Page 93 of Something Like That

Time flew by, his thoughts on what was happening on the ice and only that. Before he knew it, he was out of the shower and grabbing his stuff to head home.

Well, not home, to the hotel. The team liaison had booked a hotel for the first little while, at least until he could secure more permanent accommodations. The first game of a four-game home stand was tomorrow night, so he had nothing to do until the team met again tomorrow morning. Looked to be a fun night of take out and Netflix.

He pushed open the door to outside. It was raining. It reminded him of Seattle… and Em and Alex. Was it raining there, too? Or had it gotten cold enough to snow? Maybe it was sunny, like the day he’d kissed Alex on the pier. The need to pull out his phone and check the weather app burned through him. He reached into his pocket for his phone.

No. He pushed the thought away and pulled his hand out of his pocket. It didn’t matter. He needed to stop thinking about them, because it hurt so fucking much. That was the problem with feelings and shit. At least when he’d been numb, the gaping black hole where his heart should be hadn’t ached like a motherfucker.

Ducking his head, he made a run for his rental car. Someone was leaning against the passenger door. His heart gave a hopeful little thump-thump, even though his brain knew it was a guy and not Alex.

He got closer. The guy shifted his umbrella.

Ty.

“What are you doing here?” Nick didn’t mean for the words to come out hostile, but they did.

“It’s great to see you, too.” Ty pushed himself away the car.

Nick stopped in front of his friend, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. It wasn’t raining hard enough to get soaked, just enough to be annoying. “Sorry,” he said. “It is great to see you. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“That’s why it’s called a surprise.” Ty flicked his umbrella closed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the funeral.”

Nick nodded, his throat growing a lump the size of the bridge in the harbor. Stupid fucking emotions. The disappointment and shame that washed through him at the idea he couldn’t even win in his dad’s memory made his limbs feel like he’d just done a thousand burpees, while wearing hundred-pound weights. If he’d only been a better player, a better leader, then maybe the Pirates wouldn’t have tossed him aside.

Ty clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s get out of this rain and go and get some food.”

“Sounds good.” Nick’s voice sounded weird, all hoarse and gravelly. Ty didn’t react, which made everything a million times easier. He pulled out his keys and walked around to the driver’s side. Popping the locks, he climbed in and they headed off in search of food.

It took a bit for them to decide on something, but soon they were seated in a seafood place down by the water. The waitress took their order and hurried off.

Ty sat back in the booth, extending his arm along the top of the seat. “How are you?” Although the question was innocent enough, there was enough subtext to fill San Francisco Bay.

Nick fiddled with his napkin. “I’m fine.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I’m not lying.” He was disappointed in his defensive tone.

Ty sighed. “Talk to me, Nick.”

Nick had never been the touchy-feely, let’s-talk-about-our-feelings type. His parents had never encouraged it, so it wasn’t something he was comfortable with. But, if anyone would understand, it’d be Ty. He’d been traded a couple of times in his career. And, he was probably Nick’s closest friend. He rubbed the back of his neck and then went back to fooling with the napkin. “I think I’m still in a bit of shock.”

Ty nodded, but didn’t say anything. Just let the silence hover between them, like the fog over the water.

Nick ripped a piece off the paper napkin. And then another one and another one, making a tidy little pile next to his water glass. “I feel sort of blindsided, you know? Like, it wasn’t even on the radar, as far as I could tell. I mean, I know I didn’t live up to expectations, or anything, but—”

“Hold up.” Ty held up his hand. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Nick cocked his head. “My being traded. I thought that was obvious.”

“No, not that.” Ty pulled his arm off the back of the booth and leaned forward. “This not living up to expectations bullshit.”

Ty’s vehemence was so unexpected, Nick flinched, almost like Ty had leaned across the table and punched him. So fucking embarrassing. His cheeks burned. He hoped like hell it was dim enough in the restaurant for Ty not to see him fucking blushing.

“It’s not like it’s a secret.” He forced his shoulders to relax, because they felt like they were hanging around his ears. “I was supposed to win the Pirates a championship. My entire life, my entire career, was built around being a champion. And I fucked it all up royally.”

Shit, he’d never actually told anyone that stuff before. But now that it was out, he wasn’t sure he wanted to take it back. It felt kind of good to let someone else in on the burden he’d been carrying most of his life.

Ty was staring at him like he’d just kicked a puppy and pushed an old lady into traffic. “You do realize that hockey’s a team sport, right?”