Page 55 of Payback On The Ice

He leans his head back against the seat and closes his eyes. I put the car in drive.

We don't talk on the way home. Halfway down Route 9, with the snow coming at the windshield in the headlights, he reaches over and puts his hand on my knee, and leaves it there.

In the morning I'm stretching in my crease when my phone buzzes on the top of the net.

Nico: ok so big news

Nico: PT cleared me to travel

Nico: priya and I are coming up for the harrow game!!!!! feb 14 weekend

Nico: I want to see the boys. I want to see kettle. I want to see YOU be weird and quiet in person

Nico: and I want to see everybody. like EVERYBODY

I look at the last line.

At the far end of the ice, the door bangs open, and Theo comes down the tunnel with two coffees in a cardboard tray. One black.

He's been doing it every day for a month. I've never once said thank you.

Me: Good. Can't wait.

I put the phone face down on the net, and I watch him come.

15

THEO

Nico calls me Swede.

I've never been to Sweden. Neither has my dad, or his dad. The only Swedish thing about me is the name on the back of my jersey, but in August, at three in the morning, the second week we were texting, Nico decided it was my name, and that was that.

N: SWEDE

N: 2 days!!!!!!

It's Wednesday. The Harrow game is Friday. He and Priya are driving up Friday afternoon.

Me: I know

Me: please don't call me that in front of anybody

N: why not

N: it's a great nickname. I'm a genius

Me: nico

Me: I'm serious

The dots come up. Go away. Come up.

N: ok I know

N: I won't say anything. I'm just going to say hi. people say hi to people

Me: not to me they don't