Page 110 of When Alec Met Evie
Nathan scoffs. “If anybody deserved it, he did.”
“Also,” I say, hating that I finally have to say these words to my teammates. “I’m never going to play hockey again.”
For a long moment, nobody says a word. It’s not like I expected my teammates to be anything but supportive. But it still feels like I’m failing somehow. Like if I’d just played a little differently that last game, taken care of myself a little better, maybe my knee could have made it a few more seasons.
“Hey, do you guys remember that time Alec scored a hat trick?” Van asks. “Three goals from a defenseman. How often does that ever happen?”
Nathan chuckles. “He was on fire that night.”
“Remember when we accidentally left him sleeping on the bus in Chicago, and when he finally woke up, he had to climb the bus lot fence and hitchhike to the arena?”
“That was crazy,” I say. “I was so late to the game, I missed warmups.”
“Coach was totally freaking out,” Van says, and I wonder if he’s finding particular satisfaction in remembering his father-in-law so close to unraveling.
“What about the time he broke that guy’s nose?” Logan said. “Was that last season?”
“It was the only fight he ever started,” Nathan says.
“What did that guy even do?” Eli asks.
“He made fun of Felix,” I say. “And he pissed me off.”
“Really?” Felix asks. “Your only fight was over me?”
“A man’s gotta protect his goalie,” I say.
A general murmur of assent moves down the line, then we’re quiet again. The silence feels good this time. Better than it did before when the weight of my confession was still pressing down on me.
“It was a good run, Cap,” Felix says.
“Yeah, it was,” Eli adds.
“The team isn’t the same without you,” Logan says.
Van nods his head in agreement. “It never will be.”
“Best defensive partner I’ve ever played with,” Nathan adds.
I look down the row when I hear the clink of glass. Camden is passing out bottles of my favorite Dark Horse Brewery IPA. When everyone has a beer, he lifts his and points it toward me. “To Captain.”
The toast is echoed down the line from these men, these teammates who have meant more to me over the past few years than anyone in the world.
I came to the Summit to say goodbye, and I did, in my own way, before they showed up. But having them beside me has made something that was mostly just bitter feel bittersweet.
Ithasbeen a good run. Because every day that I’ve spent on the ice, these men have been beside me.
“Did you really make her ex sit outside?” Van asks after a long swig of beer. “It’s December, man. That’s cold.”
“Literally,” Camden adds.
“The guy knocked on Evie’s door, looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘Thanks for saving my spot.’”
A chorus ofohhhssounds down the row.
“See? I was totally justified.”
“What did he want?” Eli asks.
