Page 37

Not to mention, our playoff hopes were still alive. Two games remained. We had to win out the rest of the way, but at least we had a shot.

The boys were talking about heading out tonight to celebrate our victory … but I wanted to celebrate with someone else. I went straight for my cell phone and texted Honor: “So? Did you watch?”

The boys all around me were going nuts, dancing to our victory song as they tore off sweat-soaked equipment.

“Hey Rockwell!” Vinny yelled at me over the noise. “Six points tonight, you fuckin'beast!Did you start juicin', bro?”

Vinny had a good night himself—three goals, all assisted by me.

I laughed. “I went back to my old curve, actually.” I showed him my old stick. The one I hadn't used since my Boston days.

“God damn, that's flat.” Vinny inspected the blade. “Why the change?”

I shrugged. “I've been forcing things too much. Thought I should go back to my roots, I guess, and start dishing the puck out more instead of trying to do it all myself.”

“Well hey, I appreciate you makingmelook like the hero for once!”

I stared into my phone, waiting for a reply. None yet.

Vinny pointed at me. “Get a load ofRon Textallover here.”

The boys burst into laughter. And then they were discussing where we should go find girls tonight.

“What about you, Rockwell?”

I shook my head. “Nah. I'm staying in.”

“What? Why?”

“Heart's not in it, boys. Sorry.”

“Pff. Whatever.”

***

The boys went out, but I went straight back to our hotel.

Still no reply from Honor. I texted her again. “Hope you watched that game.”

Twenty minutes went by, and still no reply.Huh.

I typed up one more text. My last one for the night, if I didn't get a reply: “Everything ok?”

Her reply came fast. “So who's Allison?”

I read it and groaned. I dialed her number immediately, but she let it go to voicemail.

I texted her again: “I can explain over phone. My thumbs will fall off if I have to type the whole story up.”

Her reply, a few minutes later: “Fine. Call again.”

I did. This time, she answered. “Hi.”

Hearing her voice? Damn, man. My heart felt lighter. Even though I knew she wasprobablyabout to hate me, and then it'd be heavy all over again.

“Hi Honor.”

“So? Who's Allison? Madison told me I should ask you about her.” She sounded a little tipsy.