“Thanks again, Casey. I really appreciate this.”
“No problem, Puck. Trust me, Tom is truly happy to get some time in on the mic.”
Casey had gotten one of her crew to sit down on his first day of prelims, and his higher-ups at the network were perfectly okay with it too. He was still kind of an unknown to them, at least, and while they were happy with his work on the opening ceremonies, they didn’t really have a whole feel for him working as a hockey commentator yet.
So he gave Casey a hug and headed off for his rideshare so he could get a train up to Livigno. It was still oh-dark-thirty in the morning because it was a four-hour train ride, and he needed to get up there in time to see Caleb’s preliminary run. Caleb’s standing in the World Cup series was such that he would probably be a later-in-the-day run, but it still meant he needed to be there.
It was a relief to see the train was running on time, and he got his tickets validated before he boarded. Grabbing a seat toward the back so he could sit and work on his laptop and not end up with an Italian seatmate who wanted to talk aboutthe Olympics or their grandchildren or whatever in Italian, where he might catch every other word.
In fact, Hawk got settled and put his earbuds in, pulling out his work as soon as he could, so that no one else would want to sit with him if possible.
Hawk felt pretty lucky to get a seat to himself, and he got some breakfast from the trolley, a breakfast sandwich and a coffee that was exceptional.
He actually had lunch on the train too, not too long before they stopped in Livigno, because he didn’t want to have to waste time trying to get it in town before he made his way up to the half-pipe viewing area.
He waited. He looked on his phone to see if he could get a hotel room, but it wasn’t happening. He was too late by at least a week, so it wouldn’t have mattered if he’d tried a day or two before.
So he would take the late train back tonight. Maybe the slower, overnight train and just sleep that way. Hawk was able to sleep pretty much anywhere thanks to so many years of travel.
The snowboard visitor area was damn fucking cold, and Hawk was glad he’d bundled up. Jesus, at least with hockey he got into a warm locker room every twenty minutes or so.
While it was a bit of a hike to get to the prime viewing area, his press pass got him into a little café-type place with seating, where he could get a coffee and a cornetto filled with marmalade. That warmed up his hands at least. That space had some heaters, which was really nice.
“Hawk, dude, what are you doing here?”
Hawk looked up to find an old hockey rival and friend smiling down at him, bundled up like a Michelin man. Liam McDonough had been one of the best goalies Hawk had ever gone up against, and he’d retired a couple of years before Hawk.
“I actually just came up to see a friend compete. What are you doing here, man? How do you have press credentials?” He stood to shake hands, and then Liam sat down with him with his coffee and his own breakfast.
“I didn’t sneak in, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Liam winked and showed him his badge. “I’m actually here with the Canadians. Yeah, I’m up here for the same reason. I’ve got a friend who’s competing today, so I’m here to support him.”
“Cool, cool. It’s good to have somebody to sit with.”
“This is kind of luxe, right? We get heaters, we get drinks. They told me I could stay as long as I wanted. It wasn’t like I had to get up and give somebody my seat.”
“Yeah, it’s got a pretty good view too.” It wasn’t the most prime viewing, but it wasn’t bad at all. And he would be able to see Caleb’s runs.
Hawk’s phone chimed and he pulled it out. Surprised he was getting any kind of signal here. But there were towers dotted around, so maybe that was why.
Did you make it up?
He grinned at the text from Caleb, and he quickly tapped back a reply.
Here waiting for your run.
“Hey. Let me take a selfie with you, Liam. Is that cool?”
“Sure, Puck.” Liam leaned in as Hawk pushed his phone out to take the picture, snapping the little button on the side of his phone.
He sent that to Caleb too and typed out
Hockey people are everywhere. Old goalie friend of mine
Should I be jealous?
Hawk glanced sideways at Liam and thought about his wife and two kids.
Absolutely not.