I leaned against the side of the stadium building, pulling my sleeves past my fists as the Michigan breeze cut through my jacket.
Looking up at the stars that had already begun to light up the sky, I waited patiently as the players left the building.
Two players walked through the doors laughing and patting each other on the backs. I smiled to myself as I watched Hudson interact with his teammate, the loss of the night's game already completely forgotten.
"Hey, see ya tomorrow at practice, alright?" Hudson fist bumped his teammate as he ran toward the parking lot, leaving Hudson standing alone on the sidewalk.
He spun in a semicircle, nodding when he saw me across the small lawn.
I pushed myself off the building and walked over to him as he adjusted his gym bag on his shoulder.
"Piderro's ice cream or Jared's? He asks, referring to the two local ice cream parlors. "Jared's is better but Piderro's has more flavor choices." He turned to the parking lot as I fell into stride alongside him.
"Let's do Piderro's. Because it is in walking distance."
"I agree. Just let me drop my bag off in Jeremy then we will be on our way."
I almost snorted, certain I heard him wrong. "Did you just call your truck Jeremy?" I looked up at him.
he smiled down at me. "Yeah? Don't you have a name for your car?"
"I do!" I exclaimed. "I call her Martha!"
"Now hold on." "He opened the side door to his truck and tossed his bag inside. "So you are automatically assuming your car is a girl? that could be offensive."
"And what makes you think you truck is a boy? I could be a toughly built woman." I pat the hood of the truck.
"Toche." Hudson nodded at me, then leads the way across the parking lot to the street.
----------------------------------------
"Sorry about the loss," i said to Hudson after we finished telling the other person about our day.
"Oh." he shrugged. "I expected it." He continued to walk down the sidewalk as we neared the ice cream parlor.
"What?" i almost stop walking in shock. "You all are the Knights! The best team in the Midwest. Third in the nation."
"that was last year. This year is going to be different. I can already tell." He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"How so? I mean like you still have all of your starters? We thought you all were going to be better!"
He sighed. "Yeah. We thought that, too."
We approached Piderro's, and he opened the door for us as the parlor's cold air made me shiver.
"Why do you think that is?" I asked as we stand in line behind the other college students who were hoping to grab a late night snack after the game.
"i don't know," he shrugged. "Something about our team just doesn't feel right. Like we execute the plays, we pass, we communicate, and yet we keep losing to teams we should have beaten." he attempted to cover his frustration with a deep breath, but I'm able to see through him.
I pressed my lips together as I think. I turned and face him fully as an idea forms. "Who's the team captain?"
"You're looking at him."
"What? No! I thought it was the Spanish guy!" I crossed my arms, confused.
"Hope. He still plays but he wanted more time to focus on schoolwork. So the position fell to me." He took a deep breath, holding it, then lets it out slowly. "Which is why..." he stopped talking.
"Which is why you feel like its your fault the team is losing," I offered for him.
He nodded.
"Well, here is my idea. What about doing something off the field?"
He took a step back. "Like what?"
"I don't know." i shrugged. "Paintball or laser tag would be fun. Just something to give everyone a break from the field but still promotes teamwork."
"Actually, that sounds fun. I'll bring it up to coach at the next team meeting."
The line cleared in front of us as we stepped up to order.
"I'll take a cookies and cream in a waffle cone and a strawberry sherbert in a bowl for the lady." Hudson orders.
I spun on him, immediately. "How do you know that?" I baffled in confusion on how he knew exactly what I wanted without asking.
He pressed a finger to his lips as he gives a small smirk, showing off his dimples. "Now if I told you that it wouldn't be so magical would it?" He sprinkled fake fairy dust over my head.
I hid my laugh, allowing him to keep his secrets.
the lady behind the counter hands us our treats. "Hudson!" She smiled at him. "So good to see you! I would have thought you would have taken a semester off, considering what happened."
Hudson suddenly went stiff, the light joking of the moment before immediately forgotten. "Well," he stuttered, not knowing what to say, "W thought it was best for me to continue school."
She nodded. "A wise choice." The lady at the counter gave him a small smile then turned to help the rowdy group of guys behind us.
Hudson spun quickly, leaving the ice cream parlor with me right on his tail.
"Hudson!" I called to him, trying to match his long strides. "What was that?"
He slowed down allowing me to walk more naturally. "Oh that? She must have gotten me confused with someone else. no idea what she was talking about," he said quickly shrugging it off.
I knew he was lying, but I decided not to push it.
He can keep his secrets.
Besides, I had some of my own.
ns 15.158.61.23da2
