Page 26 of Power Play

“I’m not some fucking missing piece of your life puzzle. I said we’re done, and we’re done.”

With that, Nick slid out of the booth, stepped over my leg and didn’t look back.

“Well, that didn’t go well,” I said, facing the door Nick had just sprinted out of.

“It was just a first meeting. He’ll come around,” Wyatt said. The beers were delivered. Cold lager, spilling over three pint glasses.

“He wants nothing to do with us. I mean, I can’t say I would feel differently if I was him.” I took one of the glasses and drained half of it.

“Mom was a kid. Afraid and broken. She made a mistake and she wants us to fix it. That’s what we’re going to do,” Wyatt said. My brother was very good at finding fights. I tried to avoid them at all costs.

“Didn’t you hear the guy? It doesn’t sound like there is anything to fix.”

“Family is family. It’s what Dad taught us. You don’t leave anyone-”

“Behind,” I sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I know. We should have been Marines instead of hockey players. If only we didn’t skate so well. So, what happens next?”

Wyatt picked up his beer, but set it right back down. “We let it sink in a little bit, then we hit him up again. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

“At least until the season begins again,” I said, and picked up the beer Nick left behind. “So? What do we do now?”

I had dreams of Wyatt coming to the victory parade. Cutting loose a little bit.

“You’re going to drop me at the airport,” Wyatt said. “I’ve got that celebrity golf outing in Vegas this weekend.”

“Oh right,” I said. I couldn’t skip the parade to go with him even though part of me wanted to. All the retirement questions were wearing on him and the guy could use a good time. And I liked to be around when my brother had a good time. It was usually a legendary night.

But looking at the big man, he didn’t seem like a guy ready to cut loose in Vegas.

“You do understand these events are supposed to be fun,” I poked at him.

“Bunch of drunk athletes and celebrities driving around in golf carts taking pictures with a bunch of drunk bros who want to be athletes and celebrities. Sounds like a fucking nightmare.”

“Your super power is not just blocking slap shots. No, my brother, your super power is killing joy. You are the villain of fun. The killer of all good times. You should have a costume and a cape.”

Wyatt pushed me out of the booth and slid out behind me.

“You can drop me off at the airport.”

I drained the beer and threw a couple twenties on the table. I’d be paying for shit for a while, it’s how it worked when one of us beat the other. My rookie year I didn’t pay for shit because The Peaks beat us every time we met.

“Hey,” I said, my last ditch effort as we headed for the door. “Please try to have a good time in Vegas. Remember, anything can happen.”

He grunted and we made our way outside. This time I got behind the wheel and he frowned at me.

“I can drive, you know.”

My brother was a control freak in many ways. Always being the one to drive was just one way he showcased his special skill. We drove to the airport and I dropped him off at the curb under the sign of his airline.

“Okay. I mean it. Try to have some fun. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“You doeverything,” he pointed out.

“Yes. Yes, I do. You should give it a try sometime.”

7

Liam

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