I’m not the only one missing ice time. Connor’s sidelined with a concussion. The night he showed up in Erie, I saw my foster dad helping him up the stairs. Rushed back inside to find out what happened. When Larry said Connor almost faceplanted in the kitchen, I helped get him to bed.
Thankfully, he slept through the night. I, on the other hand, never got a wink. Kept going into his room to make sure he was still breathing.
His face looked even worse the next morning, the bruising having turned dark purple. Larry had asked me if we should call the police. I almost laughed. My foster dad would shit bricks if he found out what the Titans are like and that this is normal for them.
Guess I’m back to hating Knight again. Wanted to come back and bash his skull in.
Except Eli’s husband beat me to it. When I finally turned my phone back on, the team group chat was blowing up with a video of the incident. Alexei Petrov showed up at practice, put Knight through the plexiglass, then broke a couple of his fingers. Even threatened to cut one off.
Won’t say I didn’t smile.
But it also means Knight is out until his fingers heal.
“Oh my god, don't go in there!” Merci shrieks at the monitor, throwing popcorn at it. “These people are so fucking stupid. Who hears creepy noises and thinks, 'Yeah, let me investigate that alone in the dark'?”
Eli rolls his eyes. “It's a horror movie. If they made smart decisions, it would be over in ten minutes.”
Merci gives him the finger, then looks at me. “How’s it going with Dr. Lomando?”
“Okay, I guess.”
Been to three counseling sessions this week. While in the waiting room for my second appointment, Merci had skipped out of one of the rooms, like actually fucking skipped while smiling. His poor therapist looked likeheneeded to talk to someone.
I feel bad for that guy.
When Merci saw me, his smile dropped. He ran over and hugged me. My body locked up so tight. Merci didn’t notice and just kept rambling about how he was so worried, then about the fight between Connor and Knight.
When he finally stopped talking, I told him what happened to my family, which only caused him to start rambling again about being sorry for talking too much.
“I’m glad you came back,” Eli says.
“Me too.” I pick through the Sour Kids searching for a blue one. “I just feel funny about Connor paying my tuition.”
But I’m also grateful. It’s nice not to have the extra stress of worrying about meeting the scholarship guidelines. And I do like playing hockey for the Titans. Not sure if any other head coach would put in the time over the summer to help me the way Coach Nieminen did.
There’s also the fact that I’m comfortable with the team. Mostly. Away games are much easier since I share a room with Connor. I actually sleep and am rested for the games. I can’t see starting over with a new team and new coaches.
But still . . . it’s a lot of money.
Merci waves me off like I'm being ridiculous. “Ryan, his family has stupid money. A year's worth of tuition is literally nothing to them. It's like you or me buying a coffee.”
“Hello,yourfamily's loaded too,” Eli points out, stealing a Sour Patch Kid from my bag.
“And so is your husband’s,Mr. Petrov,” Merci shoots back. “Plus, you have access to an army of bodyguards.”
I shake my head, grinning despite myself, and grab a handful of popcorn from Merci’s bowl. Glad they aren’tletting their men get in the way of their friendship.
“So, uh, Connor told me he’s in love with me.” My voice cracks a little on 'love,' and I shove the fistful of popcorn in my mouth.
Merci huffs a groan. “No shit. We all figured that out when he lost his fucking mind after you left.”
Eli wings the pillow at him. “Don’t be such an asshole. We have enough of those in our group.” He turns to me. “And? How did you respond?”
Heat crawls up my neck, the stupid grin on my face giving me away. “Told him I am too.”
Merci throws his hands up. “Fuck me sideways. Get a new therapist. Dr. Lomando is worthless if you still love that jackass.”
I glare at Merci, then quirk a brow. “Says the one whose stepbrother practically did the same thing.”
