4. Xander

Xander

I stole a glance at Bennett, my mind immediately flashing back to opening night when he called me "kid." The memory was still vivid, the tone of his voice lingering in my ears. Sure, he had a decade on me – he was 32 and I was just breaking into my twenties – but that didn"t make me some naive child. We definitely saw the world through different lenses; mine were tinted with optimism while his were clouded with cynicism. But that didn"t mean I couldn"t be serious when it mattered.

After playing four home games, winning three and losing one, the team had a couple of rest days before we headed to Phoenix. We were now in the team bus en route to the Escape Emporium for some team bonding activities. Bennett was seated two seats down from me, on the opposite side of the aisle, staring at his phone – probably looking at some stats, as he was prone to do. I took the opportunity to study his face – well, his profile – as we rumbled along. And as if he could sense that I was looking at him, he whipped his head around.

His eyes were dark pools, betraying nothing of his thoughts, leaving me wondering what secrets he held. His stone-faced expression remained unaltered, showing no anticipation or excitement. It was as if he was protecting himself from any joy the world might offer.

Even now, when most of us were buzzing with adrenaline, shooting the shit with the person sitting next to us, Bennett sat there unaffected – unsmiling. He always carried that dark cloud with him. I wonder if anything could crack through that tough exterior?

The dim glow of the Escape Emporium sign flickered. It took us a few minutes to park and get off the bus.

"Alright, boys," Coach Mack clapped his hands together as we stepped into the dark room, "we"re here for some team-building fun. Let"s split up and search for clues."

Of course we were split into groups and assigned different rooms. As fate would have it, Bennett and I were paired together. By this time, I wasn't surprised anymore; it seemed he and I were destined to be partnered whether we wanted it or not. The look on his face clearly showed his disapproval of the arrangement, but I wasn"t about to let his mood dampen my spirits. Determined to make the best of the situation, I flashed him a grin. "Ready to solve some puzzles, Bennett?"

He simply sighed, already scanning the room for any hints of what we needed to do. I shrugged and followed suit. I refused to let this man steal my joy.

The room was styled like an old explorer"s study, with dusty bookshelves lining the walls, ancient maps spread across a large oak desk, and relics from distant lands scattered about. The dim lighting and flickering candles added an air of mystery and adventure.

The first puzzle was a series of numbers etched into a wooden panel on the wall. Bennett stepped forward, examining the numbers closely.

"These look like coordinates," he muttered, tracing his finger along the markings.

I furrowed my brow, trying to make sense of it. "Coordinates for what?"

Bennett shot me a look, his green eyes narrowing slightly. "Not sure yet. Let"s see if there"s anything else."

For several minutes we moved around the room, searching for hidden compartments and clues, finding things here and there. Bennett seemed to be in his element, his focus unwavering.

"Found something." I pointed to a small keyhole hidden beneath a loose floorboard.

Bennett nodded, reaching into his pocket for a set of keys he"d found. With a satisfying click, the floorboard lifted to reveal a hidden compartment. Inside, we found a worn leather journal filled with cryptic notes and diagrams.

"Looks like we"re getting somewhere." Bennett flipped through the pages.

We spent some time deciphering the journal, piecing together clues.

"Check this out." I unrolled an old, weathered map I found tucked away in a corner. Bennett grunted in acknowledgment, his piercing gaze immediately focusing on the faded parchment. Together, we began working on deciphering the cryptic symbols and solving riddles.

"Are you always this… intense?" I bit back a smirk as I watched Bennett furrow his brow, studying the map with utmost seriousness.

"Are you always this… obnoxious?" he retorted, shooting me a glare that would"ve sent a lesser man running.

"Guilty as charged." I laughed, feeling a strange thrill.

"Let"s focus on this cipher." Bennett pointed to a series of strange symbols scrawled across the edge of the map. "It"s got to have something to do with the locked door."

"Or maybe we should take a closer look at that painting over there," I suggested. The painting depicted a medieval knight battling a fierce-looking dragon, their actions almost lifelike.

"Fine, you check out the painting, but I"m telling you, this cipher is key." Bennett grumbled, clearly annoyed by my nonchalance.

