Heartless Player by R.C. Stephens

Thirty-Five

Wolfe

We’re facing off in period two. Harvard is ahead one to zero.

“Too bad Berlin didn’t put you out the whole season,” the player facing off with me says.

Seriously? What an ass.

I smile a friendly smile, wanting to fuck with his head and see how much my smile irritates him. I allow it to grow, and when the puck drops, I’m all over it, shooting it toward Harvard’s side of the rink.

Our team skates off after the puck. We’ve been putting up good defense tonight and had one power play in our favor, but we haven’t been able to get one past their goalie. That’s about to change. I skate around a bunch of players. Dec has the puck and passes it off to Baynard who passes it off to Bozeman. Bozeman skates across the ice, making it close to the net but not close enough to get a clean shot. With two guys from Harvard on top of him, it’s a tough play. He shoots the puck my way and I take the shot, holding my breath as I watch the puck slide across the ice. The goalie’s instinct is to press his knees together, only he’s a millisecond too late because the puck slides between his skates and… oh, fuck yeah. The crowd goes wild, chanting.

I lift my stick in the air, and a bunch of guys from the team clap me on the back. We’re tied one-one. Now it’s time to cream their asses. This time, Bozeman is up for the face-off. Bozeman looks at me and nods. I can tell by the look on his face that the other player is spewing shit again, but Bozeman keeps his cool, and when the puck drops, the Harvard player shoots the puck through Bozeman’s legs. It’s fine because I skate my ass off to the other side of the rink and catch the puck. If there’s one thing I am known for, it’s my speed. I get control of the puck as a Harvard player comes and side checks me into the boards. I rebound quickly. Thompson from our team gets hold of the puck and moves in close to the Harvard net, but a player from the Harvard team moves past him and, suddenly, Thompson’s head snaps back. He loses the puck but rebounds quickly. I move in to catch the puck just as the same jackass who I faced off with gets into a fight with Thompson. Like, he’s full-out punching him. A bunch of other guys from the Harvard team get in on the action and then there are three players pounding on Thompson. I move in to help my teammate, but Bozeman says, “I got this.” He moves in and begins to push the guys off Thompson along with Baynard’s help. My guys don’t release one punch, even though they’re being egged on by the Harvard team. The ref blows the whistle and announces that two players from Harvard are getting a penalty. With two players more on the ice than Harvard, we score easily. Two goals in three minutes. On break, Coach praises us and tells us to stay focused. Bozeman comes up to me and says he’s learned a lot from me this season.

“Let’s seal the deal, men,” I say to my team. “We’re making it to the Frozen Four.”

The guys cheer as the buzzer goes for the start of the third period, which flies by in a whirl of hard skating and another goal for us. We beat Harvard and it feels damn good.

Coach gives us a speech that we have one more game to win before entering the Frozen Four. We don’t know if it will be against Havenshire or Yale yet, but I am so pumped up I feel like I can take on the world. Adrenaline runs through my body as I look around the arena, wondering where Rebel is. I want to share this excitement with my girl, but I don’t see her in the crowd; probably because I’m so pumped, my focus is off.

After the game, we do the ritual handshakes on the ice. Off the ice, I’m all about the media interviews. The guys played smart tonight and the reporters definitely picked up on it. As team captain, a lot of the attention is on me, but I deflect it and thank my teammates for bringing their A game.

As I’m leaving the locker room, Cait is there waiting for me. “How did you…” I don’t finish my sentence because I see my father standing off to the side. He has never been to any of my games.

“Hello, son,” he says in that proper, deep voice of his.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, looking between Cait and my father.

My father opens his mouth to speak, and I notice the slight tremble of his lower lip. “I wanted to come see you play. I haven’t been father of the year.” He pauses and looks down at Cait. She nods to him and he refocuses his attention on me. “I worked too much and didn’t support my family. I blamed you for something because admitting that I was at fault meant taking responsibility, and I haven’t been very good at doing that. I…” His lip quivers again. “I’m really sorry for treating you the way I have. You didn’t deserve it. You were a kid, for crying out loud. Making noise and fighting with your sister is normal. My reaction and lack of patience for you guys is something that I regret so much.”

“Dad, a drunk driver ran a stop sign. Even if you didn’t have a lot on your mind. Even if you weren’t angry with Cait and me, the accident was probably still unavoidable,” I say, looking down at my sister. She is so strong and so smart. I was worried about her all this time, but she’s been so resilient.

“I was impatient and distracted. I’m the governor. I make huge life decisions every day, and yet I couldn’t save my family from the heartache we’ve been through,” Dad says sadly.

“We never needed saving. We needed your support and your presence in our lives,” Cait says to him.

He nods and blinks. His eyes are rimmed red. I’ve never seen him this way… ever.

Dad refocuses his attention on me. “I’m really proud of you, son. The way you lead your team. The exemplary player you are. I was wrong about you and hockey. I should’ve supported you. Should have gone to your games to see what a fine young man you’ve become. Can you forgive me?” he finally says.

My stomach feels like its flopping like a fish out of water. I’ve waited so long for Dad to say those things to me. I’ve been so hard on myself, felt like such a failure, because that is what he made me feel like. But standing here in front of this man who I love despite all his faults, I just want to be accepted and loved.

