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Oh, this was good. I practically jumped up with excitement. "Yes!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my enthusiasm.
"Okay, what is it?" Walker asked with determination.
Lincoln and I didn’t really have a pregame ritual. We were basically just badasses whose badassery was a ritual in and of itself. But this was a good distraction.
"Well, it’s a little weird,” I warned, but Walker just nodded intently. “Linc and I…we shake it off," I said, deserving an Oscar because my voice was so steady.
Walker blinked. "You shake it off?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief.
I grinned. "Trust me, it works wonders. But hey, it was a Linc and me thing. Doesn’t have to be a Walker and me thing, ya know?"
“No, no,” he said quickly, holding up his hands. “I can shake it off. Let’s do it. Let’s get you ready for the game.”
Where was the motherfucking camera when I needed it? No offense to anyone’s mothers by the way; it had been ages since I’d done something like that. And mothers were forever safe from me now that I’d gotten Blake back.
I guess until she became a mother.
Fuck. Don’t get hard now, Ari.
I grabbed my phone and pulled up my "Shake It Off" playlist, cranking the volume to the max. Taylor Swift's infectious beat filled the room, and I launched into an exaggerated shimmy that would make every Swiftie proud.
Walker hesitated for a moment, then got into it. His awkward moves slowly morphed into a goofy dance, and soon enough, we were both grooving like nobody was watching. I kept my ear out for the sound of anyone coming, and when I heard footsteps, I conveniently stopped and leaned against the wall like the cool stud I was.
The door swung open, and some of our teammates entered, stopping dead in their tracks at the spectacle of Walker doing the “robot” to Tay-Tay.
Their jaws dropped.
I burst into laughter at their stunned expressions, and Walker came to a screeching halt, his cheeks reddening as he stared at his teammates.
“Nice moves, Walker,” I drawled, doing a slow clap.
“What. He—” Walker stammered, before shooting me an exasperated glare.
“I feel much better,” I told him seriously as other players filed into the room, word spreading of Walker’s “moves.”
Before Walker could respond, Coach strode in, his presence commanding immediate attention. Everyone quickly sobered up.
"Gentlemen," he began, his eyes scanning the room, "tonight is the first game of the season. The beginning of a new journey. We've worked tirelessly to get here, and now it's time to show the world what we're made of."
He paused, letting the gravity of the moment sink in. "Remember, we're not just a team; we're a family. On this ice, we fight together, we bleed together, and we win together. The Cobras have a legacy, and it's our job to uphold it. The fans out there, they're counting on us to give them a season they'll never forget."
The coach's voice grew more intense, a fire of determination burning in his eyes. "I don't need to remind you that every shift counts, every pass, every shot on goal. But I will remind you that you've got the talent, the skills, and the heart to be champions. Believe in yourselves, and believe in each other. Trust your instincts, and leave everything out there on that ice."
He paused once more, the room filled with a charged energy. "Tonight, we're not only playing for ourselves; we're playing for this city, for the Cobras' faithful. So go out there and give them a show they'll never forget. Let's bring home that victory, boys!"
It was a great speech, and as we all roared, chanting “Cobras” at the top of our lungs, for a second, I could almost feel that first game excitement.
Just like I always had with the Knights.
But then I noticed Soto in the corner, his sneer all too evident. And there wentallthe happy feelings.
Focus on the fact you might get to see Blake tonight, I told myself as we headed down the hallway that led to the ice.
And wouldn’t you know it, but that was finally enough to make me feel alright.
CHAPTER5
ARI
