Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“A little. I could use some good luck. I’ve been struggling a bit lately. My landings are wobbly and I’m not getting off the ice smoothly. So…yeah, I’ll take any bit of extra help.”
“I know all about that. I wear blue socks and only blue socks on game days. Black socks are for practice and white socks for gym workouts or free skating.” I felt his gaze on me in my periphery. “What? It’s not that weird. Pritchard eats a peanut butter sandwich on white bread one hour before every game. It’s got to be this certain kind of chunky PB, no jelly, no honey. He basically eats cardboard with nuts and chokes it down with a little water. Not too much ’cause he thinks leaving the ice is bad luck, and he doesn’t want to pee his pants.”
Rafe barked a laugh. “Really?”
“Yeah. Everyone has something. Brady has a particular way of wrapping tape on his stick. It’s very involved, and it takes him for-fucking-ever. Ty puts his headphones in to get in his groove.”
“And what do you do…besides the blue socks?”
“Nothing else. My job is to pump everyone up. Make sure the guys know our school and the whole damn town are rooting for us. Win or lose, each and every single one of them is a game changer. Sometimes I overdo it, but you get more from people if they feel appreciated, ya know? I s’pose that makes me the head cheerleader.”
I snorted in amusement at the idea as I veered onto the interstate.
Rafe was quiet for a long moment. “Who tells you that you’re doing a good job?”
I furrowed my brow. “I dunno. My teammates do, I guess. We’re like brothers, and we’re supportive of each other.”
“That’s good. It’s—well, I was at a recent game, and I noticed you were on the bench at the end of the period. You seemed a bit subdued…for you, anyway,” he added in a wry tone. “But you were quick to jump up and pat your teammates on the back, offer advice, and support them. I didn’t see anyone else do that. Just you. I get the feeling you’re the adhesive binding everyone together. Who’s going to do that when you’re not there?”
“First of all, I think that was a real compliment. I didn’t think I’d ever get one of those from you. Geez, that’s kinda fuckin’ sweet.” I puffed up my chest and grinned, then risked a brief glance Rafe’s way, hoping to catch his eye roll. Yep, there it was.
“I’ve complimented you before. I told you I like your hair color.”
“That didn’t count.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Nope. I don’t accept it. Give me another one,” I challenged.
“Now you’re just being greedy,” he replied, infusing maximum primness into his speech. “And I see what you’re doing. You’re deflecting. You didn’t like my observation, so you turned it into a joke.”
True.
“What do you want me to say? I’m captain. It’s my job to pump everyone up. I don’t need everyone telling me how awesome I am. If we’re keeping things real, I haven’t been playing so great lately anyway.”
And now you can shut up, Langley.
“Why do you say that?”
“ ’Cause it’s a fact. My passes aren’t connecting, I’m not as sharp as I should be, and I’m slower than usual. Sometimes I feel like I’m skating through molasses, and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “Other days…I’m fine.”
“I can help.”
“What? How?” I snorted.
“I’m an excellent skater, and I’m fast. Really, really fast.” Rafe sat taller in his seat and flattened his hand on the console between us. “We can do drills together. We could start tonight. I’ll check the rink schedule and see if we can—”
“Yo, hold up there, speedy. I’m fine. We’re down to our last games and—”
“And that’s why you need me,” he intercepted. “Think of it as an outside consultation or a friendly field trip to the rink with your roommate. Or…my contribution to the roommate game.”
“Oh. Very slick,” I drawled.
He chuckled. “Maybe it won’t make a difference, but it can’t hurt to try something new. And on the off chance it helps, it’s the least I can do to pay you back for buying extra groceries and insisting I eat them so they don’t go bad.”
“Do I do that?” I took the Haverton exit and followed my GPS directions to the new Costco on Filmore Street.
“You do and…brace yourself, because I’m about to give you a real compliment.”
The lot was full, so I parked in the first open spot. We’d have to hike to the entrance, but it was a nice spring day and the company was pleasant.
“A second real compliment? Hang on a sec. I gotta be ready for this.” I turned off the engine, unfastened my seat belt, and gestured animatedly. “Okay, hit me.”