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Chapter 5

1979

Emily's POV

This was too weird.

Standing in front of the rink where Olympic tryouts would be held for the US hockey team. Herb Brooks had called me about a week ago to ask me if I'd "mind" helping with the team. As what, I don't know, but this was Herb. He'd find something for me to do.

There's just this one small problem. Robbie McClanahan was trying out. I hadn't spoken to him since that night. I wondered if Jack would be here, too. I had heard from him a couple times over the last three years, but I made every attempt to ignore him. I have an entire drawer in my kitchen of unopened letters from him. I guess after Robbie and I broke up I didn't want any memory of Jack.

What the hell was I getting myself into?


Jack's POV

So, I walked into tryouts, and the first thing I see is this gorgeous girl registering players; shoulder length, straight auburn hair and gray eyes hidden behind small, thin framed, black glasses. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was Emily Morrison. Couldn't be though. McClanahan would never let her hang out around a bunch of hockey playing horndogs.

I waited until it was my turn.

"Number and towel. You're Jack O'Callahan, right?" the girl asked before looking up. She had a look on her face like a deer in headlights. Have I seen her before?

"Last time I checked," I replied, trying to sound cocky, but it came out a bit warily. I walked away, wracking my brain to figure out who this girl was.

As I stepped out onto the ice, I saw this mystery girl again. God, who is she? I could tell McClanahan was just as distracted by her as I was, which pissed me off. He had Emily, right, so why was he checking out some other girl? Three years later and this guy still gets my blood boiling. Trust me, I'll figure out some way of getting back at him.


Rob's POV

Well, apparently Jack's thinking the same thing I am. My only question is why would Emily be here? Herb knows we broke up back in 76. Maybe he's doing this to torture me. That would definitely work. Throw Emily into the mix, as if Jack O'Callahan didn't hate me enough.

"Okay, that's it for today, boys. Coach Brooks asked that you clean up and meet him on the bleachers in twenty minutes," the Emily look-alike announced.

All the players shuffled off the ice and into the locker rooms. Buzz Schneider and I were the first ones on the bleachers.

"Did you see that girl at registration?" Buzz asked, breaking the silence that had settled upon us.

"Looked a bit like Emily, didn't it?" I replied.

"I'd say it did," Jack O'Callahan said, sitting a couple rows away from us.

"What do you want?" I inquired, turning my full attention to him.

"I'm guessing you and Emma broke up," Jack deduced so observantly. Gee, let's give the boy a cookie!

"Yeah," I grumbled. I didn't want Jack to know that Emily dumped me. I was a little shocked that he didn't know it though. I would have figured she'd run straight to him. After all, he was the reason we broke up in the first place. "I figured you would know that though."

"Why would I know it?" Jack inquired.

"Doesn't matter," I mumbled as Coach Patrick and Doc walked into the arena. I just noticed that the rest of the players were there too.

I looked back at Jack as Coach Patrick read a bunch of names out loud. Why did he look so amused that I wasn't with Emily?

"…Schneider, O'Callahan, McClanahan…" Coach Patrick read.

Huh? Why'd he call my name? Did I make the team? When did the Emily girl get here?

"Congratulations Robbie," Buzz said enthusiastically, shaking my hand.

"Thanks, you too," I replied, never removing my eyes from her.

"Take a good look, gentlemen, because they're the ones getting off easy," Herb stated, coming from out of nowhere. "We're putting a few of you on reserve in case someone gets injured or their game goes to hell. The final roster will have twenty names on it in seven months, so more of you are going home. You give 99 and you'll make my job very, very easy. I'll be your coach, I won't be your friend. If you want one of those, take it up with Doc or Coach Patrick. I'd also like you to meet Emily Morrison. She'll be taking care of team affairs."

And with that he was gone just as quickly as he'd shown up. So it was Emily.

"…You've got some homework to do before you celebrate," Coach Patrick said with a smile, before handing out thick booklets to everyone as they left.


Emily's POV

Oh yeah, Herb is definitely screwing me over here. Jack and Robbie on the same team is not a good idea, and throwing me in the middle is an even worse idea. I can predict something will definitely go down between them.

"Hey, Emmy," Buzz greeted me happily. It was amazing how excited that boy could get.

"Hey Buzz," I replied, handing him a packet. "This looks fun, doesn't it?"

"Oh yeah, wanna take it for me?" he joked. "We're all going to O'Reilly's tonight to celebrate. You should join us."

"Yeah, I'll think about it, Buzzy," I replied, as he walked away. Now I was staring directly at Jack O'Callahan.

"Hey Emma," he said awkwardly. I never thought I'd see the day Jack O'Callahan was nervous around a girl.

"Hey. Congratulations on making the team…well, so far," I replied sheepishly.

"Yeah, thanks," he said, taking the test from me. "Did you ever get my letters?"

"Maybe we could talk about this later?" I asked, seeing Robbie right behind him.

"Yeah, whatever," Jack answered, shooting Rob a look before walking away.

"Craig, I gotta go," I told the assistant coach, before running after Jack. I didn't even hand the test to Robbie before leaving.

By the time I got the locker room area, Jack was gone. "Guess I'm going to O'Reilly's tonight," I mumbled to myself.