Page 110 of Icebound

All I want is to sleep next to Nina after being scanned and x-rayed. Poked and prodded. But she’s not going to show up when she’s busy studying for finals. No one but my family and teammates ever does.

This isn’t my first injury by a long shot, so I know what to expect. Rehab is going to be a bad time. The thought of sitting on the bench watching my team win without me makes me want to jet off to Argentina and kick back with one of those umbrella drinks.

My body’s probably somewhere in the forties as far as wear and tear goes. I’ve put in fifteen seasons of pro mileage, and if it weren’t for my teammates, I might be done. Fifteen seasons in the League are catching up to me.

Nina’s words come back to me. Frayed around the edges. That’s exactly how I feel. I’m not broken, but I’m cracking. I trace my good hand on the table, inhaling the smell of disinfectant. There’s a scratch with cotton stuffing popping out, so I push it back inside like my negative thoughts. My team needs me, and I can’t let them down.

Simple as that.

Rumbling footsteps pound down the hallway. For a second, I hope it’s Nina, but they’re too heavy compared to her light steps. She’s spent so much time at my place that I know how her walk sounds, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Tremblay!”

Cruz and Patty charge through the glass doors, still sweaty in their gear. They grind to a halt as they spot me seated on the table, awake and unharmed.

“See?” Patty heaves a loud sigh. “Told you he was fine, Cruz. You didn’t need to piss yourself and scream at the ref. Tremblay’s a professional.”

Cruz sniffs, using his elbow to wipe his red eyes. “I knew the old man would be fine, but that was a rough hit.”

“Aw, you worried about me, kid?” I joke.

Cruz looks down at his feet. “Nah, now that I see you’re alive, I’m leaving.”

“No, you’re not,” I counter, crooking a finger at Cruz. “Come here.”

They stride past the hydrotherapy tubs until they’re right beside me. Both of their expressions are shuttered, so I can’t tell what they’re thinking. Cruz squeezes my good arm, and I pat his hand.

Patty nods to my shoulder, his jaw set. “How bad is it? You out for the rest of the season, or can you play through it?”

One thing I’ve learned after fifteen seasons is that bluntness is always better when it comes to sports injuries. “I’m out, so no playoffs. Looks like I’ll be watching you win the Cup from the bench.”

Cruz slams his fist against the treatment table. “That dirty fucker! Ninety shouldn’t have been crowding the net. I knew it was getting out of control. I can’t believe he slashed you, and all he got was a two-minute minor.”

“Yeah, but we know he plays dirty.” I attempt a shrug, but it morphs into a grimace when a sharp pain zips through my shoulder.

Patty grips my good arm. “I’m pissed right now too, but you’ll renew your contract, and we’ll go for the Cup again with you by our side. This isn’t the end.”

“Hell yeah, we will.” Cruz widens his stance with determination. “You’ll rehab during the off-season. No more golfing Pebble Beach, and then you’ll be good as new. This isn’t the fucking minors. We need you on the ice.”

The pressure of their words settles on my shoulders, dragging me down. Everyone needs something from me. Camille needs me to sign the sponsorship contract. My mom needs me to call her back. Coach needs me to perform. My teammates need me to block.

The only person who doesn’t need anything from me is Nina, and that has me tempted to give her everything.

But I chose this career. No, I worked my ass off to get here. Hockey’s in my blood, but the performance expectations for the NHL are insane. We’re held to the highest standards because we’re the best players in the world.

It’s exhausting but addicting.

It would be nice to skate once just for the hell of it, though. I can’t remember the last time I skated for fun. I think it might’ve been on that frozen pond when I was a kid, the icy wind turning my face red.

“Get off me! Let me through,” a familiar voice shouts. “I need to see him!”

I jerk up from the medical table at Nina’s panicked shouting, and damn if her concern isn’t the first thing to make me smile all day.

Cruz flicks his eyes up. “By the way, I called Phil to let her know you’re fine, but she’s freaking the fuck out, so have fun with that.”

I smack the back of his head with my good hand. “I don’t care if she’s freaking out as long as I get to be the one to calm her down.”

“Ow.” He rubs his sweat-soaked hair. “You’ve got it so bad for her.”