Page 163 of Slew Foot
Connor laughed and then they were kissing. Just a soft brush of lips before Connor rested his forehead against Jesse’s.
Rafe turned to look at Mickey who was looking so much less defeated than he had a few minutes ago. So much lighter.
“Are you in?” Rafe asked, reaching out to pull Mickey close.
“I’m in,” Mickey said, squeezing his waist. “Now, let’s gohome.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Three days later, as guys crowded into O’Neill’s Pub for one last get-together before they all went their separate ways for the summer, Rafe felt lighter than he’d expected.
The season hadn’t ended the way he’d wanted. It hadn’t ended the wayanyof them had wanted. But Gavin and Connor’s speeches had done their jobs.
They’d gone through their exit interviews and locker cleanout. They’d talked to the media.
The loss still stung but, as Mickey had said, there was a thread of hope running through every single one of them now.
A plan.
Gavin probably still had a few tricks up his sleeve for the off-season. There would be a few tweaks to the roster and at training camp in the fall, guys would be competing for spots. Rafe had been assured the Harriers had no plans for him to be anywhere but by Mickey’s side, but he was determined to train harder than ever this summer to prove he deserved it.
He’d liked the way he’d played at the end there. Felt like he’d finally unlocked something within himself he’d been looking for since he played his first NHL game.
He was good with Mickey—better than good—but he’d proven he could play without him too. He wasn’t just playing well when Mickey was telling him where to go and what to do. He could do it without him too.
And, with any luck, he and Mickey wouldn’t have to do that again.
But he was glad to know hecould.
Rafe hummed along to the music as he filled a plate with food and got a beer from the white-haired bartender. Liam gave him a wink and a little salute as he passed and Rafe smiled back, thinking about the first evening he’d spent in the pub.
He thought about how exhausted he’d been on New Year’s Eve, how overwhelmed by the trade he’d felt. He thought of Mickey by his side, looking out for him from the very beginning. As he took a seat across from Mickey at a small table tucked out of the way, he thought how glad he was he’d said yes to the trade.
How glad he was he’d gotten a fresh start here with the Harriers.
“Hey, Turtle!” Tanner called out. “You wanna play some pool?”
Rafe glanced at Mickey who smiled at him. “You mind?”
“Go for it. We’ve got the whole summer together.”
So Rafe crammed a slider in his mouth and jogged over to the pool table, smiling around his food as he listened to Tanner and Crawford bicker about who was going to break and who’d won the last game … and it was so good.
This pub, this team, this city … it was where he belonged.
Rafe finished chewing and swallowed the last bite. “I’m gonna mop the floor with you all,” he said.
Ben Estrada scoffed. “Yeah, okay, dude.”
And they were off, laughing and joshing around, the mood high, hope fizzling through the air even though it would be months before they could put what they learned into action.
This wasn’t their year. But next year? Oh, it definitely would be.
After a couple of rounds of pool, Rafe went in search of more food, handing the stick over to Kady, who took it, then proceeded to wield it like a sword as he jousted with Tanner.
Rafe winced. Maybe he shouldn’t get so cocky about their season next year. If someone didn’t poke an eye out, it would be a miracle.
On the way to the bar, Rafe had to dodge Jesse and Connor who were awkwardly slow dancing to a song on the jukebox, Connor’s arm still in a sling and pinned between their bodies. Thankfully, it was a relatively minor shoulder sprain and should heal in about a month, leaving him with plenty of time to train.
