Kaleb

Rumours shouldn't fuck with my head, but they do anyways. I've been hearing different rumours about where my next hockey season will be.

Tampa Bay, Boston, Calgary, Arizona, Vancouver.

All of them make me nervous except Vancouver. I'm trying not to get excited about potentially playing hockey with Shea Smith again, but it's difficult to suppress those emotions. If I'm traded there...

I shake my head, clearing my mind of any excitement. Allowing myself to be excited and then ending up somewhere like Boston will only be a disappointment. I have to keep my mind open.

Instead, I focus on my relationship with Melody. Mel has assured me she'll follow me wherever I go. That, however, doesn't subtract from the guilt I feel. Uprooting Mel's life, despite her understanding the functionality of this relationship and its connection to my career, makes me feel like a shitty boyfriend. No matter how many times she assures me, I'll continue to feel that jab of guilt.

Again, I shake my head. This is why I need to be busy during the summer, especially when I'm a restricted free agent. I get bored and start scrolling through social media, which makes me plummet down a rabbit hole.

Raising my hand, I signal the bartender for another drink. I've already polished off three beers and an order of their famous clubhouse sandwich. It's not known across the world or anything. Just locally. The bartender nods, and she slips into the back cooler room to grab it.

I tap my finger against the empty glass bottle of beer, wondering where the hell Hunter and Jayden are. The two morons were supposed to meet me here an hour ago. They went on a hike somewhere up in the boonies, closer to Big White, but not really—Hunter's words, not mine. I'm starting to worry about them. Jayden is a punctual being. If he's late, then something bad's happened.

The bartender returns with my beer, popping it open and sliding it across the sticky surface. I grab it and take a long sip, letting the bitter taste fill my mouth and cool my throat. With each passing minute, I find myself glancing more frequently at the entrance. Then at my watch.

The cycle continues until my anxiety has peaked.

"Fuck it," I mutter, tossing three twenties onto the counter. My stool screeches against the hardwood as I stand. I'm not pleased about leaving a full beer behind, but I need to try and contact Jayden and Hunter. Maybe lasso a search party together.

However, just as I'm about to collect my belongings, I hear the door creak open. Then I hear two familiar voices. I look up, watching as the two of them wind their way around the pool tables.

"I'm not the fucking idiot," Jayden says. "You're the fucking idiot!"

Hunter throws his hands up. "You told me to go left! You're the cartographer. You're supposed to be able to read maps! Not me!"

Jayden side-glares at Hunter. "My vehicle is scratched to shit because of you."

A tense moment of silence passes between them before they burst into a fit of laughter. Hunter wraps his arm around Jayden's shoulders and ruffles the front of his shirt. Because of their laughter, I can't distinguish what they're saying.

I sit back down on my stool and cross my arms, staring at them.

"Man, we are never doing that hike alone ever again. It was fucking beautiful, but fucking creepy," Hunter says. "Especially the rocky area. Major cougar home vibes. Could you imagine?"

Jayden looks a little pale as he shakes his head. Something tells me he'll never do that hike again, even with a larger group.

They pause in front of me, still chuckling, and stare me down. They're still dressed in their hiking gear: shorts, boots, and muscle shirts. Hunter's wearing a tan-coloured bucket hat. Jayden's got a backpack slung over his one shoulder. Both of them are covered in bruises and scratch marks on their legs, along with some smudges of dirt and mud.

"What?" I ask, cocking an eyebrow. "Are the two of you already drunk?" I gesture to their disastrous legs. "Were you drinking while hiking? What the fuck happened?"

Hunter and Jayden exchange a glance. Their shit-eating grins make annoy me. Not because they're annoying but because I'm annoyed about missing my earlier flight. Originally, I was supposed to arrive on time to go hiking with them. Then the flight got delayed. Twice.

"I want to know the story," I continue.

Both of them stay silent, their shit-eating grins still present. The longer they stare, the more I begin to think they weren't drinking, but instead smoking weed. Their pupils aren't dilated, but their behaviour is strange.

"Seriously," I say. "What the fuck is wrong with you t—"

Hunter and Jayden ambush me with hugs and back slaps and loud voices. After the surprise wears off, I embrace them, laughing and smiling. It's been a while since we last saw each other. We try to hang out as much as possible, but it's difficult with our careers and lives and conflicting schedules. That's one reason why Smith isn't here tonight. He's busy working with a brand partnership in Vancouver, the lucky (but also miserable) bastard. Lucky because he's making bank with a silly commercial. Miserable because he's not here, spending time with us guys.

They take their seats beside me, Jayden sitting on my left and Hunter on my right. Hunter removes his bucket hat and sets it on the counter. He gives his head a shake, trying to loosen the sweaty strands from his forehead. Jayden orders a couple more beers and some spicy chicken wings.

When he notices me giving him a look, he frowns. "Don't judge. Tucker and I had an... interesting hike."

I raise my eyebrows. "Interesting?"

The bartender returns with their beers. She pauses, noticing the cash I forgot I'd left behind.

"Take it," I say. It's well over the cost of my four drinks and food, but she deserves the extra money. Especially because I know damn well the three of us will be closing this place tonight like the drunken idiots we can be. We're like dealing with teenagers. "I don't need any change."

She tucks the money in her apron pocket, smiling at me.

Once she's gone, I address my friends. "Okay. I need to hear this story."

They exchange another grin.

Hunter takes a sip of his beer. "Jayden and I went hiking at Little White today. 1,761 metre elevation gain, 11.6 kilometre distance. We drove up past Idabel Lake and all that area, following the directions from some hiking group on Facebook. We made it pretty far until we came to a second fork in the road. For the record, the group did not disclose that there was a second fork in the road. So it kinda fucked with our heads."

