Page 68 of Full Strength

I headed though the arena to the section were the Pride usually sat. Chloe, Colby, and a few others were already there. The team was on the ice, and I scanned the players for Grant. He was standing up against the boards in front of the bench.

When I got close, Chloe noticed me and squealed. “You’re here!”

I walked down the row and sat next to her. “Yeah, I got a few days off work.”

She raised an eyebrow and looked around. “Everyone already knows what happened.”

I sighed. I should have figured but I was hoping it wouldn’t turn into a big deal.

“We’re all here for you.” She gave me a side hug before holding her arms out for Eli who willingly went to her.

“I appreciate that. I just don’t want it to get blown up.”

She nodded. “Then it won’t.”

When I’d first met her, she would say things like that and I thought she was just being optimistic or generalizing. But I’d learned that when she said something would or wouldn’t happen, she made it so. If I didn't want this to get out, then it wouldn’t.

It was part of what made her so good at her job, but more importantly, it made her a wonderful friend.

“How’s Erik?”

I felt guilty that I haven't reached out to him already. He’d been involved, and had to hold Ryan down. The police even interviewed him for his statement.

“Oh, he’s fine. I think he likes telling everyone he’s a hero.” She rolled her eyes, but I nodded.

“He really was.”

“Don’t tell him that. His ego is big enough.”

She was allowed to tease her brother all she wanted, but I was grateful he’d been there to help. Because of him, Grant was there for me when I needed him most.

“How are they doing today?” I was looking down at the ice, finding Grant sprinting across the ice. “Is he okay?”

“Addi?” He called up, sounding panicked.

I stood up and hurried down the steps to the glass. “Are you okay?”

He searched my face. “Yeah are you?”

I nodded. “What’s wrong?”

He pulled of his helmet. “I wasn’t expecting to see you. I assumed something had happened.”

I felt ridiculous shouting back and forth to each other so I waved. “I’m fine. I’ll talk to you after.”

He hesitated, but finally nodded and went back to the rest of the guys. I went back to my seat next to Chloe to wait. Luckily, I’d arrived toward the end of practice so there was only another twenty minutes left.

“Can you watch Eli for a few minutes?”

She nodded. “No problem.”

I hurried around the arena to the tunnel that lead to the locker room. A few of the guys were milling around, and waved to me. I smiled and greeted them but kept looking for Grant. I finally found him still in his gear talking to Colin Brassard. They stopped talking when they noticed me and Colin walked away.

“Hey. I was just going to come out and find you.”

“Do you want to go change?” It felt strange having to look up so far to talk to him. Normally, he had several inches on me, but with his skates on his towered.

He shook his head. “I’m fine. What’s going on?”