Page 104 of Patrick

I shake it off. Soon I’ll be playing pro hockey and if things go right, I’ll convince Fifi to come with me wherever I go after she graduates.

But that’s crazy thoughts right now.

A day later, on Sunday, after a call with Bog, I move out of Pammy’s and give her a gift—a team jersey, but without my name.

I get a call from Dart about the NIL deal.

“Did you have a chance to review the contract?”

“I did. I also had my friend Bog’s dad, who’s a lawyer review it. Hope you don’t mind.” I’m being cheeky as I take a seat on Bog’s couch, signaling that he, Sully and Van should gather round and listen in.

“No problem. We were impressed with the jump in your social media numbers since the game yesterday and⁠—”

“You’re prepared to increase the contract from 10K to 25K?”

He lets out a whistle while I grin at my friends and they silently cheer for me, giving high-fives.

Dart capitulates and I send him back a signed revised contract with the provision that he’ll send 5K before the end of the week.

At morning skate on Monday, Coach Zabra doesn’t say a word to me, but Coach Winnick takes me aside.

“So you know, the decision to leave you alone about the fight with Rossi was made above Zabra’s head. The Athletic Director, University President and Board all agree the fight was Rossi’s doing. They didn’t need an investigation even though Zabra pushed for one.”

I nod, hiding the chaos in my gut and remain silent until it’s settled. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

He slaps my back. “You’re not out of the woods yet. You still need to weather the rest of the season with Zabra on your ass every minute.”

I flick an invisible spec of dust off my shoulder like he’s nothing, realizing after standing up to my Dad, Zabra means nothing. I love my Dad, so he’s hard to ignore, but Zabra? Easy-peezy. I’ll have no trouble turning whatever shit he gives me into white noise.

At the end of the day Monday, I move in at Bog’s house in Sully’s old room. He’s secretly happy to move in with his girlfriend though he gave me shit about it for fun.

After hauling all my stuff and rearranging things, Fifi manages to makes the room look more sophisticated than I am. I couldn’t talk her out of buying new bed clothes and accessories—her words, not mine. I pull her onto the newly dressed bed with me.

“The room is fire, Feef. You deserve a gift.”

She scoffs, “Is that the gift you promised me at the Ball?”

“Maybe.” We finally retrieved our coats from lost and found at the MUB.

She holds in her giggle valiantly as I pull it from the bedside table drawer. She gives a puzzled scrunch of her brows—a look I enjoy—as I hand her the small hastily-wrapped package.

“Is that a newspaper it’s wrapped in?” she almost lets out her laugh, but bites her lip instead. That look hits my dick with a stick and makes it vibrate.

“Open it.” I’m suddenly in a hurry.

She does, pulling the wrapping off until her mouth opens wide and she darts her surprised eyes at mine.

“You got me a prime pink tomato pin cushion! And it has the attached pink strawberry!” She examines it. “It’s filled with emery sand.” She gives me her solemn gaze. “Did you know the sand is to clean and sharpen the pins and needles?”

I nod. She launches herself at my chest, giving me a kiss. I return it and deepen it until she insists on taking a breath.

“Thank you. No one’s ever given me such a thoughtful gift. It’s pink and it’s perfect and I’ll use it and think of you every day.”

“You deserve it. You’re a talented designer. Look at this room.” I wave my arm, still impressed. “It’s cinema.” I grin. “Looks more grown up than I am.”

“You’ll grow into it.”

“I don’t know. I might be having a Peter Pan moment.”

“Does that make me Wendy?”

“If Wendy is a hot superstar who lights up my world, I guess you can play her.”

“Really? I light up your world?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t know. How loud do I have to shout when you make me⁠—”

A laugh pops from her as she covers my mouth with her hand. “It’s not about the sex.”

“The hell you say?”

She rolls her eyes, smacking my shoulder, and I know she means it’s about feelings.

Shit. We’re going to have to talk about feelings.

But not before we make love if I have anything to say about it.

And I do.