Prologue Kai

Friday, October 11, 2024

“ H ey, I’ll meet you back at home. Coach asked me to meet him in his office, and I don’t wanna keep him waiting,” Liam explains as he gathers up his gear.

“No problem. Hopefully, it’s something good and not you getting your ass reamed out again,” I joke.

He rolls his eyes up at me as he straightens. “Yeah, right. I think you’re speaking about yourself. But whatever it is, I’m sure it’s going to be fine.”

He gives me a side hug before heading down the corridor to Coach’s office.

My feet are propped up on the coffee table as I watch the New York Monsters play their first game of the hockey season. As usual, the only player worth a shit on that whole damn team is their goalie, Luca De Laurentiis.

I hear the familiar jingle of keys, and then the door unlocks as Liam pushes his way inside. The door gets stuck in the same place each time, and he has to ram it open with his shoulder.

I press mute on the remote before meeting his wide smile. “I take it things with Coach went well?”

He dumps his gear on the ground in the entryway and catapults toward me on the couch, landing beside me. Liam’s hands grip my shoulders and shake me with excitement.

“You’re gonna have to tell me what's going on before I wind up with whatever the adult version of shaken baby syndrome is,” I tell him, laughing as he struggles to get his words out.

“I’m in! I’m fucking in, Kai!” he shouts with wide eyes. When he can’t contain it any longer, he jumps up from the couch, performing an exaggerated version of his usual celly. I guess it may just look more exaggerated without all the pads.

I snort loudly. “Hey, man, I’m really happy for you, but I actually have no idea what the hell it is you’re talking about, so could you sit your ass down and help a guy out?” I ask, still amused by his behavior.

Liam is usually the calm, cool, and collected one on the team. He never gets in trouble, never stays out late, and can always articulate his feelings. So whatever this is, it is not usual for him.

“I GOT DRAFTED! I’m gonna be a fucking Philly Scarlet!” he screams in my face.

I stand immediately, grabbing his shoulders because now it’s my turn to shake the life out of him. “Holy shit!” I yell, grabbing him around the waist and swinging him around our living room like a rag doll.

My face feels hot, and my knees are weak. He fucking did it!

“This calls for celebration!” he says when I finally place him back on his feet, his cheeks red and his hair disheveled.

I couldn’t agree more. My best friend is about to be living the dream, just like he deserves.