"Whatever you say, Captain Serious." I sauntered over to the painting with exaggerated swagger. I heard Bennett huff behind me, and I couldn"t help but grin.

"Look at this." I pointed to a hidden switch beneath the gilded frame of the painting. With a click, the canvas slid aside, revealing another cryptic message scrawled on the wall.

"Alright, alright, you found something," Bennett begrudgingly admitted, joining me at the wall. "But now we need to figure out what it means."

"Teamwork makes the dream work," I quipped, winking at him as we set about deciphering the message together.

He grunted in surprise when I blurted out the correct interpretation of the code, earning us access to the final puzzle.

"Nice one, Xander." His voice was somewhat gruff. Did I detect some admiration?

"Thanks." I felt a surge of pride at his praise. "Let"s tackle the last one."

We approached the locked chest in the corner, its iron reinforcements gleaming in the dim light. We worked side by side, getting the chest opened. Our fingers brushed against each other. The touch sparked a flurry of butterflies in my stomach.

Stay focused, Xander, I reminded myself, trying to ignore the way my stomach somersaulted. It was just a brush of fingers, nothing more. But why does it feel like a whirlwind in my gut? Bennett"s hands were steady, his focus unwavering on the chest before us. Yet, that simple touch... Why did it leave me with a flutter of butterflies inside? It had to be the adrenaline of the challenge, nothing else. I felt the same way during a game. Keep it together, Xander. Keep. It. Together. Ignore the damn butterflies!

"Got it!" I exclaimed as the lock clicked open, revealing a key tucked inside. Bennett chuckled at my excitement, and before I knew what was happening, we were wrapped up in a spontaneous hug, caught up in the exhilaration of our success.

"Good job, Sunshine," Bennett grumbled playfully as we pulled away.

Sunshine, the nickname repeated in my mind, and for a moment, I was caught off guard. It"s not a name I was used to, not one I"d ever been called before. But as I looked into Bennett"s eyes, catching that teasing glint, warmth spread through me.

Sunshine, I repeated inside my head, trying it out. It was... surprisingly nice. A little silly, maybe, but it felt right coming from Bennett. I never thought I"d be the "Sunshine" to his "Grumpy," but somehow, it fit. We balanced each other out, at least today, opposites that strangely complemented each other.

The way he said it, with that playful tone, made me want to lean into the nickname, to embrace it. Maybe it was a sign that reinforced our standing on the team: rookie and veteran player, left wing and right wing, teammates. Whatever it was, I found myself grinning back at Bennett, a warmth settling in my chest.

"Couldn"t have done it without you, Grumpleberry." I watched his reaction closely.

Surprise flickered across his face, quickly followed by a subtle shift that I couldn"t quite place. His lips twitched into a half-smile, a rare display of amusement.

"Grumpleberry, huh?"

Bennett considered the nickname. There was something oddly fitting about it, if I do say so myself, although the name had slipped spontaneously from my lips. It was the perfect reflection of his often reserved nature that clashed with my own sunny disposition. Despite myself, I felt a surge of satisfaction at the nickname, a secret pleasure in the way it'd rolled off my tongue.

"Yes, Grumpleberry," I repeated, tongue in cheek.

He smirked. "Watch it, Sunshine."

The banter between us was natural, comfortable, and I couldn"t suppress the grin that curved my lips. Maybe calling Bennett "Grumpleberry" wasn"t such a bad idea after all, especially when it elicited that playful smirk from him.

The moment we Grizzlies entered the private karaoke haven, excitement surged through me. This was the last stop on our day"s team bonding adventure. Neon lights bathed the room in an otherworldly glow, while disco balls scattered fragmented rainbows across our grinning faces. A small stage stood at the front, ready for us to unleash our inner rock stars. Anticipation buzzed in the air as my teammates bantered, swapping song suggestions and teasing each other about the upcoming vocal showdowns. "Alright everyone, listen up!" The host, an energetic young man dressed in a flashy suit, clapped his hands to get our attention. "Welcome to your team bonding Karaoke Night! There are a few rules: one, have fun; two, don"t break anything; and three, absolutely no backing out of a challenge. Got it?"

