Page 136 of Two Guys One Puck
“You know what I think. Even more so now that you two have decided to be serious.” Emily lifts a shoulder.
“Are you sure he can handle it? Maybe I should wait until the hockey season is over so I can be here after.” I don’t know what’s right, and I hate it.
“Don’t do that. We don’t know how much time he has.”
“Here it is,” Ktytor says, interrupting us.
The list is going to tell us how we stack up against the other drafts and where we will possibly go in it. Everything is speculation, but it matters, especially going into the Frozen Four. Teams will watch the players on the top of the list closely.
We all stare at our phones.
“Wolfe is top of the goalie list,” Ktytor says.
“Like number one?” I ask, impressed. He’s one of the best, but damn, that’s huge.
“Yes.”
“Why are you looking at the goalie list and not the player?” I ask.
“Because I know I’ll be one or two. I’m not worried.”He’s such an arrogant dick.
“Christ, the ego on you.” I scroll, getting through the article introduction finally and to the list. I nearly drop my phone.
My name is first. Ahead of Ktytor. All the oxygen leaves the room, and I don’t know what to do. I look up, searching his face. Is he going to be mad? But I can’t read him. He’s stone faced.
The entire room seems to be holding its breath.
“I’m—”
He cuts me off, getting to his feet. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” I say tentatively. I’m still in shock, not sure how to take care of his feelings.
“Don’t do that. If I was one, I would be rubbing it in your face. You deserve this. Smile! Be happy.”
“I’m in shock.” I realize I stopped at one and didn’t see where he is, so I look at the list again. I check, and he’s three. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t know how to enjoy anything, do you?” Ktytor looks at the ceiling and mutters something in his language.
“But—”
“If I have to shut you up, I will, Seaborn.”
“Can you not let me care about you at all, Ktytor?”
“Oop, the girls are fighting!” my brother says.
“No, sorry, I’ll be a bad boyfriend and make you celebrate yourself, Seaborn.”
“What was that?” Dad asks.
I freeze not daring to look at my dad or brother.
Ktytor seems confused, and then it registers. “?????—?? ????????, ????????—?? ????????!”
“What does that mean?”
“Something like words are not sparrows; once released, they cannot be caught. My bad.” He shrugs.
