28. Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Cody

I pull Wes and Nico aside after our morning practice on Monday.

“What’s up, Cap?” Wes shakes his hair back and forth, sweat flying everywhere. The new cardio elements I’ve incorporated into our training has made Monday mornings public enemy number one.

Stella would be proud.

“Just wanted to have a quick discussion about next year.” I pause, knowing this is the point of no return. “After this spring, I am stepping down from the team.”

I wait for the wave of guilt or remorse to hit me, but it never does.

Wes blinks, “You mean you’re stepping down from captain?”

Nico’s eyebrows pull together, his dark gaze scanning mine. Although the freshman goalie hasn’t said a word, I have a feeling he already knows where I’m going with this.

“No, I’m taking a break from varsity next year.” I sigh, noting the look of horror creeping across Wes’ face. Out of all my players, I knew he was going to take the news the hardest.

“I could give you a list of reasons why I am changing directions, but all you need to know is this is what I want to do. You boys will always be my team, that fact will never change, but it’s about time I stepped back and worked on myself.”

Nico nods, his eyes full of understanding, “You deserve to enjoy the rest of your university experience. Be able to take Stella dancing every weekend without worrying about upcoming tournaments.”

I shoot him a smile, grateful for the support, “I am stupidly excited to have some free time. Speaking of which, with the new assistant coach next year, the next team captain shouldn’t be as burdened as I was this year.”

Nico gives Wes a nudge, but my favourite rookie is too busy being devasted to notice.

“It’s not going to be the same without you.”

“Of course not. Because the new captains are going to have their own approach to leadership and training.”

Nico’s eyes light up with surprise, “Captains? As in plural?”

I nod, “You and Wes will be co-captains starting next fall. That way, even if the assistant coach is a bust, the workload will be much more manageable split between two people.” I chuckle, watching Wes’ head whip back up in realization, “Plus, you both bring something special to the team. Between the two of you, I have faith there will be some balance between partying and actual practices.”

Wes snaps upright with military position, “We won’t let you down, Cap.”

Nico nods, following his example with a salute, “It has truly been an honour.”

I shake my head with a laugh, “Don’t go sending me off to the gallows just yet. We’ve still got this year’s tournament season to get through.”

“Right, right.” The newfound excitement buzzing through Wes makes it impossible for him to stand still.

Nico smirks and looks at me, “When do we find out who the new assistant coach will be?”

“My bet is the end-of-year banquet. That’s when I will officially nominate you, so I would assume USport will make a similar announcement.”

“Cool.” Nico wiggles his eyebrows at his best friend, “I already have so many ideas for party themes.”

I clear my throat and he throws me a wink, “Along with training drills, of course.”

“Of course.”

Wes widens his eyes in faux innocence, “In honour of Cap’s departure, we should make a running program that only targets Hunter.”

I laugh, “Now that would be a practice I would come back and watch.”

Wes and Nico grin at each other, their playfulness and overall lack of serious intent solidifying my decision. It’s easy to forget there are more important things than bringing home the championship banner, Mo and I have both been guilty of that, but leaving the future of Taber’s lacrosse team with Wes and Nico has me confident that the next generation will keep a healthier balance.

That’s the goal, anyway.

My train of thought derails when Wes steps forward and wraps me in a bear hug.

“I really am going to miss you, Cap.”

I squeeze him back, chuckling when he tries and fails to lift me off the ground.

“I’m going to miss you too, Wes. You and Nico are going to make great captains.”

He pulls away, green eyes shining, “You better not miss out on a single party next year.”

Nico grins, “He won’t. I know a certain platinum blonde who will drag his ass to every themed event she can find.”

“That’s true.” I smile, thinking how my own future has never looked so promising, “I’m looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with.”

“You already know I’m making a Pinterest board as soon as I get home.”

I look at Nico in surprise, “You use Pinterest?”

“Hell yeah, where do you think all my great ideas come from?”

The three of us start heading towards the changeroom and Wes nods in confirmation, “Nico has a vision board for every opportunity. Even ones that aren’t plausible.”

Nico pouts, “Just because I sleep around doesn’t mean I won’t have a mini golden doodle ring bearer at my future wedding.”

I blink, “That’s specific.”