“This is about forgiveness,” Cait says.

I nod to my sister and kiss the top of her head, then I look at my dad. “I forgive you,” I say, and those words feel like they set me free. Like the weight of the mountain sitting on my shoulders has turned to air and drifted away.

“Thank you, son,” Dad says and hugs me. And after everything we’ve been through, I hug him back, feeling overcome with emotion.

When I step back, I see Rebel coming down the hall with Holland and her sister.

“Congratulations.” She smiles and I walk over to my girl, wrap her in my arms, lift her in the air, and kiss the hell out of her. “Wolfe, put me down,” she says into my mouth. But I can feel her smile against my lips. I put her down. Her cheeks are so red she looks almost sunburned.

“Rebel, I’d like you to meet my sister Cait and my father Christopher,” I say, still feeling high and jittery from the win and my father’s presence.

“So nice to meet you,” Rebel says and hugs Cait.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” Cait says.

“Same,” Rebel replies and then she shakes Dad’s hand.

“It’s a pleasure,” Dad says.

Holland and Blossom congratulate me on the win and then the guys slowly pour out of the locker room in their suits.

“Coach just notified us that fucking Havenshire won. We play them for the spot at the Frozen Four,” Cole says, and when he notices Dad, his face falls.

“Sorry, Mr. Ellison.”

My dad throws his head back and laughs a deep laugh.

Coach leaves the locker room and walks over to us.

“Governor Ellison, it’s a pleasure,” Coach says to him.

Dad shakes his hand.

“Your son is quite the impressive player.”

I look at Coach in shock. “What? How did you know?”

“I didn’t, Wolfe. I just saw the striking resemblance right now,” Coach says.

I blow out a breath.

Dec walks over. I hadn’t seen him leave the locker room. “Dude, your dad is the governor?”

“Yeah,” I say feeling tongue tied and nervous about what the guys will think of my lie—or lack of sharing the truth. Will they feel betrayed? Can I still lead this team, or will I lose their respect? Insecurities wash over me like a bad night of drinking, making me feel nauseous and lightheaded.

The rest of the guys exit the locker room and everyone walks over recognizing my father, including Bozeman who says, “Why didn’t you tell us that your father is the governor?”

The cat has got my tongue as I open my mouth to speak, but sweat breaks out on my forehead and I can’t find the words. Dad comes through and says, “I can’t speak for Wolfe, but knowing my son, he wanted to work his way to the top on his own without help from his old man.” Dad winks at me.

My nerves ease. The nausea drifts away. That isn’t a lie. I wanted my achievements to be mine.

“Your son is a fine player and a good human,” Coach agrees and then he turns to me. “You played with real honor and integrity tonight, kid.”

Coach’s words make me feel like myself again.

“Thanks, Coach.”

“Are we heading out to party?” Dec asks.

“Better keep your head clean, McAvoy. And that goes for all of you,” Coach says. “Harvard played a weak, underhanded game tonight. We play Havenshire in two days. Keep the focus.”

“Yes, sir,” Dec says.

“Now, go take it easy,” Coach orders and then turns to my dad. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Governor.” He looks at me like he is seeing me for the first time. “Rarely do people surprise me in a good way,” he says to me. I think that sounds like a compliment.

“Thanks, Coach.” His words make me choke up a little. The decision to work and pay my own way wasn’t easy, but it’s been worth it.

Coach leaves the group and heads out of the arena.

I turn to Rebel. “I need to take Cait home.”

“No, I can take her home. I’m going there anyway. Maybe you can come by tomorrow and we can talk some more?” Dad asks.

“Yeah, sure.” I nod.

I give Cait a hug and say goodbye, and Dad reaches over and gives me another hug, which is really weird because he isn’t the most affectionate person.

I then return my attention to my girl. “You want to come over?”

Rebel’s cheeks flush like a schoolgirl. “Um.” She looks at Holland and Blossom.

“I can give Holland a ride home,” Blossom offers.

“Are you guys sure?” Rebel asks them.

“Yes,” Holland says.

“I can give her a ride home,” Cole says out of nowhere.

“Why are you still here?” I ask him.

“Because I’m family.” He shrugs. “I love you, man,” he says mockingly and gives me a half hug-half pat on the back.

“Stop being an idiot,” I chide him.

“I’m having fun. We just fucking won. We are so close to the Four,” he says, excitement lighting his eyes.

Okay, that’s true.

“Do you want a ride home, beautiful?” Cole asks Holland. Wow! He’s even laying on the charm.

“Hard pass,” she says to him, and Cole winces.

“Shot down.” I make fun of my friend, who I think has never been rejected before.

“Shut up,” he says, and he shakes his head and lifts his bag onto his shoulder.

“I’m out,” he says and leaves the arena.

“Don’t tell him, but I think he’s seriously hot,” Holland says.

We all burst out laughing.

Rebel looks at Holland with her brow cocked. “What? I’m not some puck bunny,” Holland says. “He can’t just compliment me and offer me a ride. He’ll have to work for it.”

I look at my girl and laugh, thinking we were like that once upon a time. Rebel laughs too and nods her head.

I extend my hand to Rebel. “Let’s get outta here?”

She takes my hand and we leave, and all I can think about the whole way home is taking her clothes off and loving her the way she was meant to be loved.