Page 38 of Rookie Moves

I lower my brightness on my phone and tap open the text, my chest tightening with every word I read.

Joey

Awesome game, T! Super proud of you. Sorry we won’t be able to come to Florida, but I’ll try and watch on TV!

Try being the key word here, because this is nothing new. I had to learn from an early age that my parents weren’t like other parents. Sure, my dad paid all the checks and made sure I had new gear, and my mom got involved with the other moms when there were social events and fundraisers, but I don’t think they ever truly supported me. Or at least, it didn’t feel that way because I don’t remember a single game after the age of five where either of my parents attended. And while Joey and I have never been close, it’s only been in the last few years that he’s started to show the slightest bit of interest.

At least he’s showing some support now, so I guess beggars can’t be choosers.

“What is it?” Colby asks quietly, his voice slightly scratchy from sleep.

I angle my phone so he can see the screen, and a puzzled expression appears on his face.

“I don’t understand,” he says around a yawn.

“It’s from my brother.”

His brows furrow slightly. “Nothing from your parents?”

I shake my head, which only causes his frown to deepen.

I slide down slightly in my seat, leaning toward Colby until our shoulders are touching. Most of our teammates are asleep or listening to music, but I don’t want our conversation to be overheard, so I keep my voice low. “The thing is, my parents have never attended one of my tournaments. Even as a kid, it was Piper’s mom who used to take me.”

“Who’s Piper?”

Unlocking my phone again, I bring up the text thread with Piper. There are ten unread messages; almost all of them are live reactions to her watching the final, and there’s a video her girlfriend must have taken. I dig my headphones out of my pocket and plug them in, handing one of the earbuds to Colby. I hold my phone between us and tap Play. Piper is sitting on the edge of the couch, her chin resting on steepled fingers, eyes fixed on the TV. Then the camera pans to the moment Colby takes possession of the puck and heads down the ice on a breakaway. She leaps off the couch, shouting words of encouragement. The second the puck sinks into the back of the net, she throws her arms in the air and starts jumping around their small living room.

“Oh my fucking god! Did you see that?” she says to her girlfriend, who is laughing behind the phone. Piper holds her face in her hands. “Oh my god! Look up flights to Florida, babe! We’ve gotta see Tyler in the final!”

The video cuts off, and I’m unable to stop myself from grinning.

Colby’s body shakes slightly as he laughs. “She seems fun.”

“She is. We’ve been best friends since we were five. She’s like the sister I never had and the person I can be completely open with.” I lock my phone again, making a mental note to respond to her once I finish talking to Colby. “I’m so proud of her. She’s heading to the PWHL in the fall.”

“That’s amazing,” Colby says, removing the earbud and placing it on my arm where it’s resting between us. When he speaks again, I note the hint of sadness in his voice “That sounds like a really special friendship.”

“It is.” I nod softly. “You ever had that?”

He shakes his head. “No. There were two types of kids when I was growing up: the ones who didn’t want anything to do with me, or the ones who wanted to get close so they could benefit from me. I learned early on that I couldn’t trust people to be genuine, so I kinda shut myself off.”

My heart sinks into my stomach, and I curse under my breath. “That fucking sucks, Colbs.”

He gives another shrug, something I’ve noticed he does when he doesn’t want to appear bothered by something, but clearly, he cares a lot.

“When I came to Whilton U, I met Stassie. She’s probably the first real friend I’ve had. She doesn’t care that I play hockey or want something from me aside from being my friend.”

“She seems like a good person. I’m glad you’ve got someone like that.”

He gives me a wry smile and pokes me in the thigh with his pinky finger. “I guess I can add you to the list now.”

I let out a quiet snort, tilting my head against the seat cushion, putting our noses only a couple of inches apart. “You guess?”

Colby’s smile curves into a wide grin, and his eyes sparkle with mischief as he whispers, “I suppose it’s only right after last night.”

“You are trouble,” I tsk, my cheeks beginning to ache.

His tongue darts out to lick over his bottom lip, and my eyes track the slow glide. My own tongue mirrors the movement of its own volition. Then he drags his lip between his teeth, and when my eyes meet his again, there’s heat dancing in them, darkening those amber jewels like tiger’s eye.