Page 5 of O Goalie Night
Embarrassment makes my face heat. I start to panic and when I panic, I ramble at warp speed.
“I’m so sorry that he imposed upon you like this. I’m sure you have much better things to do than chauffeur me around Ottawa. I mean, I get that he’s busy, but he could have just told me he couldn’t make it. I would have figured something out. I’d have gotten an Uber. I mean, I’ve never ordered one because we don’t have them on the Island, but I’m not a complete moron. I’m sure I could have figured it out. I will figure it out right now. Is there a website or a phone number I can call?”
Please don’t cry, I silently beg myself. Not yet, at least.Once you make it to the new place, you can shut the door, curl into a ball, and cry as much as you like. Remember your mantras.
I am self-sufficient.
My past does not define me.
Obstacles help me grow.
I risk a glance up at Foster whose narrowed eyes regard me with concern.
“Ben wanted to be here, but he had plans he couldn’t get out of. He really wanted to make sure you made it to your new place safely.” He’s being so nice and it just makes me want to cry more.
“I understand, but did he have to sendyou?”
His eyebrows lift and I realise how rude that came out.
“I just mean, because you’re you. You’re Foster James. You’re a Vezina trophy finalist with a ten-million-dollar a year contract. He could have asked someone else, like an equipment manager or the guy that wears the mascot suit.”
Amusement flickers in his eyes and his mouth twitches. “It’s actually a twelve-million-dollar a yearcontract. And our equipment manager has had it out for Ben since he pranked him last year. I won’t go into the gory details, but it involved several gallons of maple syrup and an upsetting amount of human hair.”
“I don’t know whether to laugh or gag.”
“Both are completely suitable reactions. As for Otto The Otter, he’s almost impossible to book. We’re lucky he still shows up to the games, he’s that popular. Also, he’s a shit driver. When he drives the zamboni at games, he’s all over the place. He’d probably do better if he took off the mascot head.”
This time, I do laugh and he quietly joins in. This is a side of Foster James I’ve never seen in person or on television. He’s more relaxed and almost playful. I wonder briefly how many people get to see him like this.
“Let’s try this again,” he says, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Can I take your bag?”
I sigh and pass my suitcase to him, not missing how he picks it up with ease. I’m still pissed at my brother, but I suppose there are worse things than spending my evening with Foster James.
CHAPTER 3
FOSTER
“According to the email their teacher sent me, they’re just starting their World War I unit. It makes sense seeing as Remembrance Day is coming up in a couple of weeks. I’ve got this really great presentation on Vimy Ridge that I’m going to show the kids. It was developed for older children, but with a bit of tweaking I can make it suitable for fourth graders. After that, we start learning about hibernation. Which is an interesting subject too, to be sure, but I don’t have any materials prepared to teach it.”
Beth has been talking non-stop since we got in the car, but I don't mind. She talks with her hands like she’s in front of a classroom or conducting an invisible symphony. So far I’ve heard about her flight, her plan to search for a used car right away, and her excitement for her new job.
Best of all, we’re not talking about me. One of the reasons I don’t usually like meeting new people is that I somehow always end up the focus of the conversation. And while I’m sure some people enjoy that kind of attention,I can assure you I’m not one of them. I end up feeling like I’m being interrogated.
But Beth just talks. It’s almost like I’m privy to an inner monologue that she can’t keep caged up. She’s got the nervous energy of someone being strapped into their first roller coaster; terrified, but oddly happy about it. There’s a wholesomeness about her that I don’t see often and I understand why Ben wanted someone to look out for her.
I’m glad he asked me to pick her up and not someone else. If he’d sent Austin, he’d probably have convinced her to take a private tour of the city that ended at his condo.
None of us on the team are saints; I’ve had more than my fair share of hookups in random cities with random women. But Austin Crawford’s exploits bring new meaning to the term “player.”
The thought of him taking advantage of Beth when she’s just arrived sets my teeth on edge. I’m so put off by the idea that I miss that she's trying to get my attention.
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
She lets out a nervous laugh and looks down at her hands. “No, I’m sorry. Am I talking too much?”
“Not at all. I just got distracted looking for the right exit to take. What were you asking?”
“I was just curious if you knew of any animals that hibernate. I haven’t had much time to look into it yet and all I have so far are bears and bats.”