“The heart wants what the heart wants.” Nico shrugs, “Always thought I was a large dog kind of guy, but it turns out, those minis really grow on you.”

Wes shakes his head, “Dude. You refused to go out with Luke yesterday because you said date conversation is boring.”

“So? I’m not wrong.”

“How do you expect to get married if you refuse to date anyone?”

Their friendly banter continues all the way to the showers, where I split off to have a moment of privacy. I pull my phone out of my pocket and smile at the name lighting up my notifications.

STELLA: How did it go???

STELLA: It’s okay if you change your mind.

STELLA: I know those guys mean a lot to you.

If Stella isn’t pacing her dorm right now then she has definitely found some sort of distraction. One that probably involves her poor roommate.

ME: It went better than expected. Wes and Nico are excited to be co-captains next year.

Stella had actually been the one to suggest the co-captain idea. When I had expressed concern about putting Lou and Wes’ relationship in jeopardy if the captain position became too much to handle, she suggested breaking up the role between two people.

STELLA: Amazing. Any second thoughts??

At the start of this year, I thought I had to choose between Stella and her older brother. I thought I had to choose a side, decide where my loyalties lie and stand my ground. Now I realize that the decision was never going to be between Stella and Mo – It was never my loyalty that was the problem, it was my priorities.

In the end, it came down to choosing between Stella and lacrosse.

ME: Not a single one.

Stella

“Remind me again why you’re straightening my hair?”

I smile, watching the steam drift from the iron in Lou’s hair.

“Because you have a date tonight.”

Lou frowns at me through the bathroom mirror, “But that isn’t until this evening.”

I carefully brush through the newly straightened strands, hunting for any stray pieces of wavy hair.

“Don’t you and Wes have a class together this afternoon?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”

I raise an eyebrow, “So you aren’t going to have a quickie in the staff closet after human anatomy?”

Lou blushes, “We don’t do that every time.”

“Hm.”

“We’re just both really passionate about the topic.”

I snort, “Passionate about Wes’ anatomy, maybe.”

“You got me.”

We both crack up and I nearly burn Lou’s hair in the process.

“Shit, sorry. You have to stop distracting me with these scandalous tales.” Fumbling, I manage to get back on track and finish the rest of her head without incident.

“There. Let me just grab some hair spray to help hold it in place.” I hurry to my room and return seconds later, surprised to see Lou nervously fiddling with her bracelet when I return.

The anxious look on her face is the same one she had when we first became friends, the social consciousness of someone uncomfortable in their own skin. It’s pretty rare to see Lou revert back to her old tendencies, so whatever she’s about to say is something that has been worrying her for a while.

“I was wondering… I don’t really know how to say this.” She hesitates, and I patiently wait for her to continue, “I know you and Cody are going strong now, and he has a house, so I totally understand if the answer is no, but…” Lou trails off, breaking eye contact to fiddle with her bracelet some more.

“What is it, Lou?”

“I was wondering if you would want to room with me next year?” She takes a deep breath, blurting out the next part so fast I almost miss it, “We can stay in residence or move off campus, it doesn’t matter to me. I just don’t feel ready to live with Wes yet and I don’t know if I can handle another first day again.”

I wait for her to take another gulping breath before patting her knee, “There is no one I would rather live with than you.”

She smiles, halting the anxious fidgeting, “Really?”

“Really. Why don’t we check out the housing applications this week and then decide to stay or leave campus?” I pull a face, “My only request is we find somewhere with bigger beds. The singles just aren’t cutting it anymore.”

Lou laughs, “They make sleepovers a little tough, for sure.”

My mouth drops, “Sleepovers? I can barely fit in that bed by myself, how the hell do you have sleepovers in that thing?”

She shrugs, suddenly coy, “Wes and I make do.”

I give my roommate a look of appreciation, “That might be my new favourite thing about you.”

“That I can fit in a single bed with a lacrosse player?”

I shake my head, “That you’re willing to be uncomfortable for the people you love.”

We make eye contact in the mirror, and I hope she can see the appreciation for all the uncomfortable social situations she put herself through just so I could experience university the way my mother would have wanted me to.

“I mean, if you aren’t uncomfortable, are you growing?”

I laugh at the quote, it’s one I have heard and used too many times to count.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”