Page 77 of Puck Shots
I guess he saw Camden's phone, or Camden told him I’m freaking out.
ME:
But what if it isn’t?
BRENT:
Then you’ll focus on class while you wait to hear about the draft.
ME:
You know as well as I do that the scouts will be watching this game more than any other game this year.
BRENT:
And they know you are just one guy on a big team. Sometimes, the team is in perfect harmony out there and nothing can stop you.
Other times, it’s like blind geese trying to roller-skate.
ME:
You suck at this philosophical stuff, you know?
BRENT:
That’s what we have you for, baby bro. You’re the cosmic intervention no one saw coming.
ME:
Or asked for.
BRENT:
I can’t speak for the rest of the family, but I asked the universe to change my life and then they had you, so, yeah, I kind of did ask for you. Now go spend some time with that man of yours and try to relax.
I lay the phone face down and shift ever so slightly so that I can wrap my arm around Eli. He looks so peaceful with his head resting over my heart. I wonder if he can hear it beating in his dreams. I lean down and kiss the top of his head and whisper. “It’s beating just for you.”
26
Eli
Iused to hate being in places like this. Squished into seats like sardines in a can, surrounded by too many scents to count and voices melding together like some kind of twisted white noise. But I started to come to games to watch Cosmo when we started dating, and now, at the most packed game of the season, I am not worried about overstimulation. I’m excited for the game to start. For me to see Cosmo skate onto the ice, to his happy place.
“Here you go, honey,” Lyn says, passing me a bottle of water and taking the seat beside me. Jo is on her other side, and Rachel, Calvin, and his boyfriend Ash are in the three seats in front of us. Tony’s got a game against the OG’s at the Banana Ball field in Savannah. While normally that would mean Calvin had to be there, too, because all the teams still have to perform when they don’t play, he mentioned something about catching his coach at a good time to ask for the night off to come here.
I lean forward to speak to Calvin.
“When Cosmo makes it into the NHL, do you think that you’ll be able to catch your coach at another good time to come to those games, too? I know Cosmo will be happy to see you there.”
Calvin turns in his seat a little, and I spot immediately that he has the same mischievous grin that Cosmo has. That and the blue-gray eyes run in the family. I saw Tony and even Rachel make the same smile when I was at their place for New Year’s.
“Oh, it wasn’t so much the time as the “what” he was doing at the time that scored me the out tonight, and I’m fairly sure I can milk this one for a while. I won’t be able to come when their dates align with my games, but as long as I’m not scheduled to play, I’ll be there.”
Ash turns toward me, too.
“I’ll be there for every game wherever he’s drafted. Calvin won’t miss me.”
“I will too,” he whines, and Ash makes a face like he doesn’t believe him at all.
