Page 6 of In The Game

Who drives for Uber with an empty tank?“No problem. I’ve got some cash, where’s the next gas station?”

The car sputters and the engine goes quiet.Seriously?If it weren’t for the girl next to me, I’d say that my hat trick at practice today used up any remaining good luck I had.

He pulls over and takes out his phone, scrolling through it. “The next gas station is like ten miles from the next exit.”

How is that possible? We’re in the city.

“I’m really sorry, man. Shit, I can’t believe this is happening.”

“No, it’s fine, really,” Raleigh adds. “Do you have someone you can call to get you?”

“Yeah… I’m texting my brother. He said he can pick us up when he gets off work in fifteen minutes.” I hear the anxiety in his voice.Shit, this poor kid.

“Okay, let me give you some cash.” I reach into my back pocket to grab my wallet, but it’s gone. My hands skim the upholstered bench. Nothing.

“I think I left my wallet at the bar.” Raleigh twists her body to face me, rolling her lips together to keep from giggling. “Holy shit, what is going on tonight?”

“I have no idea.”

“My phone is dead, and I’ve got no wallet.”

She laughs harder. “My phone works. Here, call the bar and make sure someone from the team grabs it.” Once we figure that out, we wait with the driver until his brother shows up. Silver lining is we get more time to learn about each other. She’s great company.

“If you could go anywhere, where would you go?” she asks.

“Nowhere, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Well… maybe fast forward and get to my place. With you.” I give her a nudge. “What about you?”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s not an answer... I’d go to Hawaii.”

“I’d also trade the back seat of this car for Hawaii. You go there often?”

“I’ve never left the lower forty-eight, but if I could go anywhere, that would be it. Sometimes I scroll the internet looking at pictures or maps of the island. It looks so different from anywhere I’ve ever been. Someday I want to live on the beach. Don’t get me wrong, I love lakes, but the ocean is special.” We catch each other’s gazes for a moment, and time stands still. She blinks a few times and looks to her lap. “You get to travel a lot, what’s your favorite city to stay in?”

I squeeze her thigh, resting my palm over her soft skin. “Oooh, good question. Traveling with the team isn’t as fun as actual vacationing. But I loved Switzerland. Though, Hawaii is pretty cool. You should definitely visit someday. And the Caribbean. And the Mediterranean. At least that’s what I hear, a few of the guys spend their offseason traveling and being on the beach.”

“What else do you do in your offseason?”

“Train mostly. Go out on the boat. Golf. Lately, I’ve been kicking around the idea to start a hockey camp.” I need a project, and I’ve always enjoyed coaching kids. I love the charity events we do with peewee teams.

“That’s really cool. How old were you when you started playing hockey?”

“I got my first skates when I was two.”

“Two!?” she exclaims. “Wow, that’s so young. I didn’t know they made skates that small.”

“Most of us started young. You know a lot about hockey. Did you play?”

“I did. I started as a squirt and continued to varsity.”

My eyes pop open. “No shit? What position?”

“Goaltender.”

I swallow and resist groaning.Women goalies are so fucking hot.“So, can you still do the splits?”Please say yes. Please say yes.

“Wouldn’t you like to know…”

“I would give my favorite fucking stick to know.”

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