Page 165 of Offside Rules

Pops nods.

That answer, at least, makes sense to me.

"I love her," I say.

He looks at me for a second, then reaches for his coffee.

"Figured we’d get there."

"She loves her family. Her family isn’t particularly interested in making room for me."

I look toward the phone beside the recliner.

Baylor wanted me to stop talking outside the ambulance. She wanted me to listen. She said she was coming to the hospital. I told her I wouldn’t make her choose.

I didn’t give her much opportunity to do anything else either.

"She wanted more time."

Pops nods slowly.

"Well, you’ve got some of that over the season break. Might want to use it to work out what you’re doing."

I rub my hand over my mouth.

"I don’t even know if I’ll be able to play again."

For once, he doesn’t tell me the Hawkeyes will sign me. He doesn’t promise I’ll come back stronger or that the surgeon can fix anything. He gets up and brings my coffee to the table.

"Then we’ll ask the questions today. See what he can tell us."

"And if he can’t tell us anything?"

"Then we go home and figure out the next appointment."

I look at the list beside his plate. He’s written down everything. Except the one thing I’ve been thinking since they put me in that ambulance.

I don’t know who I’m supposed to be if I can’t play hockey.

Pops picks up the papers and folds them.

"Eat what you can, son. Then I’ll help you get your shirt on."

I reach for my fork.

I used to come home so I could make him slow down.

Now I need him to help me get dressed.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Baylor

Wolf texts while I’m brushing my teeth in his bathroom.

I nearly drop my toothbrush trying to pick up the phone.

Wolf: Just turned my phone on. I’m home with Dad. Appointment this morning, so hopefully I’ll have more to tell you afterward. Juliet sent pictures. You did a great job, Cupcake. Go get your shop.