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Smart hockey. Good win. Two assists I intend to discuss for at least another day.

My shoulder never got a vote.

The room is loud enough after the win that Brick gets the speaker without a fight.

I’m still sweating when I check my phone.

Her thread sits under three team messages.

there she is

I open it.

My thumb hangs over the keyboard.

right side changed in the second

Plain. Useful. Exactly what she asked for, and I know precisely what she will send back, and some part of me has been looking forward to it since the second period.

I still haven’t hit send when Mack says my name.

He’s sitting two stalls down with one shoe on and his phone dark in his hand.

“Sierra’s gone. She took her stuff while we played.”

The music keeps going. Somebody laughs at the far end of the room.

I delete the message and put the phone away.

“Give me your address.”

“You know my address.”

“Then get your other shoe on.”

Mack drives his truck. I order a car and follow him home.

He has the television on before I get my shoes off. He doesn’t talk. I don’t make him.

I order a pizza he says he doesn’t want and put the box where he will have to move it or eat it. He eats two slices. Neither of us mentions it.

That’s the whole skill, and it has never cost me anything.

Sometime after midnight I try to put my head against the armrest. My right elbow drops and the shoulder catches hard enough to put me back upright.

There’s a cushion behind me. I work it free with my left hand and wedge it under my forearm.

Better. Not good.

I could tell him. He’d get me a pillow, and then he’d have one more thing to carry tonight.

No.

My phone is beside me. Her last instruction is still sitting there.

Elbow in first. Both arms supported when you sleep.

She would answer. I know she would answer.