Hating the Rookie: Laketown Hockey Series Read online

  It was reckless and irresponsible, but it had felt amazing. I curled up beside him, listening to his raspy breath, the realization setting in. That was the last time I was going to feel Brodie inside of me.

  Chapter 26 – Brianna

  THE LAST FEW DAYS AT Casper Cove was cold. The weather was cold and so was my bed. I knew that Brodie and I were making the right decision, but it didn’t feel good. We were preserving our friendship at the cost of our romantic relationship.

  We were friendly with each other, and he joined us for lunch every day. We walked Buddy together and painted cabin two. I only cried in front of him two times. He teared up once, but I never saw him cry.

  Until he dropped me off at the train station.

  The loudspeaker called out for boarding. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He was stiff at first, but then relaxed and wrapped his strong arms around me. I inhaled his scent, trying to commit it to memory.

  His chest heaved and he pushed me back and wouldn’t look at me. I saw the fat tears rolling down his cheeks and reached out to him. “Go,” he said.

  “Brodie...”

  The loudspeaker crackled again, announcing the final boarding call.

  “Go, Bree.” He angrily wiped at his face, grabbed my forearms, and kissed me hard, and then turned and walked away. I stepped onto the train and watched him. He didn’t turn back.

  NORA AND I WERE LIVING in a shared house with two other Biochemistry girls. The first two weeks back at school I only left my room to meet with my Professor. Otherwise, I focused on my books. I didn’t reach out to Brodie and he didn’t call me. But, every time my phone chimed, I grabbed at it, my heart sinking when it wasn’t him.

  “You have to eat something,” Nora shouted over the blender.

  “I’m not hungry,” I grumbled and ground some beans for coffee – the only thing that was keeping me alive.

  Nora shoved the green concoction into my hand. “Drink.”

  I took a sip. “It’s disgusting.”

  She shoved some spinach and random protein powders into the blender. “Then it’s perfect.”

  I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. There was nothing from Brodie. I clicked on the Laketown Chronicle’s website and scanned the sports pages for any stories about the team. The Otters had played an exhibition game against the Predators, but there was no mention of number seven. There was an article about the Buckwheat Bay Proposal getting turned down by Council, I flagged it to read later.

  “Are you leaving the house today?” Nora asked.

  I looked down at the sweatpants I’d had on for the past three days – and nights. “I don’t think so.”

  “You need some fresh air. Come on. You’ve done enough moping. Get changed and let’s go down and watch some of the frosh games.”

  “I don’t think so.” I tried to take another sip of her gross smoothie.

  “I’m not asking.” She grabbed me by my shoulders and pushed me out of the kitchen into the bathroom. “Get in the shower. Get dressed. It’s time for you to move on with your life and forget all about that hockey player in Laketown.”

  She wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I slipped out of my grimy clothes and into the shower. I felt a little bit of life seep back into me and I dried off and got into my running clothes. I would hang out with Nora for a little bit and then go run the frustration out of my body.

  As I walked down the stairs, I heard Nora talking to somebody – a guy. I shook my head. She had finally broken up with Nick. Was she taking him back already? Turning the corner to the kitchen I realized that the man wasn’t Nick. He had his back to me and was wearing a University Hockey t-shirt. Nora stopped mid-sentence and then left the room – she didn’t meet my eyes. I was so confused. I watched her leave and then turned to face the guy.

  It was Brodie.

  “BRODIE...”

  “Hi.” He stepped toward me and then stopped.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I couldn’t go another day without seeing you. I know that we agreed to be friends, but I just can’t do it, Bree. I can’t just be friends with you.”

  My hands were shaking. I had wanted him to text me. I had wanted him to tell me that we were making a terrible mistake, and now, he was here in front of me, and I didn’t know what to feel. “I’m having a hard time with this too.”

  He rubbed his hands on his jeans and then started to reach out to me.

  “Whoa.” I held up my hands and stepped back.

