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pushed into the glass, which I use to bounce back to steal the puck. Skating as fast as I can, I rush to the other side. Two guys come up on my side and try to block me. I take a chance. Just like I did the day I met Emily. I push the puck forward just as I slide past the net.
    I shoot.
    I score.
    We won 5-4. It was a close one, but we got it. There is going to be a huge after party somewhere, but I am exhausted. My energy is gone and all I want to do is climb into bed next to Emily. My shoulders droop as I realize that I’m returning to an empty bed.
    Hell, I’m going to the party.
    Girls were grinding against guys and my eyes easily found Eve. Making my way over, she asks me to dance. So we do.  A drink is always in my hand and empties way too fast. No problem. There is plenty of alcohol and I consume d a good chunk of it.
    “ Why drinking so much,” Eve yells over the music.
    “ Girlfriend troubles. Life troubles.”
    She leans forward to talk into my ear. “Life is good. Were you not there while you were playing? You did awesome,”
    “ Thanks. How about you? Where's the boyfriend?”
    “ No boyfriend.”
    “ You're hot enough for one. Sure you aren't playin' me?”
    Eve laughs. “I'm sure.”
     
    ***
    Little rays of fucking sunshine peek through the blinds and right into my eyes. My head is pounding and I swear I can hear my heart beating in my head. I’m pretty sure I can feel it slamming against my forehead as well. My eyes fall heavily but pop open again quickly at the realization that I have practice this morning. There’s no telling what the punishment is for showing up late and hung over. I’ll probably find out though. I toss the covers aside and begin my morning routine.
    With half the team suffering a hangover, Coach is twice as loud as usual and runs us to death. I can’t even count how many times I skate up and down the ice in the two very long hours. Tempted to skip class, I walk over to Coffee Beans for a coffee. Hopefully, it’ll wake me up. If it wasn’t for hockey, I would skip today but. Coach requires us to attend every class unless we are dead.
    What if I feel like I am dead? After buying my coffee, I turn around and there stands Eve. Her smile is too bright and too friendly for seven in the morning. I nod in greeting as I take a sip of my coffee. It burns a hot streak down my throat and into my stomach.
    “ I was just thinking about you,” Eve comments as she moves in to give her order.
    “ Oh really? What about me?”
    “ I was wondering if you knew that your girlfriend was out with that guy again.”
    Impossible. “She’s out of town at the moment. You probably got her confused with someone else.”
    Eve begins to describe Emily’s features and I nod in affirmation with a sinking feeling in my stomach.
    “ That’s her then. She was at the breakfast restaurant a few blocks down the road.”
    I checked my watch. There wasn’t any time to go check. “Thanks.”
    I walk away and go to my first class. Emily wouldn’t cheat on me, would she? She’s supposed to be at Mike’s and yet she was having breakfast with Kyle. There isn’t any time for this right now. I have to pay attention. The thought that Emily may be cheating is too distracting. Once I return home for the day, around eight o’clock, I feel guilty for even thinking it. Emily wouldn’t do such a thing.
    To prove myself right, I finally call her. After all, I've yet to hear from her. Each ring seems to take forever to finish and the pauses in-between seems to last even longer. She picks up on the fourth ring.
    “ Hello,” she answers sounding a bit breathless.
    “ Hey Sweetness. How’s it going?”
    “ Good. I’ll probably come home tomorrow.”
    “ Why didn’t you stop by today?” I ask.
    Emily is quiet for a moment before answering. “How'd you know?”
    “ A friend.”
    “ I was only there for an hour or two. It was something I needed to do in person.”
    I try to keep my voice gentle as I say,