Breakaway (Beyond the Play, #2)(36)
“You’re not the only one with a hardass dad.” He gathers his things. “I’m not going to stop fighting for this. It’s my year. I’m the senior center. You’re just a junior defenseman who makes a fist whenever you hear something you don’t like.”
“Seriously, Finau?”
He leans in close enough I want to flinch, but I hold my ground. “Tell Coach you’re backing off,” he says, his voice deceptively quiet.
“Oh, there you are,” Evan says from the doorway. “Come on, Coop, we need to get started. How’s it going, Fins?”
“Fine,” he says, still looking at me. I just glare back, because there’s no way in hell that I’m doing that for him in the name of fairness or whatever the fuck he thinks it is, and after a moment, he stalks off.
Evan watches him leave the gym before turning back to me. “Still annoyed about the captain thing?”
“Nothing’s even been decided yet.” I grab my water bottle and take a long gulp. “He’s just being a massive douchecanoe.”
“He can tell that Ryder is close to deciding.”
I grab my bag and follow him to the doors. “Maybe. Or maybe he’ll just tell both of us to fuck off.”
Evan is a great friend for lots of reasons, but at the very top is his ability to switch topics tactfully when it seems like the conversation is about to veer into the pits. He claps my shoulder. “Want to come to my place later? We can get takeout from that Thai restaurant on Westbrook; Remmy’s been wanting to challenge Hunter to a new mission in Call of Duty.”
Hunter is one of Seb’s teammates, and thanks to the two of us, the hockey and baseball teams have become tight. Last year, we were friendly with the football guys, thanks to James, but not so much this year. I should work on homework before tomorrow, since I doubt much will get done when I’m with Penny, best intentions aside, but the thought of an evening spent unwinding with my crew sounds too good to pass up. Milton, or Call of Duty? While my teammates are getting some shuteye on the drive to New Hampshire, I’ll be puzzling over passages of Areopagitica, but it’ll be worth it.
“Hell yes, let’s do it.”
19
PENNY
October 5th
Would you rather live in the Star Trek world or the Star Wars world?
Callahan
Good morning to you too, Red
Idk I was just thinking about it last night
Take a guess
Star Trek?
Nope. I’m more of a fantasy guy
But they’re basically the same thing
…Red
No
???
Star Trek is science fiction. Star Wars is space opera. Totally different
Well, I choose Star Wars because I wish I could hug Chewie
And make out with Han Solo
You’d look good with Leia braids
My Halloween costume?
October 6th
Callahan
Wait, so you’ve written a whole book?
Not quite
More like half. But I’ve written shorter things before, like fanfiction
That’s seriously cool, Red
Yeah, well, it’ll be cool if I ever finish
That’s what she said
No
:)
What’s it about?
You’re going to laugh
I’m really not
?!
…Fine
Yay <3
But I’m going to wrangle it out of you eventually
You babble post O
I do NOT
October 7th
Callahan
?!
Ugh, fine
Pretend all you want, but you were about to ask. I can sense it
…I may or may not be on the bus into town
Ha, knew it
You have New Hampshire this weekend, I was being proactive
October 10th
I have a question
Callahan
Yeah?
Our ?! is exclusive, right?
I realized I assumed
It’s okay if not