Page 41 of Over the Line

wonder if he thinks it was worth it?

Well he’s married to the woman now, so maybe?

Wow.

He always wanted to make it into the League, though. That was his dream. So maybe he’s got some regrets now? IDK.

Fuck around and find out. (shrug emoji)

Exactly.

The conversation hit a lull, and I wasn’t sure how to fill it. Or if I should fill it. He probably had better things to do than chatting with⁠—

Oh Christ. He was my teammate’s father. Not some guy I was trying to chat up. Not some guy I had any business chatting up. What was I doing?

Then my phone pinged again.

I hope I’m not keeping you from your evening, BTW.

My heart raced as I considered how to respond. He absolutely wasn’t. Did that mean I should continue this? Did that mean anything about this was a good idea?

No. It didn’t.

On the other hand, he was just my teammate’s dad. It probably hadn’t even crossed his mind that I might try to chat him up or flirt with him, because all I was to him was a hockey player on his son’s team. So what was the harm in continuing this conversation instead of wallowing in boredom and loneliness?

You’re not, don’t worry. I have a pretty sedate evening planned.

You too, huh?

Taking it easy tonight?

I should be unpacking.

Spoiler: I’m not.

LOL Careful, those boxes will become permanent furniture.

Don’t I know it LOL

I’ll get to them. Just not tonight.

Fair enough. I should be doing stuff but I’m not.

Yeah? Waiting for a game to come on?

Do you watch games when you’re not playing? Or is that like me bringing work home?

Nah I love watching hockey. Sometimes I just need a night off from it but I still watch it a lot.

I can understand needing a night off. Even if you love your job, it’s still your job.

Amen to that.

God, wasn’t that the truth. I loved hockey. I lived and breathed hockey.

But I also… lived and breathed hockey. Sometimes I needed a night to myself without sticks or pucks or whistles or goal horns.

It just sucked that those nights were by myself too, because everyone in my orbit also lived and breathed hockey.