Page 98 of The Tryout

“Hey, Avery? Can you look at me?”

For a moment, it seems like he genuinely might not. Finally, finally, he does, his eyes suspiciously shiny.

“Look, I know you’re the one with experience here, so maybe I’ve got this wrong. But it’s been special to me. Even if it’s casual, that doesn’t mean it can't be special, right? I’ve never had someone I can trust like I trust you, okay? And I don’t want that with someone else.”

He pauses again, and again I wonder if I’ve said something dumb, something wrong. Finally, he nods.

“Okay. If you’re interested, I’m interested. Let’s talk about it when you get home?”

I nod, wishing for the first time that I was back in the AHL.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

AVERY

As it turns out, Zimmerman’s quad holds just fine during Thursday’s game as he and Finn split playing time. Out of an abundance of caution, they keep Finn up for the Friday game as well. But after playing just a few minutes, Finn ends up on a Saturday morning flight back to Des Moines while the rest of the Huskies head out for a West Coast road trip. He tries to tell me that I don’t need to pick him up at the airport after our optional skate that morning, but I convince him it’s better than paying for an Uber.

I’m standing in the same spot where I last saw him when I spot his curls through the crowd. As I wave my arms, he catches sight of me, a smile spreading wide on his face as he speeds up, walking in my direction. I can’t help but walk toward him, grabbing him in a hug that clearly takes him by surprise. Still, he doesn’t seem in any hurry to pull away.

Eventually, we do separate, neither going far.

“You wanna grab lunch?”

I’d been hard-pressed in his absence not to inundate him with DoorDash deliveries. I kept reminding myself of our conversation while simultaneously wondering if there was a Dude, you got called up exception. I was pretty sure Finn would say there wasn’t, even if there seemed to be a buying underwear fantasy during phone sex exception. I wasn’t planning on pushing my luck with that, either.

Still, we’re almost a week out from the Vietnamese food I had delivered, and I’m hoping he won’t press me over a matter of hours.

“Honestly? I just want to go home and get in a pre-game nap. Do we have anything at the apartment?”

“I think I still have some enchiladas from Novak’s?”

Finn stops in place, looking at me almost angrily.

“Elena made you enchiladas? And you didn’t invite me?”

I laugh at his reaction.

“You know, I told the girls we’d come over once you got back. I bet you she’ll take a request, especially for the returning hero.”

He smirks at this as we walk toward the baggage claim. As we wait for his bags, I think back to something he said.

“Wait…you don’t think they’re gonna make you play tonight, do you?”

The joy leaves his smirk as he hands his phone over to me. There, I see a series of messages.

Remy Porter 6:35 AM

Great job in Minneapolis, kid.

Really need you for the second part of this homestand against Duluth.

Let me know if you’ve got any transportation issues, otherwise count on starting on the first line tonight.

“Damn, they’re not wasting any time.”

He shrugs, giving me a look.

“You can say it, Finn.”