Who was I kidding? I’d worry, but I’d also miss him like crazy. I wasn’t even gone yet and I already missed him.
I’ve lost my damned mind, haven’t I?
Probably, yeah.
I finished showering and getting dressed, and I ate with Avery, Baddy, Eminem, and some of the other guys. Then Coach was shooing everyone toward the bus so we could head to the airport.
I admittedly dawdled a little. Though I was usually one of the first on the bus because I was always afraid of missing it—lesson learned in my youth days—I hung back, and I was rewarded with Avery walking out beside me in an otherwise deserted hallway.
Near the door to the parking lot, we stopped. I had noidea what to say. The urge to wrap him up in a hug was almost irresistible, but I held back.
Finally, I said, “By the way, that was a great interview.”
Avery laughed as he slid his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. I didn’t realize they were going to play it during the game.” He snorted and added, “Not that anyone heard it.”
“Eh, not when it was played on the Jumbotron, no, but I bet half the stadium downloaded it so they could hear it.”
“Oh God,” he groaned. “I don’t even remember half of what I said.”
I chuckled. Interviews could be like that sometimes—the camera and microphone were still intimidating after all this time, and more often than not, I’d walk away from an interview wondering what I’d actually said. Or, as much as I hated to admit it, cringing because goddammit, I really saidthat?
“The interview was fine,” I told him. “Trust me.”
“I hope so,” he whispered.
“It was. And I’m also I’m not surprised everyone went nuts when they saw you.”
Avery’s laugh was silent but genuine. “Iwas surprised!”
“Not me. Not at all.”
“Yeah, well. Either way, thanks for making me come tonight.” As soon as the words were out, he winced, and color bloomed in his cheeks. “For fuck’s sake. Thanks for getting me to cometo the game.”
I snorted. “Yeah, I figured that was what you meant.”
He facepalmed and groaned. “Open mouth, insert skate.”
You can open mouth, insert something else if you want.
I cleared my throat as some heat rose in my own cheeks. “It’s all good.” I sighed. “Too bad you won’t be able to come to the next few.”
Avery frowned. “Yeah, I know. How long is the road trip again?”
“Four games,” I said. “I… can’t remember how many nights. You know how it is—they all kind of bleed together.”
“Yeah.” He laughed. “They kind of do.” He locked eyes with me, and then, to my surprise, he wrapped me up in a tight hug. “Kick some ass out there for me, eh?”
I laughed, closing my eyes as I returned his embrace. “I will. I promise.” As I let him go, I added, “You can text me any time, you know. Or FaceTime if you need it.”
He studied me as if he wasn’t sure he’d understood me, or if he worried I didn’t mean it.
“Seriously,” I insisted. “I can’t always be on my phone because…” I gestured around.
“No, no, I know.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Trust me. I get it. You need to focus on hockey.”
“Not 24/7, though. So… if you want to chat…”
God, that man’s smile was going to be the actual death of me.
