Page 4 of One Pucking Destiny

The way Hattie and I enjoy food is a bit alarming. We’re definitely extreme foodies. Thankfully, we are also blessed with great metabolisms because, as a pair, we can eat. “Was starving yourself all day worth it?”

She shovels a large bite of chimichanga into her mouth and nods. Covering her mouth with her hand as she chews, she says, “Are you kidding? Uh, yeah. I’m finishing this whole thing.” The plated meal in front of her is huge, almost as big as her head, yet I have no doubt she’ll eat it all. “So tell me all the things. How are you? How are the guys? Dating anyone?”

Her question elicits a soft laugh. “You know all the things. We talk every day.”

“I know, but tell me anyway, in case you left anything out.”

“The guys are great. We’re practicing hard, determined to take the Cup this year.”

The sting of last season’s loss, only a few months ago, is still present. Going out in round one of the finals to Pittsburgh, a team we should’ve beaten, still hurts. It was an ugly game from the onset, ending with the injury of Beckett, one of our starting forwards, so no one on the team took the loss lightly. We’re all angry and determined for the upcoming season to be our best.

“Are Beckett and the hot doc still going strong?” she asks.

I shrug and put another forkful of food in my mouth. “As far as I know. I mean, they’re married and seem happy. It’s still hard to believe. That wholedevelopment happened so fast. The good news is Beckett’s knee is healed, and he’s resumed practice.”

“That’s real good news. Any other tea?” She takes a sip of her margarita between bites.

“I don’t think so. Cade and Iris are still sickeningly sweet and in love. Gunner is his normal grumpy self. Nothing new with any of the other guys. Beckett has been dragging his feet picking our bye week location, so Jaden and Max have been throwing out some off-the-wall suggestions.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, let’s see… Jaden suggested a remote cabin in Alaska.”

Hattie snickers. “In February? So you can freeze to death and get eaten by bears. No, thank you.”

“Exactly, and Max suggested LA.”

“Eh… Cali is nice and all, but the point of bye week is to get away from it all. LA has too many people.”

“Agreed.”

“My vote is for Fiji. You know those straw huts that sit over the crystal-clear water? Let’s do that.”

I grin. “I’ll put in the suggestion. Are you coming with us this year?”

Her shoulders rise and drop back down. “I’ll try, as always. Just depends on what I’m doing in my classes, and if I can afford to take a week off.”

Hattie and I are similar in many ways, but whereas I knew from an early age that all I wanted to do with my life was play hockey, Hattie still doesn’t know what she wants to do with hers. She’s switched majors four times already. Currently, she’s attending Michigan State University to be a kindergarten teacher and seems confident that this course of study will stick. Whatever she decides, I only want her to be happy.

“Is Cookie Monster still going strong?” she asks of the ridiculous nickname I’ve been given simply because I can bake better than anyone else on the team.

I sigh and roll my eyes. “Yes, though it’s pretty much just Cookie at this point.”

She giggles. “It’s cute.”

“It’s stupid.”

“I like it. My suggestion is to own it.”

The server stops by to ask if we’d like another margarita, and we tell him to keep them coming.

“Hattie. No woman wants to date a guy named Cookie.”

My sister literally throws her head back in laughter. “Sebastian Calloway, get over yourself. You have never, in your life, had a hard time getting the girl. You’re ridiculously gorgeous, charming, and the starting center of a popular NHL team. Are you kidding me right now? Plus, believe me…women love a man who can cook. And a cookie-baking expert? Even better.”

I pin her with a stare. “Fine. But it’s still dumb. And I’ll have you know that I was turned down at the bookstore today. Brutally shot down.”

She quirks a brow, frowning. “By the girl you gave my book away to?”

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