Page 139

"So am I."

Theo comes closer, and I tell him where I took the contact. He asks a few questions, watches me move the arm, then tells me to speak up if anything changes.

I know the instructions. I’m getting very fucking tired of needing them.

We finish the first period tied.

Haynes talks about turnovers. Slade talks about their center cheating on faceoffs. I sit through both with my arm supported and an ice pack against my shoulder.

My phone stays in my bag.

Dan’s message is still there.

Both apartments finished. Final checks done.

Baylor has her kitchen back.

I wonder whether she’s taken her toothbrush downstairs yet. Which is not what I should be thinking about right now. There’s only two more games left in the regular season, we need this win to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Early in the second, I get the puck along the boards near the benches and send it ahead to Hunter.

Beau hits me after it’s gone.

I see him coming just in time to turn, but he drives through me anyway. My bad shoulder slams into the boards, and the glass rattles above my head. For a second, I can’t get any air.

"Fuck."

My stick drops from one hand. I brace against the boards with the other, waiting for the pain to ease enough to push off.

The whistle goes.

An official is already coming toward us, his arm raised.

Beau looks at him. "He had the puck."

"Not when you hit him. Two minutes."

Beau turns back toward me before skating to the box.

"Getting careful in your old age?"

I keep my good hand on the boards until he’s gone.

There are several things I’d like to do about that hit. None of them involve skating quietly to the bench, but that’s where I go.

I look toward Baylor on the way.

She’s on her feet, one hand pressed over her mouth. Her eyes stay on me as I reach the bench, and I try to straighten before she sees how carefully I’m holding my arm.

Too late.

Her face tightens, and she turns away, shaking her head at something Ellie says. Ellie puts an arm around her shoulders.

Hunter moves over to give me room.

"That was fucking late."

"I noticed."