A winger on my right side throws his shoulder into mine, trying to push me out of the way. But I’m slick enough to tap the puck away from the defenseman’s stick, using mine to slide the puck around to the other side of my body, a trick I learned from my dad when I was a kid.
I set off down the ice on the breakaway, crossing the puck in front of me. It’s just the goalie and me, with the rest of the players trailing behind. I switch from my left to right to fake him out, and then last minute, make a quick change, smacking the puck to the right side of his skate. He makes an attempt to stop it, but the puck sails over the crease and hits the back of the net.
The goal horn blares through the packed rink, and my teammates rush over to me. Their gloves hit me on the head, back, and shoulders. It feels good to do something right. I can’t make up for what I did to Jemma, but at least I can make it up to my team for the games Tucker and I missed. We can help them win our final championship, even if my brother and I are not on the best terms.
After the game, we head back to the locker room with another point in the win column. Preston walks alongside me, his hand making contact with my back. “Nice game,” he says. “I’m happy you’re finally back.”
I snort. “I’ve been back for weeks. It was only a two-game suspension.”
“You know what I mean,” he mutters.
I cock my head toward him. “No, I don’t think I do.”
“Whatever’s going on with you and Tuck has been affecting your game lately. It’s been hurting both of you, actually, and by extension, it has also impacted the team.”
“I can put aside our bullshit for the team,” I assure him. “We both can. There’s nothing we want more than to go all the way again this year.”
He removes his glove and tucks it under his arm to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Me, too.”
“I feel like you’re trying to tell me something without saying it. Spit it out, Parker.”
“You and Tuck are competing for the same girl, and it’s creating tension between you. All I want is for you two to figure it out. You guys are brothers. Blood is thicker than water. No girl is worth messing with your game or career, and she’s definitely not worth fighting with your own family.”
“She won’t talk to either of us. We’re probably fighting over nothing. I’m not even sure she’ll come back to school after the break.”
“Problem solved then, right?”
“I guess.” I sigh. “Thanks, Prez.”
He nods. “No problem.”
Preston disappears into the locker room, headed toward the showers, and I realize I need to confront Tucker on the bus ride home from Penn State. We have to put the past behind us and move on.
When I step onto the bus, Tucker’s already in the back, leaning over the bench in front of him to talk to Jamie.
“Hey, Tuck,” I say, my voice projecting to the back of the bus. He looks up at me, and I beckon him with my index finger.
I get a nasty look in return. He acts as if he’s going to ignore me, whispering something to Jamie, but then he gets up from his seat to sit next to me in the front. We have a few empty chairs behind us, which gives us enough space to have a conversation without the entire team overhearing us.
He cocks his head at me, his eyebrow raised in curiosity. “What?”
“This needs to end, Tuck.”
He sinks into the bench, his back flat against it, eyes pointed out the window. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We haven’t been right since Jemma.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and sighs. “What’s your point?”
“You’re my brother, Tuck. My twin. We share everything—even the same DNA. You can’t shut me out because of a girl.”
“I saw her first,” he huffs. “You just had to get in the way. You’re always in my way.”
“Fuck you, bro.” I ball my hand into a fist, wanting to punch him in the fucking mouth, but I restrain myself. “She kissed me first. I had her first. She’s mine.”
He shakes his head. “Since when do you ever give a fuck about women?”
“I love women,” I counter.
He snickers. “You love fucking them.”
“What guy doesn’t?”
“Does she really mean that much to you?”
“Yes.” There’s not even the slightest hesitation in my response. “And I want her back.”
“We can’t both have her. She’s not into that.”
“No, she’s not, and I wouldn’t want to share her with you.”
He smirks. “You already did.”
“Not on purpose, asshole. Jemma isn’t like the other girls.” I stare out the window next to me, watching the cars pass us on the highway. “Why can’t you just back down? Is it a pride thing? Because I don’t think you really like her, not the way I do.”