The Pucking Girl Next Door (Power Play Off The Ice: Snowed in for the Hoildays)

1. Smith

Chapter 1

Smith

" S on, thanks for coming home for Thanksgiving. It really means a lot to Kimberly and I." My father's voice comes through the speaker of my phone as I listen to the voicemail he left earlier today. Letting out a long breath, when he mentions Kimberly …We were friends in college and then casually dating. I would take her with me to have dinner with my dad, not because we were serious. No, it was to have her as a buffer between us. It felt needed, especially after my mom died. When she was more into my dad than me, I cut her loose. I didn't need her to cause any more problems between my dad and me, nor did I need her as a distraction, either.

Didn't think I would ever see her again, especially not as my dad's new girlfriend. I have nothing against her. She's a nice person and seems to be really into my dad. After seeing them as a couple on Thanksgiving, I can see that they actually love each other. She's not trying to get anything out of him, but it's hard to be around them.

A shiver runs down my spine, my lip curls in disgust at the idea of them being together intimately. Not only is he my dad, but fuck, he's like twenty years older than her, too. Now she's pregnant and I'm going to have a sibling who my dad might not even see into adult hood. The whole thing is bizarre to me. Finally, tuning back into the voicemail…"Well anyway I love you and hope to see you at Christmas."

Yeah, that's not happening.

Hitting the end button on my phone, I throw it into my locker. There is no way I'm going to put myself through that again so quickly. I'll just need to find something else to do so I can give him an excuse.

"Hey man, you okay? You've been off lately. And I don't just mean hockey." A deep voice interrupts my thoughts from behind me, a voice I know really well. I look up to see my teammate and best friend Steve Rogers staring at me with a look of concern.

Shrugging him off and not really wanting to explain myself, I reply, "I'm good."

He mostly knows about what's been going on but I still wince as I close the door to my locker. I adjust the towel around my waist as I stand up to go shower when his words stop me in my tracks.

"Smith, it's obvious you're not. Not only have you been more of a grumpy asshole, but your game is taking a beating. People are noticing."

He's not wrong. I've been missing shots left and right lately. Coach was on my ass just yesterday, telling me I needed to get my head out of my ass. Every time I go up to take a shot, my heart kicks up and my vision swims, I don't even want to take the shot. So I pass to the rookie on the team, and he gets it in like fifty percent of the time. Still, that doesn't mean I want Steve to point it out.

"Steve. I said I'm fine," I reply in a sharp tone.

He narrows his eyes at me, puffing out his chest as his voice raises a bit. He doesn't hold back. "Man, you're not fine. Anyone with eyes can see it. If you don't get your shit together, then who knows what might happen."

My shoulders sag a bit because he's right. I need to figure out how I can get my shit together. Obviously, just shoving every emotion down deep and throwing myself into hockey isn't working anymore. I'm just stuck.

"Sorry, man. It's always rough this time of year with my mom, and you know, with my dad and Kimberly. I guess it's affecting me more than I thought." Taking a deep breath, I blow it all out, then finish, "Life is just not what I thought it would be. I thought it would be different."

Steve stands up, his hand going to the towel around his waist, holding it in place. "I hear you, brother. Let's go get a beer and food from the Rowdy Saloon?"

"Won't Kayla be expecting you?"

"Nah. She's out of town for work."

"Alright. Let me finish getting ready."

"Sounds good. I'll meet you out here."

Nodding, I head toward the shower, knowing that once we go to dinner, he's going to be having me spilling everything. Steve has been my best friend since we were kids. His family have always been there for me. I first met him at our local recreation hockey team back in Rose Valley. Later, I found out he was in my fifth-grade class, and we became inseparable ever since.

After high school, his family moved away, but it didn't affect our friendship since we were already signed to the same college team. Life would not be the same if it weren't for him, especially after my mom died. We would stay behind after practice, getting drills in, making sure that we both became the best hockey players we could be.

I know if my mom was alive today, she would be proud of both of us, "the terrible duo" she used to call us. It all paid off because now I'm a winger for the Dallas Blades and he's the goalie, both of us living our dreams.

Beyond hockey, though, he seems to have gotten it right. Two years into college, he met the love of his life and after a few difficulties they're now living out their life plans together. A year into the pros, they got married, and I stood as his best man at their wedding. Now he's about to be a dad, and it blows my mind that the guy who used to walk around with his shirt off and a beer cap strapped to his head, burping the alphabet, is about to have a whole person he will be responsible for. Better him than me.

I don't want to be a dad soon, or maybe never. Having the responsibility of a parent just seems soul crushing.

It only takes me fifteen minutes to shower up and get dressed. Grabbing my hockey bag from my locker, I head to the parking lot. Opening the door, I jump into my F-150, taking in a deep breath before I start it up.

Time to get this therapy session over. I just hope it helps me get out of this rut I seem to be in.