Brett perched on the stool and splayed out his leg, wincing at the throb of his heartbeat behind the brace. “I wouldn’t know. How’s Leanne?”
Tony sighed, and Brett couldn’t help but smile. Tony and Leanne had only been married six months, and their relationship was more volatile than a shaken-up Molson. "She's fine. We're fine."
"Sounds like it."
"I forgot our anniversary."
Brett laughed out loud. "Again?"
"Last one didn't count. That was the anniversary of our first date, and we've agreed that doesn't need to be celebrated."
"Who agreed?"
Tony exhaled. "Right. Why aren't you leaving the house?"
"I'm notnotleaving the—"
"It's over twenty degrees out there, and you're sitting inside feeling sorry for yourself?"
Brett wanted to snap out a rebuttal.I'm slammed with work. I'm taking a day off. I'm taking it easy like the doctor instructed.None of that would fly. Tony called him on his shit, which was why Brett had asked him to be his sponsor four years ago. Even now that Tony lived in Kamloops, they still talked at least once a week.
Brett glanced up at the clock on the stove, then stood and lumbered to his bedroom. Tyler would be over to pick him up in thirty minutes, and it might take him that long to change into shorts. "I'm stuck, bud."
"I know. That's why I'm calling. Are you still going to practice?"
Brett sat on the bed and pulled at the velcro straps of his brace. "Heading there in a few."
"Going into work?"
"Nope. Won't be able to drive for another week or so. I still can’t bend my damn knee."
"Mmhmm. You could ask—"
"I'm not going to ask." Brett set the brace next to him and tugged at the compression wrap underneath.
Tony cleared his throat. "I wish I was still there."
He wasn’t the only one. A few of the guys from the team, Tyler included, had come along to AA meetings, but he missed having someone in his life who understood why they were such an integral part of his life. All the Snowballs were supportive, especially since they’d seen him at his worst when he first joined the team, but none of them were in recovery.
Brett put the call on speaker phone as he stood and balanced on his left leg to pull off his joggers. "No, you don't. You hate Calgary."
"I hate the provincial sales tax in BC more,” Tony grumbled. Brett barked a laugh and hobbled to the dresser to pull out his athletic shorts. "This is where we grow, eh? Go back to the basics. Let go of the things you can't control. Give it to God."
Brett rubbed his forehead.God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.How many times had he repeated the Serenity Prayer? A year ago, he would've said he'd mastered it. Hell, even a month ago, he would’ve said he was solid.
"Right. I know, bud. Thanks for the reminder."
"You're going to kick ass on the ice again in six months."
Brett tied the string on the waistband of his shorts, then sat and re-wrapped the bandage and attached the brace. "Four."
"Four, what?"
"Four months. I found a physical therapist."
"Well, shit, buddy. Lead with that!"
Brett chuckled and reached for his deodorant on the nightstand. He'd been requesting appointments for months with no luck, which was why he'd asked a near stranger to move in with him without a second thought. "Hopefully she's good."
