The night of the first game of the regular season came up before I knew it and as I got to the arena, I noted that it was another last first. The last first game of the season. It was odd, because though I hadn’t officially signed on to work for Chains, I’d already made the decision that I would. It was freeing to know I had something new and exciting on the horizon, but a little humbling to think I had no one to share it with. Not yet anyway. It was too soon to tell anyone on the team and I wasn’t ready to have this conversation with my parents.
I checked my phone before I locked up my things, and there was a text from Isla asking if I’d heard anything from the College Board, which was where I would find my SAT score when it was posted.
I hadn’t checked in over a week and I pulled up the internet, logging into the site. My heart skipped a beat when I saw there had been something added. Holy shit, I was about to find out my score. I sat down and momentarily let my chin hit my chest. I wasn’t ready. Though I didn’t need a college degree if I was going to go work with Chains, I wanted one, and even if I didn’t go through with it, I’d studied hard for that damn test. I deserved a good score, but now I was staring at the screen, unable to push the final button.
“What’re you doing?” Ian asked, sinking down beside me. His eyes traveled to the phone in my hand and he squinted. “Is that the College Board website?”
I nodded.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you do well?”
“I, uh, don’t know.” I met his gaze sheepishly.
Ian smiled, immediately understanding my dilemma.
“It’s all right, mate. Here, let me.” He took the phone from my hand and I closed my eyes as he tapped a couple of keys. “You bloody wanker!” Ian nudged me hard in the side with his elbow.
My eyes popped open. “What is it?” I snatched it from him and my breath left me in a whoosh. “Holy shit…”
“Fourteen eighty.” He was shaking his head. “That’s fucking amazing. That’s good enough to get you into an Ivy League school, mate.”
I met his eyes and then pumped my fist. “Fuck, yeah. I fucking did it.”
“You did.” He grinned. “I’m proud of you.”
“Well, I don’t think this would have happened without Isla’s help. I’m going to screenshot this and send it to her. She’s in bed but she’ll see it when she wakes up.” I quickly took the shot and texted it to her. It was the middle of the night in Scotland, yet another reminder of how different out lives were, but I wasn’t going to think about that now.
“Now what are you going to do with it?” Ian was asking me.
“I don’t fucking know. Tonight, I’m going to go out there and kick some L.A. ass. Tomorrow, I have a paper to write for my English class.”
Ian clapped me on the shoulder. “I don’t know what this need to do all these new things is about, but I’m glad they’re making you happy.”
“Thanks. Me too.”
We skated all over L.A. that night, beating them 6-0, so I was in an even better mood after the game. When we got back to the family lounge, there were a ton of people I didn’t know, but Lennox and Sandor were there and I went over to say hi.
“Great game!” Lennox fist-bumped me and Sandor shook my hand. “Way to start the season.”
“Thanks.” I grinned at them. “It felt good to be out there.”
“You gonna miss your bodyguard shifts now that hockey season has started?” she teased.
I shook my head. “No, because I don’t intend to stop. I mean, I’ll have to cut way back, but I’ll be working with Chains as often as I can get away.”
Lennox’s eyes widened slightly. “Really? You’re serious about this stuff?”
I glanced around and dropped my voice. “I haven’t told anyone, so please keep it to yourself, but I’m retiring at the end of this season.”
Her mouth opened slightly. “Wow. I didn’t expect that.”
“Yeah, I know.” I gave a little shrug. “I’ve been battling the urge to do something else for a while now, and it’s time. I’m not getting any younger.”
Sandor was listening to us, a slight frown on his face. “We should talk,” he said quietly. “You have time for breakfast tomorrow? Lennox and I are leaving for New York the following day, and then we’re going back to Limaj, but I’d like to talk to you about your goals before we go.”
“I think there’s practice tomorrow, but I can meet you wherever when I’m done.” I met his gaze curiously.
“Text Lennox when you’re through with practice and we’ll figure something out.”
I was so distracted by the game and my cryptic conversation with Sandor, I’d forgotten all about my SAT scores and that I’d texted Isla, so I’d just gotten into bed when her name flashed on the screen of my phone.
“You got a fourteen fucking eighty!” she yelled. “I’m so bloody proud of you!”
“Thanks. I’m pretty proud myself.”
“I told you it could be done.”
“You were a big part of it. Without your tutoring,