  He stopped short and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “This is only going to make it harder, Brodie.” My voice was shaking. I didn’t know how I was going to get over him. Having him show up unannounced in my kitchen definitely wasn’t going to help. “We agreed. You have to be in Laketown. I have to be here.”

  “Can we sit down and talk?” he asked. “I feel weird just standing around in your kitchen.

  I opened the front door. “How about we go for a walk?”

  He nodded and stepped out in front of me. “Before I forget, your mom sent some kombucha.” He pulled a jar out of his backpack and handed it to me. I ran inside and put the precious drink in the fridge. When I came back out, Brodie had walked to the end of the street. I jogged to catch up with him.

  “My mom knows you’re here?”

  We set off down the street towards the historic campus. Freshman hazing was in full swing and excited first-year students flooded the campus. We zig-zagged around a group of students who looked very lost.

  “Your mom is the reason I’m here.”

  I sighed. “I told her everything was good with us. It’s not like her to meddle.”

  Brodie stopped and faced me. He grabbed onto both of my hands. “Bree, I have a few things to say to you. When I’m done you can tell me to leave, but please, just let me get this off my chest.” His eyes shimmered and I felt myself soften. I was only being hard on him because I was hurting so badly.

  “Okay.” I didn’t try to pull my hands from his.

  “First,” he smiled for the first time since he’d appeared in my kitchen, “I have some amazing news.”

  I respected his wish to go on a diatribe and merely nodded.

  He continued, “It hit me while I was sleeping. We had been approaching the wrong people with the business proposal. I have financing in place for the Casper Cove Eco Lodge.”

  “What?” I couldn’t help myself. “Who, how?”

  “Kent Fitzgerald. I showed him our proposal. It turns out he hates the developer with a passion. When I told him he could save Stan Corbett’s Cabins and stick it to the Buckwheat Bay developer, he was totally on board.”

  I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. “That’s why I put you in charge of the proposal. I knew you could do it.” I squeezed his hands. “It still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

  “They’ve hired a real maintenance man. They don’t need me now, but that’s just the start. You’re not going to recognize Casper Cove Cabins when you come home. And I mean that in a good way.”

  Home. He didn’t realize that this was my home now. “That’s incredible. I’m sure my parents are over the moon.”

  “They are. You should see your mom’s new garden plans. The thing is going to be massive.”

  A group of students gave us a dirty look for blocking the sidewalk, but we didn’t move. “Why are you here?” I whispered it this time. Holding his hands felt good, but I didn’t want to slip into something we couldn’t maintain.

  “I needed one business course to get into University. Your mom took the proposal to the school and they applied it to the course. I got the credit.”

  “Wait, what?” I was confused.

  “Bree. There are two ways to go pro. One is to get drafted from the Otters, the other is to play college hockey.” He rubbed the back of my hands with his thumbs. “I didn’t think that I could do it – until you convinced me that I wasn’t just a dumb hockey player.”

  The puzzle p
ieces were starting to come together. “You’re a student here?”

  “First year.” He smiled.

  “But, the Otters...”

  “This is better for me. And, I don’t want you to think that I followed you here. I mean, I kind of did.” The corners of his lips turned up. “But if you tell me to get lost. I’m not going back to Laketown. I’m getting my degree and going to go pro.” He took a deep breath. “And I’d love it if you were by my side.”

  I was lost for words.

  “Bree?” His dark eyes searched mine and I felt like I was going to melt into the sidewalk.

  “You promise you’re not giving up your dream?” My voice was shaky.

  “Dream? Bree, this is the dream. College, hockey, you...” his cheeks reddened.

  I didn’t wait one second longer. I threw myself into his arms and sobbed into his neck. He held onto my back and together on the sidewalk we melted into one. I don’t know how long we embraced and how many annoyed kids had to walk around us, but when I pulled back and stared at his face, I knew that I was looking at my future. “I love you, Brodie Bishop. And I can’t wait to walk you to all of your classes.”

  He looked up like he was thanking someone and then our lips found each other. Laketown would always be home for me and Brodie, but for the next few years, our home was here – with each other.

