I shrugged and smiled. “He knew it was coming.”
And he did. I didn’t feel bad. This was the way athletes celebrated.
The photographer motioned for us to squeeze in closer, and of course, instructing us to smile. Like we needed anyone to tell us to do that given this historic moment in our lives. We’d probably be grinning in our sleep from now on.
“There’s gonna be a shitload of partying tonight!” Ethan yelled out.
“Fuck yes!” everyone shouted in return.
Then I remembered my plans. It was still doable. I could always go out with the team and then sneak off on my own afterwards. Our flight didn’t leave until eleven tomorrow so there’d be plenty of time for slumber on the plane ride back.
“Damien!” someone called out, and my head shot up.
No one ever called Banning by his first name. Not students, not players, not even his colleagues. I’d done it during our last practice to get under his skin. But the minute I’d said it, I regretted it. It sounded too… personal.
And there wasn’t anything personal about me and Coach.
Still, the fact that someone else called him by his first name had me strangely unsettled.
I followed the sound of the voice, and it belonged to a familiar-looking guy, headed in Banning’s directing. But there was so much champagne in my eyes that everything was kind of blurry. What I could see was that the guy in motion was also wearing a fancy suit, and he had a nose that’d been broken a time or two. The stranger was a hockey player for sure.
“Who’s that?” I nudged Finn. “I know him, but I can’t put a name to the face.”
Finn squinted and then his eyes widened comically.
“Are you kidding me? That’s Selwin Kirkland, Chicago’s best defenseman,” he whispered.
I blinked again, not sure I believed what Finn was saying.
“Holy mother of hockey,” Finn gasped. “He’s going to speak at Sutton’s firehall fundraiser next week. But he’s also here. Now. Oh my God, he watched our game.”
The chatter amongst the team turned from joking around to whispers of incredulity as more people recognized Kirkland. There were murmurs along the lines of Finn’s and a lot of “fuck me’s” in there too.
Kirkland and Banning hugged briefly, then headed back in our direction. Of course. They’d played together at one point and were obviously friends.
Both men strutted towards the team, and it was impressive to watch. Kirkland had a cool mullet and an easy smile.
But Damien—I mean, Banning—in that suit that molded to his body like a second skin, with those ocean blue eyes and that intense expression on his face? Fuck, there was no doubt I had to go out tonight and get laid.
Hearing Coach’s praise earlier didn’t help matters. It did funny things to my insides, or maybe I’d drunk too much of that sickeningly sweet champagne? Yeah, that was probably it.
“Guys, I’d like you to meet one of the league’s finest, and my friend, Selwin Kirkland,” Banning announced.
One by one, we lined up to shake Kirkland’s hand. This day was getting better and better.
“You and Melnyk in the last period was something else,” Kirkland stated when it was my turn to meet him. “Congrats on the title. I’ll be keeping a lookout for you guys.”
I was certain that I’d died and gone to hockey heaven.
“Thank you, sir,” I replied. “I’m looking forward to your speech next week at the fundraiser.”
He nodded and leaned forward.
“Call me Sel. Or Win. ‘Sir’ is for hard-asses like Damien.” Kirkland chuckled and motioned over his shoulder.
“I heard that,” Banning hit back.
“You were meant to,” Selwin replied with an eye roll. “He’s uptight, eh? So freaking intense.”
