Page 15 of Penalized Love

“I didn’t mean to talk you into coming home. We know how busy and jam-packed your schedule is with it being your senior year.”

“I understand, but I want to see you both. I’ll figure something out, I promise.” The headlights of an SUV distract me for a second, and I check the time. Chances are high that it’sLevi. “Hey, I gotta run. Levi should be here in a second. I’ll call you again later, okay?”

“Okay, honey. Have a good practice. I love you,” Mom says.

“Love you too, Mom. Talk to you soon.” I end the call just as Levi pulls up in front of my house, double-parking because there aren’t any parking spots on the block.

Levi pops the trunk, and I put my bags there before strolling over to the passenger door and hopping in. “Thanks for the ride, man.”

“No problem. Thanks for deciding to wake up early to come with me to Brewed Beginnings,” Levi replies with a grin.

I can’t help but shake my head. We aren’t going to Brewed Beginnings for the coffee. In fact, it’s not about what we’ll get at all; it’s who we’ll see. Levi is all about Hailey, a barista who works there, and I have to admit it’s pure entertainment watching them interact with one another. Plus, he promised to buy me a coffee and take me to practice, so who could say no to that?

The drive to Brewed Beginnings is quick, and when he’s done parking the SUV, we hop out and walk toward the coffee shop. The building’s exterior has a charming red brick facade and large, welcoming windows. I reach for the door handle and pull it open. After the bell above the door sounds, the first thing that hits me is the smell of freshly brewed coffee. In no time, the urge to have a hot cup of coffee grows more urgent with every breath I take. The interior is cozy and has a rustic charm because of its exposed wooden beams. The soft lighting casts a lovely glow over the entire space. Local art decorates the walls, adding splashes of color and character to the room.

There aren’t many people here yet, making it easier for Levi to achieve his goal. We step up to the counter, and Levi leans his elbows on it, a grin stretching across his face as he catches sight of Hailey. She looks up when Levi clears his throat. I watch asher eyes bounce between Levi and me twice before they settle on him.

“Oh, it’s you,” she says as she sets down the rag she was using to wipe the counter. “What can I get for you?”

“Just your presence is enough to make my day,” Levi replies, his grin widening.

Hailey rolls her eyes, but I can see the smile tugging on the corners of her lips. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Levi Jamison. But it won’t get you free coffee.”

Levi clutches at his chest in mock offense. “You wound me. And here I thought we had something special.”

“In your dreams,” she responds, but there’s an underlying playfulness to it.

The first time I came to Brewed Beginnings with Levi, that playfulness wasn’t there. In fact, it could be argued that she hated us, although she didn’t know us personally. However, the shift in their relationship is apparent, and I can’t help but chuckle under my breath at their banter.

“Alright, alright, enough flirting, you two,” I interject, stepping up beside Levi. “I’ll just have a large hot chocolate with some whipped cream, Hailey. Someone promised to buy it for me.” I shoot Levi a pointed look, daring him to say something denying it or about my drink order in general. I will defend my love for whipped cream until my last breath.

He waves a dismissive hand. “Yeah, yeah, I got you. And I’ll have my usual.” He pauses for a moment and then says, “We’ll also have two of those breakfast sandwiches.”

She nods, tapping our order into the register. “Coming right up.” In no time at all, she has our drinks ready. She slides them across the counter to us, and although she looks slightly irritated, I can see a hint of a smile on her lips.

“Enjoy, guys. And good luck at practice today.”

“Thanks. I’ll be thinking of you while I’m on the ice,” Levi says.

She shakes her head but can’t hide her grin. “Just focus on not getting your ass kicked by your coach.”

“Impossible,” I chime in, taking a sip of my steaming coffee. The rich, slightly bitter flavor wakes me up better than any alarm clock could.

Levi chuckles. “I wish that was a lie... Well, we better get going before we’re late. See you later, Hailey.”

She gives us a little wave as we head out, the door chiming behind us. The cool air hits me for the second time this morning, feeling more refreshing after the warmth of the coffee shop and the coffee. Levi and I walk side by side to his SUV in silence, and soon we’re sitting in his vehicle on our way to the arena.

Thankfully, the ride to practice is even shorter than the ride from my place to Brewed Beginnings. On the drive, though, we both finish our sandwiches and sip our coffees as we walk into the arena. A chill runs down my spine as I take everything in. This is my element, where I ignore the outside noise and do my part to help our team achieve the success that I know is within reach. I’ve left all my other stressors outside, and I only need to focus on how this practice will lead to my being the best teammate I can be during our next game.

Levi and I make our way to the locker room, where some of our teammates are putting on their gear. Due to how early in the morning it is, there’s not much talking, but I prefer it that way because it helps me get my head on right.

I change into my practice gear quickly because I don’t want to be the last person out on the ice. Before we can step out onto the ice, Coach Johnson walks into the locker room, forcing our attention to him without a word.

“Alright, boys, when you get out there, I want to see you hustling because I know you can do it,” he says. He pauses for amoment as his eyes roam the room, assessing each one of us. “I know what you can do and what you’re capable of, but I need to see it. Is that clear?”

We all say a chorus of, “Yes, Coach,” before we make our way out of the locker room. I’m one of the first ones to step out onto the ice, and a few warm-up laps help loosen my muscles.

Practice is grueling, but it’s what I expect now. Coach Johnson is tough but fair, and it is one of the many aspects that makes him an excellent coach for our team. I pour a lot of my energy into the drills and scrimmages, keeping in mind that I do have two classes I need to have energy for later today. Thankfully, only one class is in the morning, giving me time to eat and nap in between.

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