  Epilogue - Brodie

  TWO YEARS LATER

  Leaves swirled around our feet as we walked along the Casper Cove Beach. The dingy brown cabins had all been painted royal blue, and stood out amongst the red, yellow, and orange foliage. The late afternoon sun glinted off the new solar panels, and the wind turbine turned lazily in the cool breeze.

  “Are the leaves extra red this year?” I asked, more to myself, but Bree laughed.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Bree said. “Maybe it’s because we’ve been away.”

  The colors reflected in the glass calm lake and it looked like an oil painting. Buddy trotted along beside us. Since we arrived home for Thanksgiving, he hadn’t left our side. Even though Bree was wearing one of her mom’s handknit sweaters and some thick leggings, she shivered as she slipped her mittened hand into mine. I stopped and held both of her hands. “You look like an L.L. Bean ad.” The late afternoon sun glinted off her hair and her nose was cool when I kissed her. “Are you ready for a rowdy dinner?”

  She nodded. It will be fun to see everyone after all this time. We got into the Jeep and dropped Buddy off at the main cabin.

  “The road is so smooth now,” Bree said and turned up the heat.

  “Murray said it took about a million dump truck loads of gravel.” Murray was the maintenance guy at Casper Cove and from what I could see, was much better at the job than I ever was. “The road is great now, but I kind of miss the adventure of the old one...”

  “Not everyone drives a four-wheel-drive car, babe.” Bree rubbed her hands on her arms. The car didn’t even have time to warm up before we were in the streets of Laketown.

  Cars lined the road in front of Coach Covington’s new house. “Which one is his?” she asked.

  “The one with the sold sign.” I squinted in the dusk, looking for the sign.

  “There are two...” Bree pointed to the real estate signs blowing in the cool autumn wind.

  “We’ve got a fifty-fifty shot then.” I laughed. “Come on, I’m starving.”

  Coach had a tradition of inviting all the players and alumnae, to his home for a turkey dinner. Bree opened the insulated cooler in the back seat and pulled out the warm baking dish Bonnie had insisted we bring with us.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “It’s a butternut squash stuffed with...she peered under the lid. It looks like a curried grain of some sort.”

  “The guys are going to love it!” I laughed.

  We walked up to the house and rang the bell and we both stepped back a little when a pretty brunette opened the door. Boxes were piled in the room behind her and she was wearing rubber gloves, holding a bottle of spray cleaner. We had clearly interrupted her doing some house cleaning, or cleaning up a murder scene.

  “I think we’ve got the wrong house,” I said.

  She laughed. “You’re not the first guy I’ve seen tonight. The hockey dinner is next door.” She gestured with her chin.

  “Thanks. And sorry about that.”

  Her smile was warm. “No worries. Have a happy Thanksgiving.”

  “You too,” Bree and I said in unison.

  LIKE THE HOUSE NEXT door, Coach’s was filled with boxes and no furniture, but the living room was set up with a long conference room table.

  “B.B., glad you two could make it.” Coach shook my hand. “Nice to see you, Miss Corbett.” Brianna shuffled the casserole dish into her left hand so she could shake Coach’s hand as well.

  “Hi, Coach.” She handed him the dish. “It’s stuffed squash.”

  “Smells delicious,” he smiled. “We should be able to find a place on the table for this. I’m just going to have to search through a few boxes to find a serving spoon.”

  “I’ve got it, Coach.” Leo took the dish. “Hey, guys.” He was wearing the ugliest sweater I had ever seen, and his hair was so long it brushed the top of his shoulders.

  “We’re just about to sit down, grab your seats.” Coach gestured to the table.

  There were two empty spots next to Justin and Leo so Bree and I slid into the folding chairs. We settled into our seats and draped the paper napkins on our laps. I reluctantly took Leo’s hand in my right and kissed Bree’s before taking her hand in my left, then Coach stood, reciting both grace and an inspirational hockey speech.

