AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And we wouldn’t want to,” Walter says. “Gladys and I don’t have family in town.Thisis our family. And you’re a part of it now whether you want to be or not. Goes for you too, Stefan.”
The conversation slowly shifts to baseball. The Mustangs are going on the road in Philadelphia for a few days, and this series is always fun to watch because between the Mustangs and the Founders the energy in the two dugouts is unmatched. I don’t love playing hockey in Philly, but Philly baseball is always a joy to watch.
One of my favorite things about playing hockey in Detroit is the support of the other teams. The Mustangs and Union frequently have promotional nights where we crossover – cross the street, really – and support each other. Ethan Crawford, the head coach of Detroit’s professional football team is a loud supporter of the Union and Mustangs. His players come togames. Some of us hangout when the stars and planets and schedules align.
Between us, the three teams have had their struggles. Thecityhas struggled. But the support has never wavered. As I sit at this table, a reflection of the city of Detroit looking back at me, I’m reminded of why I love this city. Why I love playing here.
“This is my first season watching hockey,” Charlotte says from across the table, “Francine is teaching me the game, and in return I’m helping her learn more about baseball. Not that she needs the help, she dominates our fantasy baseball league every year.”
“I told you, it’s all about the numbers,” Francine laughs. “Numbers I understand. The actual game of baseball still baffles me.”
“Don’t get me started on weird hockey stats,” Charlotte lobs a verbal volley across the table. “What purpose does the plus/minus stat serve? When I watch games I always have Hockey Reference pulled up, or the Union app with the roster and their stats. And I still don’t understand it.”
“Stefan has a career plus/minus of minus eighty-nine and right now, at this point in the season he’s sitting at, last I checked, minus ten.” Francine citing my stats is more attractive than it has any right to be. And sure, my plus/minus sucks, but it isn’t a reflection of what I can do on the ice. I’d like to point out that I have over two hundred career assists. That I lead the Union in power play goals this season. But because I’m on the third, sometimes fourth, line I get a few more tallies in the minus column than the plus. “He gets a minus if he’s on the ice and the opponent scores. He gets a plus if he’s on the ice and the Union scores.”
“That tells menothingabout him as a player!” Charlotte exclaims, throwing her hands in the air. “It just tells me he was on the ice at the wrong time!”
“You’re right,” Francine smiles. “His two hundred five career assists, and hundred and ninety eight career goals tells us a lot more about who he is as a player than plus/minus ever will.”
“Francine,” I clear the emotion from my throat and lean close to her ear, “I think you’re due for some pain meds. Let’s get out of here.”
“Are you sure?” She asks, turning to Rachel to confirm. “When was my last round?”
“You’re due,” Rachel smirks, hiding it behind her coffee mug. “Listen to the man.”
“It was nice meeting you, Stefan,” Gladys smiles as I stand and help Francine up from her seat. “Like Walter said, you’re welcome any time.”
Francine and I walk slowly out to my car, and I help her into the passenger seat, making sure she’s comfortable before framing her face with my hands and crushing my lips to hers.
“What was that for?” Francine asks, a smile stretched across her face when we break the kiss.
“That was for…whatever that was back there.”
“I meant what I said,” she wraps a hand around the back of my neck and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “Your assists say more about who you are as a player, as a person, than anything else in your stat line.”
“Can I take you home?” My voice comes out in a husky whisper and I don’t do anything to hide it. “Please?”
“Of course.”
After one last quick kiss, I jog around to the driver’s side door and slide in beside Francine, and make quick time getting back home where I take full advantage of finally having Francine to myself.
CHAPTER 16
MORAL SUPPORT
STEFAN
I’ve hada few hockey injuries in my time. Surgeries and rehab. And that pain is intense, but what might be worse is sitting here now, watching Francine and knowing that there’s nothing I can do to help her. She’s across the room standing between a set of parallel bars, a resistance band looped around her thigh and one leg of the bars. She’s on her fourth set of exercises with the band and her face is pinched and drawn. She’s in pain, but won’t say anything.
Her therapist moves her to a table, and she limps as she crosses the room. I want to go to her. To steady her. Hold her up. But I can’t. This is part of the process. She’s three weeks post-op, and after this we’re on our way downstairs and across the parking lot to see her surgeon. Francine’s goal is to get back on the ice. We don’t know yet when, or if, that will happen, so hopefully today she gets some answers.
“Morning Stefan,” Walter greets me as he sits down in the open chair beside me. I watch as Gladys makes her way to an open bike and gets situated for her warmup. “Good game last night.”
“Thanks Walter.” The Union snapped a seven game losing streak last night by shutting out our rivals from Colorado. “Felt good to win. Felt especially good to beat the Mountaineers.”
“And you added another power play goal to your stat line, I bet our girl Franny was proud.”
Heat flames in my cheeks.
