Page 58 of Put a Rink on It

Morning. I was exhausted.

You were passed out.

Can I blame your bed being too comfortable?

For now, I’ll allow it

Much appreciated. I’m mad I missed the first morning of your quirks. And last night too. Shame on me

Good thing you’re there for more than today

She’s going to be so disappointed, but that’s on her.

What time are you home for lunch? I’ll make us something

Don’t feel like you have to cook meals. If I implied that, it wasn’t intentional

I gotta eat, you gotta eat. You’re still learning

We could prepare it together

Because that’s not all domestic and shit. Sharing meals has always been a thing for us, but not her preparing them beyond the occasional meal when I visited.

A perfect way to get acquainted with this life. Let’s do it.

You choose. No olives

Shucks. You’re no fun

I’ll show you no fun

“Marina?” Schurbatski guesses, plopping down next to me. He’s gotten bigger since college, and he sports a full beard. Trimmed and neat to two inches below his chin. I wouldn’t be surprised if he measured it, it’s so precise.

“Yep.”

“What took you guys so long to get together? You had the biggest crush on her.”

“I didn’t,” I protest, my timbre weak. Damn. What’s gotten into me?

“Ya did,” he counters with a Cheshire cat grin. “Remember how you moped the first few weeks back after break freshman year?”

“I did not.” He raises a brow in challenge. “It had nothing to do with her,” I deflect, the lies piling up.

I wouldn’t say I moped around, but I missed her. Mostly our friendship, but the sex, too. More than I cared to admit, and something I didn’t realize anyone else picked up on. Years later, if he’s bringing it up, he’s probably right. He’s got a sharp eye for tiny details, on and off the ice.

“If you say so. Is she coming to the game this weekend?”

“Yes.” For the second time, the comment expels without thinking.

Great, now I’ve got to convince her to come with me to Montreal.

Shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Today’s drill capitalizes on shooting.

Coach goes over the specifics, and the team lines up on both sides of the boards. On the whistle, Novak skates across the ice, receiving a pass from Gavrielidis from the opposite side of the boards. Novak carries the puck around the neutral zone, passing to Singeglasov and then goes wide. Singeglasov carries it through the middle before passing it back to Novak. Singeglasov drives off the inside shoulder of where Coach Barron waits, and Novak cuts behind and in the middle for a shot on the net. It goes wide, and he hangs his head as he gets back in line.

The whistle blows again for the next set of teammates.