"Yeahhh!" We cheered in unison.

I glanced over at Bennett, who stood near the back, arms crossed and a slight frown on his face. He looked a bit lonely and out of place among the laughter and camaraderie.

"Hey," I called out to him, grinning, "you"re not going to be a wallflower all night, are you?"

"Hardly," he replied, rolling his eyes. "I"m just waiting for the right song."

"Perfect time to find it, then." I grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the song selection area, where our teammates were already engaged in competitive banter.

"Xander, what"s the deal?" Bennett protested, albeit half-heartedly, trying to pull away. "I'm not ready yet."

"Come on, it"s all in good fun. You won"t let your teammates down, will you?" I teased, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes.

"Fine."

As we both browsed through the song list, Bennett scoffed at the options. "These are all cheesy pop songs, Harrison. Are you kidding me?"

"Cheesy or not, they"re fun," I countered, before spotting something unexpected. "Ah! Here we go, a classic rock ballad."

Bennett looked at me skeptically but finally nodded. "Ok, cool."

"Alright, everyone! Give it up for Jester, our first brave volunteer," the karaoke DJ announced.

Jester strutted onto the stage with the confidence of a rock star. I grinned, knowing his performance would be nothing short of entertaining.

"Get ready to have your ears blessed!" Jester shouted into the microphone, causing a round of laughter. As he started belting out Bon Jovi"s "Livin" on a Prayer," his voice was nowhere near in tune, and he exaggerated his dance moves, turning the song into a comedic act. To be honest, our eardrums needed a prayer.

As the evening progressed, my teammates took turns going up to the stage, each performance unique and amusing in its own way. The venue provided snacks and drinks, which fueled our high spirits. Glancing over at Bennett, I noticed him watching the performances intently, a small smile playing on his lips. He seemed more at ease than earlier, and I felt proud of my small role in that change.

"Come on, Xander, when are you getting up there?" Sam nudged me, drawing me out of my thoughts.

I shrugged, allowing myself to be pulled into the festivities."Patience, my friend," I replied with a wink. "My time will come."

It was nice seeing everyone let loose and enjoy themselves, as we bonded over our love for karaoke… apparently.

The atmosphere shifted when Coach Mack and the rest of the coaching staff stepped onto the stage, much to our surprise. Their rendition of Journey"s "Don"t Stop Believin"" had us all on our feet, cheering and clapping as they showed off their hidden talents and sense of humor.

Maestro, who was standing to the right of me, eyes wide, formed his mouth into an O. "Wow, Coach can sing." His respect for the man who usually only gave us orders and tough love on the ice was evident. "There"s more to him than I thought."

"Did you imagine we"d see them like this?" Bennett asked.

The question snaked its way into my ears, his voice barely piercing through the noise around us. He had leaned in close, so close I could smell the distinct blend of his cologne and body wash. It was an unfamiliar sensation, this acute awareness of how another guy smelled. The fragrance was fresh yet warm, a combination I couldn"t quite place. It left me unsure of what to make of it all.

"Never in a million years," I replied, grinning. "But it"s nice to see everyone"s human side, you know?"

"We get to see him in his element sometimes, but it's the first time I've seen him on stage like this," Bennett said.

Maestro was still looking at Coach and his staff as they wrapped up their performance.

Bennett's eyes met mine for a brief moment before returning to the stage.

"Xander and Bennett, you"re up!" the DJ announced, and my heart began to race. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through me, ready to take on the challenge of singing a duet with Bennett in front of our cheering teammates.

"Alright, let"s go." I grabbed Bennett"s arm as we headed towards the stage. He seemed hesitant but followed along, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape route. "It"s all about having fun," I whispered to him, trying to ease his nerves. "We got this."

"Easy for you to say," he muttered under his breath, but I caught a glimpse of a smile on his lips.

When "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton started, I took a deep breath before belting out the opening lines. Surprisingly, my voice didn"t crack, and I was invigorated by the energy of the song and the excitement of performing alongside Bennett.

