“Even me?”
“Oh, no, he told me about you.”
Beck’s eyes widen.
I laugh. “I’m joking. If you think you and Jacobs can handle being grown-ups around Jasper, then we’re in.”
“Hey, I can promise I won’t make it weird. I can’t promise I’ll be a grown-up.”
“Close enough.”
The night I went out with Beck and Jacobs feels so long ago, and I remember how their outlook on their future was shiny and fresh and so optimistic. It made me feel like my time was already done. Being with Jasper, I realize that part of my life is over, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have anything to look forward to.
Settling down with someone was always a long-term goal for me. In the future. When I was in my late thirties and retiring from hockey. Sometimes life has a way of changing your game plan, but I never thought I’d be so enamored by someone so fast.
I know Jasper’s it for me, and as the team disperses to their own rooms, I meet Jasper at ours. Zoe’s already in there, the twins are asleep in their bed, and Jasper pushes me back out the door and into the hallway.
“What’s wrong?”
When the door closes behind him, he pushes me against the corridor wall. “Nothing. I just didn’t want to do this in front of the kids.”
There is no better feeling than when Jasper’s mouth is on mine. Unless he’s kissing me while fucking me. That’s the only thing that can beat his tongue pressing up against mine, his stubble stinging my skin, and that amazing sound he makes at the back of his throat that sounds both pleasurable and whiney.
When he pulls back, he smiles up at me. “I’ve wanted to do that all night.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you liked watching the game.” I gasp. “Think of your reputation, Jasper!”
“I had no idea what was happening on the ice, but I do know your passion and how much you love it is obvious in the way you coach. You were amazing to watch.”
“You really don’t understand hockey, do you? How many times do I have to tell you the fun is on the ice?”
“Not the way I watch it.” He kisses me again, but it’s soft and quick. “Ready to police these players? Do we get to fake arrest them if they try to make a run for it?”
“I think you underestimate what looking out for the players really means, but I told Beck we’d meet him and his partner for drinks at the bar.”
“Drinks? With one of my old students? Well, that won’t make things awkward at all.”
“It’ll be fine. Beck has totally matured this year compared to how he was last year.”
“Oh, so he has the maturity of a thirteen-year-old instead of twelve? Good to know.”
“Just wait. You two will be the best of friends.”
And I’m right. Well, almost. Beck and Jasper may not ever be the best of friends, but Jacobs and Jasper might. They spend most of the night ribbing Beck for his irresponsible streak, but Beck takes it all in stride.
None of the guys from the team even makes an appearance, and when we do a head count before bed, everyone is asleep.
Tomorrow, we’re bringing home that trophy.
We’re so not bringing home this trophy.
The lamp lights up as Cornell scores. Again. It’s currently 3-1, and the buzzer for the end of the second period sounds.
It’s been a scramble from the beginning. We got lucky in the first period with an early goal from Simms, but it’s all gone downhill from there.
I can’t say the guys are doing anything wrong. They’re fighting hard, but that calm confidence they had yesterday is gone.
I don’t know if it’s exhaustion or if the other team is just on a hot streak.
We need to turn this around somehow.
The guys trudge back to the locker room with a defeated presence.
Coach Hogan isn’t yelling at them for the mistakes they’ve made. He still has hope. Three goals is all it will take to win this. Three in one period is doable. Totally doable.
I have faith they can do it if they get out of their heads.
Coach Hogan is saying all the right things, encouraging them, but I can tell it’s all falling on deaf ears.
I step forward. “You know, these guys are probably starting to think they have this game in the bag, and that’s the worst thing they could do. While we’re in here telling you all to keep fighting and you’ve still got a chance, in the locker room next door, they’re no doubt telling them not to get ahead of themselves. But you guys have been in their position before. Last night, you were where they are, and you all kept your heads. You focused, and you took out the W. There wasn’t a weak link among you. When we go back out there, I want you to find the cockiest, loudest, most egotistical one on the ice.”