by friends and activity, even if that was hockey practice and games. I’d missed the camaraderie of my teammates in the past year and a half—ironic given the fact I now lived closer to most of them than when I lived in Fargo.
I realized earlier, watching my players at practice, that I’d settled for the easiest option for my career. My coaching time at Lakeside was supposed to be temporary. I’d accomplished what I’d set out to do: coaching Dani into earning a slot on the Olympic team, watching her compete for our country.
Dani. I missed her too. We’d exchanged texts, but I still wasn’t ready to see her and Tyson in a social situation—just another example of how I’d isolated myself.
Maybe if I didn’t get this job, I should consider rejoining the hockey life—for fun. Try out for the new pro women’s team organizing under the Minnesota Wild banner. The pay was shit, but by sitting out, I wasn’t doing anything to help change that mindset.
Eleven
NOLAN
FRIDAY NIGHT
GW: You around?
ME: S’up, my texting buddy?
GW: So say you’re in a hotel room. You don’t want to go down to the bar and drink. You’ve already eaten. Your teaching plan for the next day is done. You want to watch a movie, but don’t want to dick around with figuring out which one to watch. What do you do?
ME: Watch porn.
GW: LUND
ME: Oh, I wasn’t supposed to be honest? Because that’s totally what I’d do.
GW: Is that what you’re doing now, alone on a Friday night?
ME: Nope. I need both hands to text.
GW: Geez. Why did I text you?
ME: Good question. Why did you text me?
GW: I hoped you’d tell me your comfort movie.
ME: Why didn’t you just lead with that?
GW: Fine. Tell me your go-to movie when nothing else looks interesting.
ME: Guess.
GW: Ugh. I hate this.
ME: I know. That’s why I’m making you do it.
GW: If I do it you have to do it too.
ME: No prob. You still have to go first.
GW:
ME:
GW: Your go-to movie is . . . Devil Wears Prada.
ME: For christsake. Seriously, Welk?
GW: Come on, that was funny!
ME: Try again.
GW: The Greek Tycoon?
ME: GABRIELLA
GW: You’d be annoyed if I said Wall Street, wouldn’t you?
ME: Not as annoyed as if you’d said Magic Mike.
GW: Hey, that’s MY go-to movie!
ME: It is not.
GW: Fine. It’s not. While I’m trying to figure out your movie, you try and guess mine.
ME: Miracle on Ice.
GW: OMIGOD NO!
ME: Slap Shot?
GW:
ME: The Mighty Ducks?
GW: NOLAN
ME: Kidding. It’s gotta be Fargo.
GW: I seriously hate you right now.
ME: No you don’t. It’s why you texted me at 9:30 on a Friday night. You knew I’d respond.
GW: Why did you reply? Why aren’t you out clubbing?
ME: Done my share of that and I’m done. I wasted a lot of years on nothing. How’s the hockey camp going?
GW: Great. The girls are actually paying attention. I don’t have any parents grilling me on whether their daughter is good enough to make the Olympic team. It’s heartening to see such a well-run club.
ME: They know they’re lucky to have you.
GW: Flatterer. But thank you.
ME: Do you always do these camps by yourself?
GW: I get to be 100% in charge. And keep 100% of the camp fees.
ME: That doesn’t surprise me at all.
GW: Are you working this weekend?
ME: I might sneak in Sunday for a bit. Mimi will be here for a sleepover tomorrow. I plan to exhaust her at Trampoline World so she’s not up until midnight demanding more games/movies/food.
GW: The solution for that is to let her invite a friend along to your house. They’ll entertain each other.
ME:
GW: What? That’s a great idea.
ME: I’m sure you’ll get a laugh out of this, but I’m not crazy about having people at my house. I can handle Mimi for a night. Any longer than that . . . she goes to my folks’ place.
GW: You don’t like kids?
ME: The issue isn’t kids. My house is my sanctuary. Everyone else in our family is happy to have football parties, barbecues, hockey parties, holiday parties, and I let them. There are enough people in the Lund Collective to rotate places to go. No one has said, why haven’t we been to Nolan’s place?
GW: Does it bother you that they haven’t seemed to notice?
ME: No. I’m actually relieved.
GW: Well, at least you don’t have to take down the pleasure swing in the living room in anticipation of company.
ME: Hilarious.
GW: Seriously, though. None of your family pops by? Not Jax? Not even your