A sharp whistle cuts through the cold air.
I lean left, carving a tight circle into the ice before I hustle back up toward the bench. Come to an abrupt stop, sending a spray of shavings Hunter’s way. He pulls off his glove and pretends to rub his nose, subtly flipping me off. I laugh under my breath.
Coach Keller starts running through his usual laundry list of improvements, ending with a reminder about the sports banquet tomorrow night.
Guys start to file off the ice, headed toward the locker room.
“A word, Hart?”
I hang back, leaning against the boards and waiting for Coach to come over.
“Heard of the Caddell-Spade Award, Hart?”
“Um, no?”
His grunt is disapproving. “It’s an award, given to a senior student athlete who demonstrates outstanding leadership. Entire committee votes on the recipient. This year, that’s you.”
I blink at him, stunned. I was one of those guys I described to Harlow, bored and impatient, at past banquets. Thought it was time that could be better spent elsewhere. I’m more excited for this year, simply because she’s going with me, but the possibility of me receiving an award did not cross my mind.
Coach Keller is staring at me, waiting for a response. “I—wow. Thanks.”
He nods. “Just wanted to give you a heads up. Recipients usually give a speech.”
“A speech?”
“Yep.”
“Um, okay.”
He claps me on the back. “Get out of here.”
I step off the ice and walk along the rubber mats that lead into the locker room.
Jack Williams is standing at the water fountain, filling his bottle.
I’ve debated all week whether to say something to Williams about who I’m bringing to the banquet tomorrow night. It’s been two years since they dated, and according to Harlow it was never that serious. He’s seen her with other guys, knows she’s moved on. But I’m being honored with a leadership award, and he’s been a teammate since freshman year.
I pause. “Hey, Williams. Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Jack glances up. “Yeah, sure.”
“So…I’m, uh, bringing a date to the banquet.”
He nods. “That’s great, Hart. Glad a girl on campus is finally giving you the time of day.”
I snort. I’ve never talked to Jack much, outside of practice. Maybe I misjudged him.
“Yeah. The thing is, this girl…you dated her.”
He realizes who I’m referring to instantly. “You’re bringing Harlow?”
I nod.
“Are you guys together?”
“I’m not sure.” I haven’t asked her to be my girlfriend. But that feels inevitable now, more of a when than an if. “I like her though. I like her a lot.”
“I’m, uh, thanks for telling me.”
I nod. “See you later.”
Aidan is yawning at his locker when I sit down and start unlacing my skates. “Wanna go grab Mexican?” he asks. “Been a while.”
I focus on loosening the laces, debating how to respond. I’m behind on watching film for Saturday’s game against Edgewood, and they’re not the team I can slack off before facing. Their captain, Jordan Driscoll, is arguable one of the best players in the entire division. We lost to them in playoffs last season, so there’s plenty of bad blood on my end. And preferably, I was going to be watching that film in bed with Harlow.
But Aidan is right, we haven’t hung out much. And he’s been acting weird lately, like the day he called me for a ride to practice. Wouldn’t tell me what his “shit mood” was about, just grumbled around the rest of the day. The next morning, it was like nothing had ever happened.
“Yeah, sure,” I say, yanking off my practice jersey.
“Morgan? You in for burritos?” Aidan asks.
“Can’t,” he says. “My dad just got in. We’re getting dinner.”
“Your dad’s here?” Aidan sounds surprised, and I am too.
Hunter never mentioned anything about a visit. I met his dad once; he came to a game of ours sophomore year. He was just as quiet and serious as his son. And Hunter has never once mentioned his mom, so I’m assuming she’s not in the picture.
“Yeah.” That’s all Hunter says.
Aidan and I exchange a look. “You still in?” he asks me.
“Sure. Just give me ten minutes.”
I finish getting changed, take a quick shower, and then Aidan and I head out into the parking lot.
“I’ll drive.”
I groan. “Phillips.”
“My truck is way nicer than your SUV, Hart. And if the color bothers you that much, you can’t even see it from the inside.”
I roll my eyes but stash my bag into the back of my car and then climb into the passenger side of Aidan’s eyesore. He is right about the interior. Everything is plush and it still has that new car smell.
While Aidan drives toward Loughton, I pull my phone out and text Harlow.
CONOR: Grabbing dinner with Aidan and then I have to watch film. Probably won’t see you until tomorrow night.
She likes the message right away, but doesn’t respond.