  He raised his glass of beer. “I’m so proud of all of you. Your hard work and perseverance have made this season the best in years, and if you keep it up, it’s going to be legendary.” He wasn’t an emotional man, but Coach teared up.

  The room exploded into cheers and hoots, but Coach held up his hand. “I’m not finished.” Coach waited until the room settled. “We need to raise our glasses to a few former Otters who couldn’t be here tonight. Kane Fitgerald and Tanner Townsend are busy representing Laketown on the National Stage as the rookies on the New York Thunder.”

  The room exploded again. We all knew that Fitzy and Tanner were going to make the big leagues, so it wasn’t a surprise when they were drafted.

  Coach raised his hand again. “And to Brodie Bishop.” He smiled at me and raised his glass a little higher. “Varsity Captain and Honor Roll student. You’ve made Laketown proud mister. I’m sure you will be joining Fitzy and Tanner in the National League as soon as you get that damn degree.”

  Brianna squeezed my hand. Balancing University courses, grueling practices, and being in a committed relationship had been tough – but for the elation I felt at the table amongst the Otters – totally worth it.

  I raised my glass and everyone clinked beer bottles and random glassware together. Brianna leaned and held her face close to mine with her hand, “Do they know about the camp?”

  “It’s not official yet,” I whispered back.

  The New York Thunder had invited me to play on their camp in the upcoming training season and Bree had an early acceptance for her Master’s Degree. We would spend the summer studying together in Cabin One, swimming in the moonlight, and having Sunday breakfasts with Bonnie and Stan.

  It was going to be perfect.

  The feeding frenzy began, and Leo filled me in on all the hockey stuff I had missed. The camaraderie on the college team was good, there were some great guys on the team – but there was something different about the motley crew of players that came together to make the Laketown Otters.

  After dinner, the rookies cleared the table and brought out ten warm pumpkin pies and a bottle of whipped cream. Leo leaned in, “Coach had to rent the plates, his ex took everything.”

  “Is he doing okay?” Bree asked.

  “I guess so.” Leo ate his piece of pie in four bites. “He doesn’t
look like shit and he’s not late for practice anymore. He and his wife tried to reconcile, for his daughter, but I don’t think he ever got over her affair with Troy.”

  I wondered where Troy had gone but couldn’t bring myself to utter his damn name to ask. “Hey, I leaned in close to Leo. Did you go to the wrong house too?”

  “I did.” Leo laughed and patted his belly. “The hot chick’s house?”

  His eyes darted from mine to Bree’s. “I mean, the pretty lady next door?”

  “It’s okay,” Bree squirted some of the canned whipped cream onto her pie. “She’s a very attractive woman. I wonder if she’s single – maybe Coach can help her unpack those boxes.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Leo grinned. “If he doesn’t, I will.”

  I smacked Leo on the arm. “Ow,” he laughed. He pushed his chair back from the table. “I’m going to go make sure the rookies can figure out how to load the dishwasher.”

  “We can help.” Bree and I both stood up.

  “Don’t you dare, college boy.”

  THERE WERE TEN BILLION more stars in the sky than I ever saw in the city, reflecting in the glass calm water.

  “They call that a harvest moon.” I put the Jeep into park in front of Cabin One.

  “It’s beautiful.” Bree’s fingertips lingered in the hair at the nape of my neck. “It was nice to see all the guys – and to see that nothing’s really changed.” Bree turned in her seat to face me. “Do you miss them?”

  “I do.” I shut off the engine and quiet filled the car. “But I keep in touch with most of the team and will see them all next summer.”

  Bree opened the door, but I grabbed her arm before she could get out. “Bree?”

  “Yes?” She glanced at me and even though she was tired, she shot me her bedroom look.

  “Want to go for a paddle?” I asked.

  She furrowed her brow. “That’s not what I had in mind.”

  “Humor me.” I hopped out of the Jeep and ran around to help her out of the car. I took her hand in mine, led her to the beach, and handed her a life jacket. She smiled as she buckled it up over her sweater.