Page 208 of Lose You Twice

“Well, shit,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair as I make it to my stall.

“Did I hear right?” Coleson asks, walking up to me. “You leaving us for Seattle?”

“Nope.” I set him straight, taking off my sweatshirt and kicking off my shoes.

“Huh,” he says. “Could’ve sworn that’s what I just heard Cooper and Bennett talking about in the hall.”

Great, just what I need to deal with.

I strip out of my sweats before starting to pull on my practice gear. “Like I said, Richards. You heard wrong.”

He shakes his head, chuckling as he makes his way toward his stall. I grit my teeth. The last thing I need is for this team to think I’m leaving them when all they should be focused on is winning the next game.

The rest of the team files in, everyone getting ready for practice.

I’m the first one on the ice, and I take in my surroundings.

Before I even stepped onto the ice at PCU for the first time, I knew it wasn’t forever. In fact, I hoped it’d be less than four years. Then I could move on and chase my forever.

What I didn’t account for was the friendships that I’d make here, the brotherhood I’d find.

Grayson, Asher, and even Weston have become more than my friends; they’ve become my brothers. Weston and Asher will be finishing out another year here at PCU, but Grayson and I will both be going to the Seattle Stormbreakers for this upcoming NHL season.

Kinda cool to continue playing with your best friend, no matter how long or short it turns out to be.

The arena lights turn on, the stands illuminating as I make a final circle in the center of the ice before coming to a stop.

This place, these people, have served me well. I only hope they feel the same once I leave here. That they know I gave my all to the program, that it continues to grow and get more attention because of the hard work, blood, sweat, and tears we’ve left out here for the last four years.

Grayson skates onto the ice, breaking my train of thought as he skates up to me. “You ready, Cap?”

I nod. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

The rest of the team takes the ice, and warm-ups begin.

After practice, I quickly shower before slipping my street clothes back on and looking for Wren.

I check the laundry room, supply closets, literally everywhere. I find Donnelly in the locker room, moving the towel cart, grabbing the soiled towels, which is normally Wren’s job.

My brows pinch. “Did Wren take off?”

“Yes, she wasn’t feeling well,” Donnelly says, not meeting my gaze and pushing the cart farther away.

I go back to my stall, grabbing my phone out of my bag before shooting off a text.

Kai: you okay? looking for you but donnelly said you took off early.

The message shows as delivered, and I wait for her reply.

“Can we hit up Oakley’s again today?" Weston asks, a towel sitting on the back of his neck, another cinched around his hips.

“Can you put clothes on today?” Asher jokes.

Weston runs his hands down his stomach in a lame attempt to show off his abs. “Gotta advertise the merchandise.”

Grayson rolls his eyes. “Literally no one here is interested in that.”

“Don’t be a hater, Bennett. It’s unbecoming.” Weston drops his towel as he pulls on a pair of compression shorts before grabbing his sweats.