?”
“Yea, remember why I play.”
“No,” I smiled with a shake of my head; glad that he actually did listen to me, but there was something else that he should do as well, “kick some ass.”
“I can do that too.” He smiled, an actual eye twinkling smile as he wrapped me in his arms.
“Take care kid,” I smiled as he pulled away, but still couldn’t help the little shred of disappointment that I felt, but I knew it was for the best.

Notes