Chapter 52 Chapter 52

Chapter 52 Chapter 52
HAYDEN

The call came out of nowhere.

I was halfway through lacing my skates for morning practice when my phone buzzed on the bench. I almost ignored it. I'm usually good at tuning out distractions before I hit the ice, but the name flashing across the screen made me freeze.

It was my mom.

I hadn’t heard from her since… well, since before camp. And now, weeks later, she was calling me? I hesitated, staring at the screen like it might explode. Jason, who was sitting two lockers down, noticed.

“You gonna get that?” he asked, leaning back with that lazy grin. “Or do you need me to tell your mom you’re too cool to talk?”

I shot him a glare but answered anyway, pressing the phone to my ear. “Hey, Mom.”

“Hayden,” her voice was smooth and polite, like we were strangers. “I just realized I never asked you about that hockey camp you went to. How did it go?”

I blinked, surprised she even remembered. “It went great. Intense, but… worth it. I learned a lot.”

“That’s good.” There was an awkward pause on her end, like she was searching for something else to say. “You’ve always been so determined. Your father and I…” She cut herself off. “Well, I just wanted to check in.”

It wasn’t warm, exactly, but it wasn’t cold either. It was… civil. Which, for us, was new territory.

“Thanks,” I said after a beat. “I appreciate it.”

“Don’t let me keep you. You’re probably busy.”

“Yeah, I’m about to hit the ice. But, uh… good to hear from you.”

She hesitated again, then said, “You too, Hayden,” before ending the call.

Jason was watching me like a hawk when I put my phone down. “That sounded… not awful?”

I shrugged, trying to play it off, even though my chest felt weirdly tight. “Yeah. Not awful.”

"Progress," he said with a smirk. "At this rate, you guys will be sending each other Christmas cards by next year."

I rolled my eyes, but a reluctant laugh slipped out. “Shut up and get ready, man.”

Practice went well, but I wasn't as locked in as usual, and the coach noticed.

“You alright, Michaels?” Coach asked when he called me over after drills. “You’re moving fine, but you’re not all there.”

“I’m good,” I said quickly, catching my breath. “Just… distracted.”

"Keep that off the ice," he warned, but his tone wasn't harsh. "You've got scouts coming to the next few games, so stay focused. You're in a good place right now."

I nodded. “I will, Coach.”

He gave me a long look, like he could tell there was more I wasn’t saying, then sent me back to finish the scrimmage.

By the time practice ended, I was exhausted but wired at the same time. My mom calling out of the blue, the reminder about scouts watching, it all mixed together until I couldn’t tell if I was excited or just anxious.

Jason, of course, had zero sympathy.

“Dude, you stress way too much,” he said as we left the rink. “Between your parents riding you and scouts breathing down your neck, you’re gonna give yourself wrinkles before you hit twenty-one.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” I muttered, shoving my gloves into my bag.

"Anytime. Seriously, though, just play your game. You're good. They're already interested." He elbowed me lightly. "Besides, you've got other things to worry about. Like your date-girlfriend-whatever situation."

“She’s not…” I stopped myself. “We’re just taking things slow.”

“Slow?” Jason laughed. “You’re over here dressing up for dates and texting her at midnight. You’re whipped.”

“I’m not,” I said automatically.

"Say that again without blushing," he shot back, grinning. "Oh wait… You can't."

I groaned. “Why do I hang out with you again?”

“Because I’m hilarious and I give excellent advice,” Jason said. “Which, by the way, you’re gonna need. When are you seeing her again?”

“Today, actually.”

“Look at you, lover boy. Just remember what I told you, open doors, be a gentleman, don’t talk about yourself too much. And no tripping over your own feet.”

I rolled my eyes, but his teasing actually helped settle me down.

Later that afternoon, I headed across campus to where Coleen was working at the athletic complex. She was behind the counter, sorting equipment, when I spotted her. For a second, I just watched. She had her hair tied up messily, sleeves rolled, completely focused on whatever she was doing.

It hit me all over again how much I’d missed her during camp.

“Hey, Trouble,” I said, leaning on the counter.

She looked up and smiled, that quick, unguarded kind that punched straight through me. “Hey, Lover Boy. You survived practice?”

“Barely. I think Coach is trying to kill me before the season ends.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” she teased. “You look tired.”

“Thanks. Great confidence boost.”

She smirked. “You’re welcome. What’s up?”

I shifted my weight, suddenly nervous even though I’d rehearsed this in my head. “So… I was wondering if you’d want to hang out again. No, not hang out. I meant another date.”

Her brow arched. “Another date, huh? You’re really committing to this gentleman thing.”

“I had help,” I admitted. “Jason gave me a whole lecture about opening doors and not acting like an idiot.”

Coleen laughed, shaking her head. “Good to know someone’s looking out for me.”

“So… is that a yes?” I asked, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

She glanced at me, pretending to consider it. “Hmm. I guess I could clear my busy schedule.”

“Good,” I said, grinning before I could stop myself. “Tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow night works.”

The rest of the shift went by way too slowly after that. I hung around longer than I needed to, helping her restock towels and move crates even though she kept insisting she could handle it.

When we finally walked out together, she glanced over at me. “You seem… different today.”

“Different how?”

“Lighter, maybe even happier,” she said.

I hesitated, thinking of my mom’s unexpected call. “Just… good practice. And good company.”

Her cheeks pinked, and I decided not to push it further.

Back in my apartment that night, Jason was still there, sprawled on my couch like he owned the place.

"So?" he asked as soon as I walked in. "She says yes?"

“Yeah.” I tried to play it cool, but the stupid grin on my face gave me away.

Jason threw a pillow at me. “Called it. Now try not to mess it up, Michaels. Oh, and remember… no talking about your parents during dinner. Girls don’t like hearing about controlling dads.”

I groaned. “Why are you like this?”

“Because you’d be lost without me,” he said smugly.

He wasn’t entirely wrong. But as I stretched out on my bed later, phone in hand, I didn’t think about my parents or scouts.

I just thought about the date I have tomorrow night with Coleen.