"Kinda?!" Jayden exclaims. "We went bush whacking in my Jeep! My baby Jeep that's only a year old. The paint job is ruined, Hunter. All because you convinced me to turn left instead of staying right."

Hunter throws his hands up, almost knocking his beer over. "Going right didn't feel right! It looked like that road was going to take us away from the mountain. Plus, when we came to the next turn-off, it matched the description of which road we were supposed to be on. Did it not? You can't argue with me there."

Jayden mumbles something incoherent into his beer.

"Long story short," Hunter says. "We went the wrong way. And then had to back down a tight, overgrown road while scratching the shit out of his vehicle. He's being a baby. I said I'd help pay for the damages, dude."

Jayden tips his beer back and chugs it. Then he signals the bartender for another before turning to us. "Next time, we'll take your vehicle and see how you like it being scratched to death."

Releasing an exaggerated sigh, I rub my temples. "Guys. There is too much tension here. Can we bring it down a notch? Good vibes only, boys."

Hunter punches me in the arm. Jayden snorts.

I sip my beer then clear my throat. "Great story, but why are you two acting so weird?"

"Oxygen deprivation and extreme exhaustion," Hunter says. "And injuries from bush-whacking, tripping, and all that shit."

When I look at Hunter, I note how tired he looks. The hike they went on wasn't one for novice hikers. I can't imagine being on a constant incline all the way to the top of Little White for 11.6 kilometres. But I'm still bummed I missed out. I would've suffered in silence with them.

"Well," I say. "Good thing we have beer and food to renew some of that energy, eh?"

Just as those words come out of my mouth, four orders of wings arrive. The plates are piled with four different flavours, each with a thing of ranch sauce and some carrots and celery. Jayden pulls one plate to himself and starts devouring the plate.

"Is he hangry?" I whisper to Hunter.

He nods. "Dude's sandwich was picked up by a bird on top of the mountain."

Hunter's laughing before he finishes his sentence, which earns him a glare from Jayden.

My mouth goes slack. "Wait. What?"

Hunter makes a swooping motion with his hand. "This fuckin' bird came down after J set his sandwich down to go and take a piss."

Although it's funny as hell, I still ask, "And you didn't share with him?"

"Who? The bird?" Hunter jokes. He shakes his head. "I ate mine before the hike. You know how I feel about eating while hiking."

I hum as I sip my beer. Hunter's never been fond of bringing food when hiking. Says it attracts the animals, which he's not wrong about. Still, I can't believe a bird stole Jayden's sandwich. No wonder he's cleaning meat off of the wings like a carnivore.

"Well..." I say, picking at the label of my beer. "Let's wait until the food has settled. So, Tucker, how have things been?"

Hunter grins, and then he starts talking about life.

*  *  *

By the time midnight rolls around, I'm hammered. I've been up on the stage to sing karaoke, danced on a table, and played several rounds of pool. Plus, the pub has gotten busier. It feels good to be home in West Kelowna, but that also comes with a price. People are passionate about their professional athletes in this city. Every ten minutes or so, I have people coming up to me and talking about hockey.

So it's difficult to hear my phone go off. Luckily, it's on vibrate and I'm able to excuse myself. I step outside into the warm summer air, taking a deep breath before answering.

"Hello?"

"KJ," my agent says. "I've got some news for you. I think you're gonna like it."

I sober up instantly. He's talking about the trade. My grip on my phone tightens. "What happened?"

He clears his throat. "You've officially been traded to Vancouver."

The world freezes as a wave of shock rolls through me. Memories of growing up playing hockey with Shea flash through my mind like a strobe light. Our draft pops up, too. So does our first game against each other. Then, I picture what my name will look like on a Vancouver jersey.

It brings tears to my eyes.

"KJ? You still there?"

I clear my throat. "Yeah, man. Sorry. That's..." I expel a deep breath. "Wow. That's... wow."

My agent chuckles on the other line. "Just wanted to let you know before the news notifications start rolling in tomorrow morning. Take some time to celebrate, Jones. This'll be a big season for you and Smith."

"Thanks, man," I smile.

After exchanging goodbyes, I hand up and slip my phone back into my pocket. I press my back against the exterior wall of the building, staring up at the starry sky. Although I'll miss the community in Montreal, I'm pumped to move to Vancouver and be closer to not only Brenna and Shea, but also home. West Kelowna is about four hours away, depending on the weather. That means I'll be able to see Jayden, Hunter, and my family more often.

Shaking my head and grinning like an idiot, I head back inside, rejoining Hunter and Jayden at the bar. They're immersed in a conversation, but it abruptly stops when Jayden turns to me and asks, "What was that about?"

Before replying, I signal the bartender and ask for three shots of tequila. She obliges, though I'm sure she's not far from cutting us off. I can smell alcohol on my own breath. People must want to vomit when they're near me. But I don't care. All I can think about is the happiness spreading through my chest.

I grab my shot glass, some of the liquid sloshing over the edge. "That was my agent."

Jayden's eyes widen. "And?"

Hunter slaps my back. "No shit! You were traded. Where?"

Hunter's intuition is impressive, but at least he doesn't know where. A grin splits my face. "Vancouver."

Both of them stand up and cheer. The noise earns us some nasty glares from other customers, but we're too excited to care.

"Holy fuck!" Jayden yells. "You're playing hockey with Shea again!"

Hunter does a strange little dance. He lifts his arm and wiggles his hips while spinning in a circle. "Stanley Cup! Stanley Cup! Stanley Cup!" After his dance, he grabs his shot glass, lifting it. Jayden and I clink ours against his. "To new beginnings!"

"And old friends," Jayden adds.

"And birds!" I laugh. "For stealing shit!"

Wow, I must be drunker than I thought.

But I still toss back my shot with my best friends, wishing Smith were here to celebrate, too.