“You’ll be back before you know it,” he says kindly, opening the locked second entrance door for me.
Slowly but surely, I make my way down to ice level. The noise of skates on the ice, sticks hitting pucks, and pucks bouncing off the boards sounds like painful music to my ears, but I missed it greatly nonetheless.
“Oh shit!” Costy shouts near the bench when he spots me approaching down the tunnel, and he skates over to the board.
The players catch on and join Costy as they hear of my arrival, and my heart warms from their support. I know we’re a team and a family, but seeing their love in action still hits me deep in my chest.
Coach Carrington greets me as I crutch into the bench. “Good to see you. How’re you feeling?”
“All right,” I answer honestly. “Just got done with the MRI. Doc said he’d have results sometime today and give everyone a call.”
“I look forward to it.” He gently pats my back. “We’ll get you back out here in no time, all right? Take care of yourself and recover well. And just because you’re injured doesn’t mean I don’t expect to see you here at practices, after a couple of days off.”
He smiles kindly at me, knowing there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
“I’ll be here.”
“Good. Now see the guys quick and then get the hell out. You’re interrupting my practice when you should be resting your knee.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” I two-finger salute him with a smirk before turning to the guys, who are waiting impatiently.
Matty pokes his stick into my stomach to get my attention.
The guys pepper me with questions and their well wishes before they begin trickling back onto the ice, leaving our core group behind. Kostelecky. Costello. Larinski. Burns. MacArthur. And me.
“Soooo …” Matty drags his word out, skating back and forth. “Is Lainey helping take care of you?”
“Oh, I bet she’s taking care of him all right.” Costy laughs, and I smack him with my crutch.
“Fuck off. Just because I’m on one leg doesn’t mean that I still can’t beat your ass.”
“You could try.” Costy smirks, egging me on.
I roll my eyes, knowing there’s no stopping when it comes to him riling me up.
“Are you going to tell us what’s going on with you guys or make us keep guessing?” Burnsy asks excitedly.
Leave it to Brett to pressure the details out of me. He’s such a sap. That’s why we were all so surprised that Piper, Assistant Coach Hartwell’s daughter, actually fell for him. Let’s just say, he wasn’t her usual type, but they sure found something magical together.
“I haven’t decided,” I respond vaguely.
Kos eyes me knowingly. “He asked for Auriella’s number.”
Larinski gasps with a smile. “The chef? For what, Jensen? Are you having us all over tonight? Kind of rude to throw a party when Kos is having the team dinner tomorrow.”
That reminds me; I need to tell Lainey about it and see if she wants to come with me.
“I’m going to kill you,” I say plainly, staring at Kos, who breaks out laughing, not caring for a second about my threat.
I’ve got to get this over with, or they’ll never let it go, and the last thing I want is these fuckers showing up at my place tonight and ruining dinner.
“If you show up at my house tonight, I will actually murder you all,” I threaten them and pause. “She’s cooking for Lainey and me tonight. And she’s staying at my place because her apartment flooded today.”
Matty chuckles. “That’s awfully convenient timing.”
“Or fate,” Brett adds, smiling.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s not the first time. When we were little?—”
