Page 94 of The Tryout

That’s not the whole story, I can tell.

“But?”

“But…I miss you.”

He says this on an exhale, his eyes not quite meeting mine through the camera. My stomach twists, tight with something I can’t quite name.

“Miss you, too.”

It’s the honest truth, and it’s out of my mouth before I can think about whether it’s a bad idea. Avery’s smile grows even bigger, and I’m glad I gave him those words.

“You been getting to know the guys better while I’ve been gone?”

I know Avery is more social than I am, and I’ve been hoping he’d use my absence to go out and let his hair down a little. At the same time, my stomach clenches at the thought of him at a bar, being approached by people I don’t know, people eager to spend time with him.

He shrugs.

“I went to Novak’s for dinner. Did you know his wife is in medical school?”

I can’t help but be glad he is getting to know the guys better – and not the coeds of Greater Des Moines.

“Yeah. I think she put her career on hold for a while when they had kids and he went from team to team. It’s so cool that she’s going to be a doctor.”

He smiles, nodding.

“What would you have done if the hockey thing didn’t work out?”

“Who says it’s working out?”

His smile falls a little at that.

“You’re twenty years old, playing for an NHL team, on a two-way contract. If it hasn’t worked out yet, I’d say it’s well on its way.”

I take a deep breath at that, feeling relief at the thought.

“I…didn’t really have a backup plan. If it wasn’t hockey this way, it would have probably been working at the arena or teaching lessons. I can sharpen a mean skate.”

“Wait, really? I’ve always thought those machines were super scary.”

I laugh.

“Nah, it just takes time and patience. It’s pretty soothing, actually.”

He smiles gently at me.

“You’ll have to show me when you get back.”

There are a lot of things I’d like to show him when I get back. Trying to avoid that line of thought, I pick up our conversation.

“What about you? You said something about Tony trying to get you to take the LSAT?”

I don’t tell him that it was the first time I’d heard of the test, that I’d had to Google it to figure out what he was talking about.

“Yeah. I think he just views the law as a safe career, something dependable.”

I nod. Honestly, I’m not sure I disagree with him – if you can afford the education.

“But I’ve been thinking…maybe I could be an agent? I mean, it’s not that far off – a lot of agents have law degrees. But it feels like it could be a good combination of the two.”