Page 56 of Heat It Up (Off the Ice)
I indicate to the waitress that I want to settle my bill. She returns a few minutes later. I pay her and say goodbye to everyone at the table. Still in a lip lock with Laina, Nik waves. I push myself up from my chair. It’s only then that I notice someone who looks like a blurry Joni. Shit, I’m more tired and drunk than I realized.
Except this blurry Joni is glaring at me in the same way I’ve caught the original doing.
Ignoring the warning bells in my head, I leave the bar and walk home.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Kyle
I’m an idiot.
The pounding in my head fully agrees with that assessment. I should have known better when I went out with Nik last night. I thought I could handle it.
I was wrong.
But at least I’ve had more sleep than Nik, who looks like shit. Luckily he went to Laina’s apartment last night instead of bringing her to our place.
“Okay, guys,” I say to the boys after they’ve warmed up on the soccer field, “new coordination drill.” I get everyone to partner off and grab a tennis ball. “Stand next to your partner, and toss the tennis ball back and forth between you.”
They glance around, wondering if they’re missing something. This drill is easy. I’m not known for easy drills. I let them practice for a few minutes. “All right. Now you’ll do the same drill, but this time you’ll run while tossing the ball back and forth to your partner.”
The best part about being the coach is I don’t have to demonstrate the skills. Especially ones like this. Which is a good thing given Nik’s state. Okay, my pounding head wouldn’t have appreciated it either, but I would’ve lived.
The boys get to work. I chuckle to myself at their missed attempts, but one of the best parts about the drill is that the boys have to learn to work together. It’s not about screwing up the other person so you can win.
They continue the drill for a few more minutes. Once they’re finished, Nik gets them to form two lines. I ask Kai to help me demonstrate the drill. I suspect my reaction time is currently a lot sharper than Nik’s.
I have Kai hold the clear plastic ruler at the top. I place my hand so the ruler is between my thumb and index finger, but they’re not touching it. “Drop it whenever you want and I’ll catch it.”
Kai does exactly that, and I quickly bring my finger and thumb together, effortlessly gripping the ruler. I calculate the distance between where my hand started and where I caught the ruler. I’ve done better, but it’s been a while since I’ve performed the drill.
“During a game, you need to pay attention to so many different things. The puck. Your teammates. The opposition. The blue lines. The faster you can react to the appropriate stimuli, the better. We’ll be working on that for the rest of the month. But first, Nik and I will measure your reaction times, so we have a before and after picture of your progress.”
Nik translates for those who didn’t quite get what I was explaining, then we proceed with the test. Afterward, I have the boys line up on the sideline and give them each a euro.
“Extend your arms with the coin clenched in your hand.” I demonstrate and drop the coin. Then catch it. “The goal is to catch it before it hits the ground.”
By the time the morning training session is over, I don’t feel so drained and sluggish, and my brain is no longer pounding. Thank God for that.
The boys head to their summer school classes, and I finally have a chance to check my emails. First, I send Sofia a text.
Thinking about you.
Which is true. While the boys were busy with the drills this morning, I thought about her—and about how she feels with her legs wrapped around me.
Refocusing my thoughts, I read my family’s emails. My original plan of coming to Finland for a break from their watchful eye hasn’t worked nearly as well as I had hoped. Mom’s email involves the usual mom questions. Am I getting enough sleep? Am I eating well? All the standard crap. I email her back and tell her the abbreviated PG version of what I’ve been up to. I haven’t mentioned Sofia to her and I’m not about to start.
Next is my father. He’s as subtle as a pissed off bull in a china shop. He tells me about a junior level marketing job I should apply for. “Great,” I mutter, “if I’m interested in gardening supplies.”
I avoid mentioning the two positions I did apply for. There’s no point saying anything about them. I’m not the only qualified candidate, and I’m up against candidates who are more qualified than I am. Plus, I don’t want to risk him saying anything to Mom and Cody.
Most of the remaining emails can be deleted unread. The one from Brian Prescott grabs my attention.
Kyle,
If your friend is interested, and depending on her grades, the Bears organization would be willing to grant her a practicum for the fall as an athletic trainer. Just have her email me in the next day or two so we can move forward with this.
When I had originally asked him for help, the last thing I expected was for the Bears to offer her a position. Sofia’s going to be shitting herself when I tell her.
