David wanders Toronto’s streets. They’re a little more familiar now, though not by much, since he spent the majority of his time in Toronto last year either training or at Jake’s place. He’s staying at the same hotel, and he wonders if he’s going to spend as little time there as he did before. He hopes so, but then, maybe that isn’t doing things right. He doesn’t know.

Jake isn’t the last person to arrive on the first day of camp, but he’s close, looking sleepy — he didn’t get in until two, according to a text he sent David — and rumpled. He waves at David from across the room, and David feels his cheeks heat when he waves back, feels like people are looking, probably wondering when the rival rookies became friends. Or maybe they aren’t. They’re not rookies anymore, and David doubts the players paid much attention to the overblown media coverage about their supposed rivalry.

Caldwell and Majors have already selected the teams this year, so no one’s pulling colours out of a hat. The rosters reflect players’ roles and skill levels far better than the arbitrary system they used last year, and David should be satisfied by that. Instead, when Jake is shuffling out with Majors’ group after the rosters are announced, he’s disappointed.

It makes sense. David and Jake on the same line would be unfair to the other team.

Jake mouths something at David as he’s leaving. David thinks it’s ‘Sucks’, and finds himself agreeing with that assessment.

*

Jake’s car is waiting for him outside the arena at the end of the day, and it feels almost illicit when David climbs into the passenger seat. David knows that’s ridiculous; the fact that they’re on different teams has never stopped them before.

“Wanna grab some dinner?” Jake asks.

“Sure,” David says. He’s hoping it isn’t just dinner, but it is. For three days that’s all they do, get dinner at restaurants near Jake’s condo. It’s the same one as last year, David’s gathered, though Jake hasn’t invited him back yet. Still trying to do things right, he supposes.

The fourth time Jake offers to drive him back to his hotel after dinner, David, frustrated, says, “How long does it take to do things right?”

“I dunno,” Jake says. “I’m kind of like, winging this right now.”

“Well,” David says. “Can we wing it at your place?”

“Just a movie,” Jake says, pointing at him. “We’re just going to chill and watch a movie and then I’m driving you home.”

“Just a movie,” David agrees, and hopes Jake doesn’t mean it.