Page 28 of Slapshot Baby

He clutches his chest and staggers back into a much larger man behind him. Theo.

"Theo, he forgot me. This is the best day of my life, I can say anything now and there’ll be no consequences."

Theo ducks to clear the doorframe. His beard is now full.

"There are always consequences for you." He comes to the bedside carefully, like I might break. "Hey, Kai. Good to see you awake. Don't let him rattle you, he's ninety percent noise."

Wyatt ignores him and drops into the visitor chair, long legs sprawled, a paper bag in his lap.

"Brought you contraband."

He pulls out a foil-wrapped burrito the size of a small child.

"The nurses said no outside food."

"The nurses can fight me." He takes a massive bite and offers me the other half, still chewing. "You want?"

My stomach hasn't been steady since I woke up.

"I’ll pass."

"Your loss. This place has nothing but Jell-O and sad food."

Easton comes in, a cap on backward. He leans against the window frame.

"You look awful."

"You've aged," I say.

His eyebrow lifts. "Fair."

My attention shifts to the other guys crowded around the room. I recognize some of them from the photos and videos I've been shown, but putting names to faces in real life is still hit or miss.

My eyes land on the man standing beside the bed.

Nothing.

I squint at him, trying to force something loose.

"That's Jordan," Theo says, coming to my rescue. "Try not to leave him alone with any of the nurses."

Jordan presses a hand to his chest. "One time."

"Three," Theo corrects.

Jordan grins. "Still feels judgmental." He gives me a nod before stepping back.

Theo points around the room. "Cole. Dmitri. Camden."

Cole lifts two fingers in greeting from where he's leaning against the wall.

Dmitri gives me a short nod. "Good to see you awake, Cap."

Camden gives me a nod from the chair by the window. “Camden. In case Theo’s introduction didn’t stick.”

“He has amnesia, not a five-second memory,” Theo says.

Camden’s mouth twitches. “Good distinction.”