I walked out of that office feeling like I'd just been handed the keys to something I didn't know I wanted until it was mine.
Instead of heading straight back to the locker room, I wandered out through the empty arena, replaying Coach's words in my head.
My phone buzzed against my hip.
Evan:Drop in?
I stared at the message, grinning like an idiot. Drop in. It was a hockey term for an unscheduled practice, but also Thunder Bay code for "meet me at The Drop because I need an excuse to drink something blue and watch you embarrass yourself on a karaoke stage."
The double meaning wasn't lost on me. Nothing ever was with Evan.
Jake:On my way. Fair warning: I'm in a dangerously good mood.
Evan:I'll prepare accordingly.
I pocketed the phone and took one more look around the empty arena. With each step, the practice puck pressed against my leg as I headed for the exit, a small weight that promised a bright future.
The Drop hit me like a warm, boozy hug when I pushed through the door.
Juno Park was holding court at the far end of the bar, her blue hair catching the colored lights from the ancient disco ball. She spotted me before I'd taken three steps inside and raised her drink in a salute.
I scanned the room for Evan and found him at a corner table, two drinks already waiting. Beer for him, something aggressively neon blue for me.
"Started without me?" I dropped into the chair across from him, eyeing my drink with appropriate suspicion.
"Started for you." Evan's smirk was dangerously close to smug. "I thought you needed something that matched your current energy level."
"My current energy level?"
"Insufferably pleased with yourself."
I sipped. It tasted eerily like blue raspberry lemonade Kool-Aid with a wicked alcohol kick.
"Fuck, what is this?"
"Something called a Thunder Bay Special. The bartender said a guy who got cut from three different teams invented it, deciding to take his anger out on innocent fruit flavoring."
"Seems about right." I sipped again. "So, to what do I owe this spontaneous drinking occasion?"
He didn't answer the question. Instead, "Karaoke starts in ten minutes."
"And?"
"And we're up third."
I blinked. "We're what now?"
"You heard me. Already signed us up."
"For what song?"
"That would ruin the surprise."
"Evan." I leaned forward, trying to look threatening. "What. Song."
"You'll find out when they call our names." He was enjoying my fear way too much. "Though I will say I chose something that requires commitment. Hog helped with suggestions."
"You know I can't actually sing, right?"
