Page 91 of The Chemistry Coach
Lover
*Picture of Daisy at the practice rink*
Hazy
Woooo she made it happen
Lover
If Beanie was here her entire life would be made
Hazy
Yah Beanman call your girl
Lover
Ew never say Beanman again
Call her she’s contracted with the team now!!!The rest of the season and all next year!!
Connor’s heart skipped a beat at Daisy’s news, a split second of elation and pride before devastation took hold.
He couldn’t ask her to leave the Freeze for him.Daisy was Seattle.She belonged there.She’d built a community there.Her career was taking off in the industry she’d worked so hard to break into.If he asked her to come, she would.And everything he loved about her would whither and die.
He should have called.Texting was a coward’s way out.But he didn’t think he could bear to hear her disappointment.And he needed to think about the best words to say.If she yelled at him or cried or told him to fuck off, he wouldn’t be able to get the words out.So instead of typing the message he’d planned, he tapped out the opposite.The message that would destroy him so she could flourish.
Hey I guess you know about the trade.Sorry I didn’t tell you in person.I shouldn’t have left like that.I heard your good news you’re going to be amazing.I’m sorry I can’t be there to see it.It’s best if we call things off.Don’t think I’ll be getting a deal in Seattle anytime soon
He stared at it for several minutes, trying to reason his way out of this nightmare.Nashville would be his home for the foreseeable future.Seattle didn’t want him.It nearly killed him, but he pressed send.Then he blocked her number and deleted her contact, fearful that if he talked to her, he wouldn’t be strong enough to stick to his decision.
Casey and Evan would be pissed if they knew what he’d done.He’d have to tell them she broke up with him, unwilling to do long distance; otherwise, he’d never hear the end of it.
Tears pricked his eyes, pressure building in his sinuses when he lay on his bed and scrolled through his messages.No matter what he did, someone would get hurt.Connor did his best to ensure that he would be the one taking the majority of the blows.Reading through Lover and Hazy’s messages eased his pain.Until he reread Hazy’s text thread, and bolted upright.
Desperate for it not to be true, he found Sarah’s thread and opened it.Under his last text to her sat an error message.Not delivered.Fuck.It was two days too late, but he called his sister.
Two weeks after the trade, Nashville faced off against San Jose.Nashville had the home-ice advantage, but it would still be a disaster.
Patrick Mills came out playing hard.He started warm-ups by spitting in Connor’s face.In the past, Connor would’ve pummeled him.Instead, he wiped the spit from his face and went about his normal routine.
On the first face-off Patrick said, “You didn’t deserve her, but I didn’t think you’d be this big of an asshole.”
Connor didn’t respond.He couldn’t deny the truth; hewasan asshole.
Patrick scored a goal and shoved Connor into the glass during his celebration.When Connor answered with a goal of his own, the crowd went wild, but Connor skated a slow lap, foregoing a big celebration.
Patrick played dirty.Some of his moves should’ve been penalties.None were called.Every check into the boards Connor deserved, and he let it happen.After one particularly rough play Casey and Evan helped Connor off the ice, and Casey asked, “What the hell, man?Why are you letting him get away with this shit?”
“He’s not worth it,” Connor mumbled in response.
As the first period went on, the violence from Patrick dwindled.The hits got lighter.The chirps became fewer.
At the start of the second period they faced off at center ice, and Patrick said, “You look like fucking shit.”
It wasn’t a chirp.Patrick wasn’t trying to start a fight.He simply stated a fact, and Connor didn’t have the energy to respond.
Connor scored after that face-off, and Patrick let him have his halfhearted celly.But the next face-off, his rival whispered to him, “You know I have to kick your ass, right?”No real animosity lined Patrick’s tone, which was a first for them.It felt like Patrick could see into Connor’s soul and knew nothing he could say or do would make Connor feel worse than he already did.
