He’s actually listening to me.
But despite Rhett’s performance, the overall game went poorly for us. Elias allowed two easy goals in the third period that should have been stopped. Rhett managed to score a goal of his own late in the game, but it didn’t end up mattering because we lost, 5-3.
“That was the most pathetic loss I’ve ever seen,” Cole shouted at the team when they were back in the locker room. “On paper, we’ve got the best defense in the fucking league. If we score three goals, we ought to win. Ricky, you’ve gotten sloppy when getting back on your line. Two of those goals are on you. And yes, I fucked up in the second period and allowed a goal, too.”
“He’s not wrong!” Coach Jay yelled. “Absolutely fucking pathetic performance out there tonight.”
“You too, Elias,” Cole said, rounding on the goalie. “You were asleep for two of those goals. How the fuck do you allow their defender to score a top-shelf goal from the middle line?”
Elias stood up. He towered over Cole. “Fuck. You.”
Cole didn’t back down. “You know I’m right. What’s gotten into you lately?”
Elias shoved him, and then there was a scramble as teammates rushed in to break up the fight.
“Enough!” Coach Jay roared. “I want the entire defense back out on the ice. We’re running drills until midnight.”
I turned away from the window and sat down at my desk to get some work done. All the joy I felt about Rhett’s performance was gone, replaced by the shared gloom of the loss.
A while later, Rhett came into my office and said, “Sucks, doesn’t it?”
“What’s that?”
“Doing everything right, and still losing,” he replied, scratching at the ice pack wrapped around his shoulder. “Help me get this off?”
I got up and helped unwrap the pack. The locker room was empty; all the offensive players had gone home, while the defense was still running drills on the ice.
“I’m just glad you listened to me,” I said. “I thought for sure they would bait you into a fight.”
“Almost did. But then I remembered the promise I made.”
“Glad you care about that, even if you don’t care about your own physical health,” I muttered.
“It’s both. But the promise helped me focus. Sometimes we lose our cool out there, you know? Tempers run hot, especially in a tough loss.”
“They sure do. I’ve never seen Cole that angry.”
“He’s a good team captain. He’s normally calm, but there’s a time to let everyone have it. Like tonight.” He shook his head. “Elias was sloppy. Don’t know what’s going on with him.”
I wanted to say something about the injury I knew Elias was hiding, but I held my tongue.
“Oh well. All I can control is my own performance.”
“Hell of a performance, too,” I said, removing the ice pack and rolling up the wrapping into a ball. “Two assists, one goal.”
“I owe it to you.”
“Nice of you to say.”
“It’s the truth. Can I buy you a drink?”
The invitation caught me off guard. “Uh. That’s probably not a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. It just isn’t.”
“Don’t think about it. Just say yes.” He was smiling at me in the most intoxicating way. I could feel the heat still radiating off his body, which reminded me of how he felt when we kissed in the arena.
