Tripping

Chapter 29: Nathan's POV

Nathan

Do you ever feel like something is so close all you need to do is reach out and grab it? Sometimes it's not enough and you watch it slowly slip through your fingers.

That's how I feel now. We just blew a 4-1 lead in our series and lost game 7.The final buzzer has gone. Vegas players surround their goalie and the fans are going crazy. I'm on the bench with my head down trying to contain my emotions.

How did we get here? We were so damn close.

I can't even look up to the seats where Mia and Mason are seated because I can't handle seeing their disappointed faces. Even though I know Mia would be proud of me no matter what, so would my brother.

Sully comes over tapping my helmet making me look up at him. He's smiling. No shocker. He never shows his emotions unlike myself.

"Head up brother, we played great. We always have next year, yeah?" I nod because I can't really answer with words.

I get up off the bench and look up at Mia before heading into the tunnel to our locker room.

She's smiling, waving at me and she blows me a kiss. I give her a half-lipped smile before I duck away in the tunnel.

Everyone fills the locker room in complete silence waiting for coach.

"Listen up," he says and everyone's heads go from hanging down to looking up at him.

"You all fought hard and that's all I expect from you all as a team. Have a good summer. Rest. Stay healthy, and I'll see you boys at the hotel restaurant for a team dinner tonight," the whole staff claps for us and everyone slowly exits so we can all change and head back to the hotel.

No one speaks except for Buddy who goes up and says some words as his captain duty. We all get showered and changed in silence.

Everyone is quiet on the bus heading back to the hotel trying to process how our season just ended. Everyone splits and goes to their respective rooms when we arrive. As soon as I enter the room Mia is up off the bed and engulfs me in a hug, her small frame barely covering me. I lift my arms and rest them around her shoulders and press her tightly to me.

We don't say anything as we hold on to each other. I just enjoy how even when shit goes downhill she's always going to be there.

"You guys played amazing and that's what matters," she mumbles into my chest where I have her squished.

I finally let go and kiss her forehead before I head to my suitcase to pick out a change of clothes for our team dinner which is in half an hour.

Mia knows I'm not in the mood to talk. She just lays on the bed with her book while the TV silently plays in the background. But I want to show her I'm okay and she doesn't need to worry about me as she always does.

"Are you sure you will be okay here while I go for dinner?" I ask her, causing her to look up at me with that smile that makes me so weak.

"Babe, I'll be fine, we have an early flight tomorrow so I'll just rest. And Mason is next door if I need anything," she says, turning back to her book, leaving me to continue changing out of my suit into jeans and a sweater.

Mason was the only one able to make it out. My dad said he was good watching from back home with Mia's parents. I made sure to get Mason a room beside us. When they say you learn from your mistakes they were not kidding. I should've known better since we listened to the headboard banging against the wall until early in the morning. He's lucky I got a good afternoon nap or I would blame him for my poor performance. I still have to go give him some shit for it.

"I'm going to head over to Mason's room before dinner baby. You're good here?" I ask Mia leaning down to give her a kiss.

"I'm all good, go be with the boys. I'll be waiting here when you get back," she says, smiling at me again. Lifting up my sadness with her smile as she always does.

I leave her looking all comfy and cozy in our bed and head next door to Mason's room. He better not have someone in there or I swear I'm going to kill him

He opens the door with only a towel wrapped around his waist. He lets me in silently, I see his textbooks laid out on the bed where he was probably studying before I came in. I wait for him to shut the door before I five star his bare back. 

"What the fuck you shitface," he says as I watch my handprint start appearing on his back.

"That's for last night you asshole we heard you all night. Mia had to cover her ears with a pillow," I tell him as he smirks at me. Dickhead.

I drop my wallet and room key on the table and flop down on the bed facing the ceiling with a long sigh.

"Talk to me," Mason says. I always have Mia to talk to but I with Mason it's different he was there with me through my whole hockey career. From Pee Wee's to college to the NHL.

"How could we fuck up so badly bro? It's so fucking embarrassing. A 4-1 lead in the series to losing it," I tell him frustratedly.

"It happens. It doesn't mean you played badly. Or anyone for that matter. You all dropped the same amount of sweat trying to win the series. Shit happens bro," I let out a big sigh and just continue staring at the ceiling.

I bring my wrist to view seeing that I'm already five minutes late for the team dinner.

"Look, I have to head to the team dinner. Mia's next door, make sure to check up on her if we run late, please. And no girls tonight," I tell him with a serious tone and pointed look as I head for the door.

"Chill bro I have to study anyway. I'll check up on Mia don't worry. Go have a drink for once," I nod at him leaving his room and heading to the lobby.

This time I enter with my head up. We worked hard and everyone needs to recognize that. We all have each other for support and we need to stay positive and hope for better results next season.

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Short one today friends! See you at the next update

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