Hockey Imagines

Heart Break | Alex Turcotte

#39, Center for the Los Angeles Kings
Word Count: 3.3 K

I gently nudge Alex with my elbow and place my hand on his knee, which hasn't stopped bouncing since we sat down. Except for when Jack Hughes, one of Alex's friends and teammates, got called as the number one overall draft pick. All of us were ecstatic for him. I know Alex can't wait until everything is over so he can go congratulate him.

"It's fine. Calm down." I whisper and he nods, although now I can tell that he's biting worriedly at his bottom lip. I guess there's only so much I can do.

The president of the Los Angeles Kings takes the stage and Alex quickly reaches over and grabs my hand. The Kings are the number one team that Alex wants to be drafted to, so if he doesn't get selected, I know he's going to be devastated.

He squeezes my hand tightly as the man calls up one of the scouts. I remember him coming to some of Alex's games, so I hope that's a good thing.

"The Los Angeles Kings are proud to select, from the United States Hockey League," I squeeze Alex's hand excitedly. He's one step closer, "Alex Turcotte."

Alex turns to look at me, wide-eyed. I just laugh and hug him quickly before pushing him in the direction of the stage. He stops to hug each of his family members, too, before making his way up to the stage. His grin is so big that I can clearly see it even from all the way over here.

My smile is so big that it hurts when he pulls on his jersey - complete with "Turcotte" on the back - and adjusts the hat on his head. This is his dream, and I am so proud of him for chasing it.

- - - - -

We're there for a few more hours, watching the other rounds and celebrating when our friends and Alex's teammates get picked. My best friend, Spencer Knight, gets picked for the Florida Panthers. Although I'm happy he's going to be living his dream and playing hockey professionally, I'm gonna miss him. Same with Alex. I'm gonna miss hanging out with all my boys. I swear, 90% of the time, my house is filled with all the USNTDP boys, so it's gonna be lonely now that most of them have been drafted and are being spread around the country.

Spencer will still be close by for a while, since he's going to go to Boston College for a little bit and work on getting a degree, something to fall back on if need be, before going to play in Florida. I can't say the same for Alex, though. He's headed off to University of Wisconsin with Cole and some of the others.

Alex's parents and I meet up with the boys, and I'm the first person Spencer goes to for a hug. He lifts me up and spins around a few times, making me laugh. "I'm so proud of you, Spence." I tell him as he sets me down.

He grins at me. "Thanks. I mean, the guys make me look good with their defense." He tells me with a shrug. Of course he's downplaying this. Totally a Spencer move.

I'm about to respond, but I see Alex a few feet away and rush to meet him and congratulate him again, but I stop short. All day, I've thought that the nervousness in his eyes, the anxiety was all because of the draft. But that look is still there. Is there something he isn't telling me?

Spencer joins me and gently pushes me toward Alex, who is looking at me now. When I finally reach him, there's a small but tense smile on his face. "Is everything okay?" I ask hesitantly, wrapping my arms around his waist in a hug.

He nods and kisses the top of my head, hugging me back. "Yeah, everything is good."

I pull back to look at his face again. "Then why are you looking like that?"'

He raises an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Like someone's about to kill your puppy, Alex. What is freaking you out so much that you can't completely focus on the fact that you got drafted to your dream team today?" He's worrying me, and he knows it. But for some reason, he's feigning innocence. That makes me wonder even more what this is truly about.