Page 33 of Securing the Pucking Rebound

CALVIN

For the first time since Cooper Nash plowed me into the boards and pain exploded through my leg, I’ve had something else to think about other than my possibly doomed career and cut-short time in LA.

Today, all of that took a back seat.

I didn’t mean for it to happen, but no sooner had I started my session with Darcy than my thoughts started wandering.

Okay, that’s bullshit. From the moment I woke this morning, my own disaster of a life wasn’t my first thought.

It was the woman downstairs.

“Are you sure you’re okay, man?” Darcy asks as I lower my ass to the bench.

Our session is long over, but he’s been in the weight room with us this afternoon, working with a couple of the guys. He could sense the change in me this morning; it was why he was studying me a little longer than usual. But, ever the professional, he kept his thoughts to himself. That all seems to be over now, though.

Grabbing a stool, he drags it closer and lowers down as Brody, a second-line defenseman, slips out of the room, leaving us alone.

“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

His eyes narrow, and I’m convinced he’s about to call me out on my lie, but thankfully, or maybe not, he takes our conversation in a different direction.

“I dunno, you seem different today. Distracted, I guess.”

“Got a lot on my mind.” And way too much free time to get lost in it.

“I can imagine. You’re doing well, though. We’re completely on track. You have nothing to worry about with your recovery. Just keep working, and before you know it, you’ll be back out there, good as new.”

I nod, desperate to put weight into his promises. But while he might be able to get me back into my skates, he has no say in which rink I might be skating on, or which team I might be playing for.

“Any plans tonight?” he asks.

“Uh…” I rub the back of my neck as I battle against what I want to do, and what I probably should do.

“Probably going to see a friend, hang out at her place.”

Darcy rolls his eyes, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Oh yeah.”

“No, it’s not like that,” I say in a rush.

“Fair enough. Someone we should know about?”

“Nah, I’ve known her for years. She’s not a puck bunny.”

“Okay, well…” he says, pushing to his feet and kicking the stool away. “I wouldn’t want to keep you.”

He saunters off, leaving me alone. I take a moment and then push to my feet and head out.

The second I step into the hallway, the sound of a whistle being blown and guys shouting filter down from the ice where the forwards are training.

As tempting as it is to go and watch, there’s somewhere else I need to be.

After grabbing my things from the dressing room, I say goodbye to those who are loitering around and head out. While I’m waiting for the rideshare I’ve ordered, I pull up a food delivery app and begin scrolling. With any luck, what I order will arrive at a similar time to me, and I can take it right up to my dinner date.

There’s a nagging voice in my head that warns she might not be up to it. But that’s okay. I’m more than happy to sit there and watch her sleep if it means I continue thinking about her instead of obsessing over my future.

Considering the state of my life right now, I don’t expect my plan to come to fruition, but to my surprise, as I climb out of my rideshare, a bike also pulls up out front of the building and pulls out an order from his insulated bag on the back.

“That for Keller?” I ask once I’m close enough.