As I sang, I noticed Bennett"s eyes widen in awe, the small smile still present on his face. It was an expression I hadn"t seen from him before – one of vulnerability and genuine enjoyment – and it made my heart swell with happiness.

When it was his turn to sing, Bennett reluctantly took the mic, visibly bracing himself for the judgment of our teammates. But as soon as he opened his mouth and began to sing, the room fell silent, captivated by the deep, gravelly tone of his voice that fit perfectly with the song. He didn"t try to imitate Dolly Parton"s soprano; instead, he sang in his natural, resonant register. This guy revealed a talent I didn't know he had.

I cheered, clapped my hands and bounced on my feet to the beat, hoping the energy I exuded was infectious enough to encourage him to let loose and enjoy the moment, something I"d rarely witnessed from him.

Then came the part when we shared the mic and sang together, our voices melded in harmony, creating a performance that left the team in awe.

When the song came to an end, the room erupted in applause and cheers, with our teammates whistling and shouting our names. Bennett"s face flushed a deep shade of red, but he couldn"t hide the grin that spread across his face.

"See? That wasn"t so bad, was it?" I clapped him on the back as we returned to our seats among our friends.

"Alright, I"ll admit it," Bennett conceded with a chuckle. "That was actually kind of fun."

"Kind of?" I nudged him playfully. "You were amazing up there!"

"Thanks, man. So were you."

By the end of the night, Bennett and I sang and laughed along with the rest of the team, the karaoke night turning into a memorable bonding experience. As I watched Bennett let go of his grumpy demeanor for once and truly enjoy himself, I felt a fondness for this new side of him that I hadn"t seen before, well, except for earlier that day.

"Here"s to more nights like these." I raised my glass in a toast.

"Cheers to that," Bennett agreed, clinking his glass against mine before taking a sip.

"Alright, everyone. One last song to close out the night!" Coach Mack boomed. The team members whooped and hollered, gathering around the stage for a final group performance.

"Any suggestions?" Lily, our physiotherapist, asked as she held the mic.

"Something upbeat and fun," Jester said, a playful twinkle in his eyes.

"Classic rock always gets people going," Maestro suggested, earning nods of agreement from the rest of the team.

"Perfect." Coach Mack grinned. "Let"s do "We Will Rock You" by Queen."

As we all took our positions on stage, I noticed Bennett hesitating at the edge of the platform. I smiled at his reluctance – it was just so very Bennett. With a mischievous grin, I grabbed his arm and pulled him up onto the stage with the rest of us.

"Come on. You can"t miss the grand finale."

"Fine," he grumbled, rolling his eyes. But even as he tried to hide it, I could see the hint of a smile at the corner of his lips.

The iconic beat started, and we began stomping and clapping together, our voices joining in unison as we belted out the lyrics. I glanced over at Bennett enjoying the moment, and warmth spread through my chest.

As we chanted, "We will, we will rock you," we swayed together, the energy in the room electric.

"Nice job," someone shouted from the audience.

"Thanks for a great night, everyone," Coach yelled as the song came to an end. We all took a bow, earning a round of applause and whistles from the team staff that weren't on the stage.

"Who knew you guys had such hidden talents?" Lily joked, patting Bennett on the back.

"Apparently, we"re full of surprises." I grinned, glancing at Bennett, who was basking in the afterglow of our group performance.

As we began saying our goodbyes and heading off for the night, I felt an overwhelming sense of connection with my team. Sure, we had a long season ahead and there were bound to be victories and hopefully no or very few defeats, but this night of laughter and music had brought us even closer.

"Hey, Xander," Bennett called out as we walked towards the exit. "Thanks for pushing me up there tonight. It was… fun."

"Anytime," I replied, clapping him on the shoulder. "That"s what teammates are for."

"Teammates," he echoed, his intense green eyes meeting mine for a moment before he broke into a smile.

"Teammates," I agreed, feeling that warmth in my chest again.

And as I surrendered to the comfort of my pillow later that night, a realization pierced through the foggy veil of sleepiness. For the first time, during that karaoke night, Bennett had refrained from addressing me as "kid."