It makes me nervous, and I’m not sure if that’s the right instinct or not. I haven’t asked where things stand between her and Landon after Thanksgiving, and Harlow hasn’t brought him up. I know she likes the sex, because her appetite is almost as insatiable as mine. We’ve been sleeping together for weeks and still can’t keep our hands off each other. I want her to know that I care, that she’s not the just sex agreement we made to me anymore. That she hasn’t been that for a long time. But I’m not sure how to, what she wants from me or what I can give her. We’re on a tightrope right now, it feels like, and have to fall to one side or the other at one point.
“We’re here, Hart.” Aidan nudges my arm.
I startle, then climb out of his truck and stretch. Practice this week has been extra rough after our break last week. My entire body is sore.
Aidan and I head inside. It’s crowded for a Thursday night, about six people in line in front of us and half the tables filled. The two girls in line in front of us glance back and smile.
Aidan winks at them. “Hey, ladies. What’s good here? I’ve never been.”
It’s hard to suppress the eye roll. He’s a proud playboy, and as far as I can tell he’s always up front with girls about that, so I’ve never had an issue with it. But it’s weird to think how, just a couple months ago, I would probably be chatting these girls up too, pretending not to know the menu for a place I’ve been to dozens of times before. One that, frankly, is basically identical to every Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to before.
But just like with Kelly—just like with every girl who’s been around me lately—there’s no interest. I ignore Aidan and his flirting and act like this place is new to me too, studying the menu and then glancing around the tiny restaurant.
I order a beef burrito, my usual order, and then head for one of the open tables. Aidan joins me a few minutes later.
“Way to slack on the wingman duties, Hart. You totally left me flying solo.”
“So you struck out?”
“Nah.” He tosses a napkin on the table in front of me. Two numbers are scribbled on it.
I shake my head, smiling. Aidan’s a good-looking guy, but it’s his charm that seems to lure in chicks the most. His whole vibe is I’m a good time. Which makes some of his recent behavior even weirder.
“Everything good with you, man?”
“Yeah, why?”
I shrug, trying to act nonchalant. “You just seemed…off a few times lately. I wanted to make sure nothing was going on.”
“I’m good.”
“Okay.” I start eating, groaning as I bite into the chewy, tender meat.
“My folks have a place in Vail,” Aidan tells me suddenly.
I chew and swallow, surprised. I’ve always gotten the sense Aidan comes from money, but he never mentions his family. “That’s cool.”
“I’m headed there for winter break. If you’re interested.”
“You’re inviting me to Colorado?”
“Yeah. We could ski, snowboard, whatever. There’s a hot tub. Whole house is pretty sweet, actually.”
“Will your…folks be there?”
Aidan shakes his head. “My brother could come by, but that’s it.”
“It sounds awesome,” I tell him. “Can I get back to you, though? I haven’t talked to my mom about the holidays yet, not sure what she’s planning on.”
We have a shortened break, thanks to hockey. Unlike most students, we have to be back on campus right after New Year’s.
“Yeah, of course.” He takes a bite of his taco. “You ready for Saturday?”
“I hope so.”
“You’ll lead us to victory, Captain. Like always.” He mock-salutes me.
“Coach told me I’m getting an award tomorrow night.”
“No shit?”
I snort. “Don’t look so surprised.”
“I forgot they gave out awards at this thing, is all.”
“You forgot—that’s the whole point of the banquet, Phillips.”
“I thought it was to eat and hang out with all the other athletes. Like a sports-only party, without any alcohol or fun.”
“You never noticed people get awards at this thing?”
“Nope.” He pops the P. “Last year I was trying to hook up with Macie Crawford.”
I shake my head. “If someone finds you having sex during my speech, I’m gonna be pissed.”
“You’re giving a speech?”
“Apparently. And…I’m bringing Harlow. As my date.”
Aidan’s eyebrows fly upward.
“Don’t make it a thing,” I warn him.
“It seems like you telling me not to make it a thing, makes it a thing.” He takes a sip of water. “Are you officially dating her, then?”
“We haven’t had the conversation, but that’s basically what we’ve been doing for a while now.”
I think. I’ve never really dated a girl in the past, so there’s nothing to compare it to.
“Yeah, I know. You’ve just been saying you weren’t, so I was letting you keep saying that.”
I sigh, the usual combination of amusement and exasperation I experience around Aidan appearing. “You ready to head out? I’ve got Edgewood film to watch tonight.”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
