Page 34 of Offensive Edge
Theo (unsent):Remember when we convinced our parents to let us spend Christmas break together? OHL break is different without you. Everything is so different you wouldn’t even recognize it. You wouldn’t recognize me.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2015
Theo (unsent):Well, another summer without you is down. I don’t know if I hoped you would reach out and try to see me, but it’s not like I did either. Just did a bunch of shit that reminded me of you. Flint will do that to a guy. Your ghost is everywhere here. And then I turn the TV on, and there you are, with a new sponsorship, new brand deal, new flagship interview. I saw they made you captain already. I can’t even imagine being the captain of an NHL team. Development camp starts tomorrow. Maybe this is the year I make it. I don’t think I can stand another year in the O.
MAY 27, 2016
Rowan:Congrats on the Mem Cup!
Theo (unsent):It’s been so long since we last texted that our thread is blank. I just noticed that. And as proud as I am of my team, and as happy as I was to lift that trophy on the ice, your absence was loud. People have stopped asking me about you, because I never have anything I can tell them. You’re a stranger now and it happened quicker than I could have ever imagined. I don’t know if I’m more excited or relieved to be aging out of this league. I feel like a dinosaur here.
MARCH 25, 2020
Rowan:Hey, man, hope you and your mom are staying safe. Everything is so weird now.
Theo (unsent):Yeah, things are fucking weird when Rowan Foley is texting me out of nowhere for sure.
Theo (sent):We’re good. Hunkered down. Hope you and your folks are safe, too.
AUGUST 18, 2022
Rowan:You probably saw the news. I know it’s been a while since we were close, but I wanted you to know I’m excited to play with you again.
Theo:
CHAPTER20
ROWAN
The Serpents leftTheo behind as they headed to the East Coast. They would have to make three trips to hit all the teams along the Atlantic, but the timing for this trip worked out for Rowan. He really needed to talk to his best friend.
Rowan watched as many of Felix’s games as possible, and knew that while Felix was playing well, his team was not. They had recently lost their best defender, and trade rumors for Blake Brennan were swirling. Felix had signed a big contract. He hoped for the sake of his friend that his team could figure their shit out over the summer.
The Serpents pulled out a win despite the struggle they had without Theo, but he managed not to gloat to Felix. He was a good enough friend to keep his mouth shut about it. He just got into Felix’s car and headed to Hoboken.
Felix’s roommate was with his girlfriend, and they had the place to themselves.
“I’m going to get my own place next year,” Felix said. From talking to him on the phone and exchanging texts all season, it seemed like Felix was unimpressed with his roommate situation.
“Do you know where you’re looking?”
“I’m going to worry about it after the season is over. I’m sure I’ll have a plenty long off-season.” He looked dejected, and Rowan hated it. He was at least used to looking that dejected together.
“You’ll have to come out to Cali and watch our playoffs,” Rowan teased.
“God, will I ever make playoffs again?” It was a rhetorical question. Rowan didn’t answer it. He just gave Felix a big hug. Felix made them sandwiches, and they sat in his living room while they ate.
“How do you relax in here?” Rowan asked. It was messy. Felix was not a messy person.
“I don’t,” he said. “And don’t give me that fucking look. We made the right choice.”
“We made the right choice,” Rowan echoed.
“Speaking of the choices that we made,” Felix started.
“What?”
“You got in a fight. Youstarteda fight. For Theo Lane. What is going on in San Jose? I feel like I’m missing something here.”
