One in 2330 ~ Connor Bedard Love Story

36. Bets and Memories

December 24, 2023. 9:30 PM.

It was the morning after Connor and I's crazy game against St. Louis. Originally, I had thought that Connor was going to head out to Vancouver this morning to visit his family for the Christmas break, but I was shocked to see him in the kitchen, hunched over a metal bowl, whisking vigorously. 

"Connor? What are you still doing here?' I asked in shock, causing him to look up from whatever he was stirring. "I thought you were leaving early this morning."

"I was, but my sister is stuck at college and my parents have work that they can't get out of, so I decided to stay here with you and give you the Christmas break you deserve, especially since you won't be able to visit your family at all." Connor explained, making me blush slightly. It was nice to know that he cared about me.

"Connor, you really didn't have to do that." I told him, taking a seat by the counter.

"Yeah, but I wanted to." he shrugged. "Also, um....... do you think you could possibly help me cook these pancakes? You've seen me try to cook, and I don't want to burn down the apartment. It was supposed to be a surprise for you, so I was going to get Kev to help me, but he said, and I quote, "If you ever wake me up again at 8:30, just to make some stupid pancakes, I don't care if they're for Sophie, hell, they could be for the damn Queen! but I swear to God, I will kill you so fast that you won't even be able to ask the question." So..... yeah....."

"Here, give me the stuff," I chuckled, grabbing the bowl from him.

*  *  *

Connor and I were sitting down at our dining room table, halfway through a mountain of pancakes, when I got a call from a guy that I hadn't talked to since I was at the Hughes Brothers' lake house last summer.

Incoming call ~ Zman

"Yo, Z! What's up?" I greeted, smiling. "It's been so long since we last talked!"

"Yeah, I know. Hey, I saw both yours and Bedard's Michigans last night." Trevor said. "Congratulations. They were amazing."

"Thanks man," I smiled. "Yeah, Connor and I had a little bet going on to see who could score the most Michigans. Whoever won would get 100 bucks from Vlassy."

"Wow. I wish I could've gotten me a piece of that bet."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. 

"Oh. You didn't hear? I scored a Michigan as well last night. It was the first goal of the game." Trevor explained, and I could almost see the pride on Trevor's face as he talked. He always was one to get really excited and proud of the things he did, which was probably what I respected most about him. 

"Oh, my God! Wait, that's crazy!" I exclaimed. "I bet the guys last summer are pissed at us right now." Last summer, before we all headed out for training camp, Trevor, Matt, Brady, Quinn, Jack, Luke, Bolds, Mitch, Josh, Alex, Jamie and I all talked about possibly scoring a Michigan this season. I told them that I could do it, Trevor also said he could. Brady and Quinn doubted that though.

~~~

It was a sunny afternoon on Lake Michigan in the Hughes' lake house. I was hanging out by the pool, tanning in the sun when the doors to the backyard opened. I watched as my brothers almost immediately took their shirts off and cannonballed into the water. 

"You've got to be kidding me." I sighed, wiping off the water that had splashed onto my face. "I'm sorry, Em, but I don't know how you can deal with my brother. Yes, he's nice, but sometimes...... sometimes, he can be a real jerk."