Page 131 of Secrets on Ice

After, in the room, the doc has a look, tapes the cut, and tells me it doesn't even need stitching, just a couple of strips, an ice pack, and try not to get hit in the same spot again. My hand's worse than my face. By the time I've showered, dealt with the media, and boarded the bus to go to the hotel, it's late. My face throbs and my hand is all bruised. I put the ice on it and lay on top of the covers still half-dressed and look at my phone.

There are about forty messages. Team chat, group chat, my mother twice, and my sister sending a screenshot of my own face close-up from the TV.

And one from Ember.

Ember: Are you okay? That was horrible to watch.

Ember: Text me when you're back at the hotel, even if it's late, letting me know you’re okay.

Sent three hours ago. I look at it for longer than I should. Should I text? I look at the clock, it’s going to be late. Maybe her phone is off, and she will get it in the morning. She seems worried.

Sully: Back at the hotel. Alive. Cut cheek. No stitches. Pissed I cost my team the game.

The dots come up straight away, which means she wasn't asleep either.

Ember: Send a photo. I need to see it.

I still. She wants a photo. Not that kind of photo. I would never send one of those, but maybe she needs to be reminded of who she has sleeping next door while I’m away. I quickly take my shirt off and take a photo of my face so that it includes my body too.

Ember: I think it looks bad. You didn’t really do a close-up of it.

Dammit, my little photo didn’t work.

I take a photo of the side of my face. It looks worse in the light than it feels, all butterfly strips and the start of a bruise.

Ember: Ouch. Does it hurt?

Sully: No.

Ember: Liar.

Sully: Yeah, it hurts, but I’m a hockey player, it comes with the job.

Ember: Thanks for sticking up for my Em. I was screaming at the TV. Cass had to take my wine off me.

Sully: Oh no.

Ember: Is Emmett okay? He just said he was fine.

Sully: He's fine. Sore neck. He'll be right.

Sully: You do realize this is our job and this is what comes with it.

Ember: I know, but this is like the first time since high school that I’m a part of it with you two.

Sully: Well, I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine. Sore, which is normal, and pissed because I gave the other team an advantage and we lost.

Ember: Don’t be hard on yourself. Like you said, it’s your job, and you’ll be back out on that ice in another couple of days, and you have a clean slate and can right the wrongs from the past game.

Sully: Wow. You sound like coach.

Ember: Do I? Well, I’ll take it. I know how you and Em take it personally when you lose but it is a team game, and everyone had a part to play.

The texting doesn’t stop for the next hour, and this is the best comedown I’ve ever had. She tells me about the office. The shelves are all in and stocked with samples. The girls have painted, and the desks are in.

Ember: You should rest.

Sully: So should you.