"For what it's worth," Ashton says carefully, "he's miserable, too."
"Good."
"Sutton, you really should talk to him."
"I don't want to hear it, Ashton. I know you're his friend. I know you have to take his side."
"I'm not taking sides. You're both my friends. And you're both hurting." He sits on the edge of my bed. "But maybe you should talk to him. Really talk. Not just yell."
"What's left to say? He made his choice. He chose hockey. Just like his dad wanted."
"Did he?”
I stare at him.
“You’re not being fair, Sutton. Making him choose isn’t cool. You’re not even hearing him out."
“I’m not an idiot. I knew he was destined to play, but he led me to believe there was an option.”
“His dad's been controlling his entire life, and he doesn't know how to break free." Ashton stands up. "I'm not saying youhave to forgive him. I'm just saying, maybe listen before you both do something you can't take back."
He leaves before I can respond.
Chapter Three
DECLAN
Ican't find the puck.
It's right there in front of me. I can see it. But my stick feels like concrete, and my skates might as well be cement blocks.
"Hayes! What the hell was that?" Coach's whistle pierces the air. "You just missed an open net!"
I know. Ifuckingknow.
I skate back to position, trying to shake off whatever fog has settled over me. But it's useless. Every play feels wrong. My timing is off. My passes are sloppy. I'm playing like a rookie, not like someone who just had the game of his life two days ago.
Two days ago, when everything was perfect.
Before Sutton looked at me like I'd destroyed her.
"Again!" Coach yells.
We run the drill again. I'm supposed to receive a pass from Crew, cut across the blue line, and set up Ashton for the shot. Simple. We've done this a thousand times.
Except Crew's pass comes, and I completely whiff on it. The puck slides past me like I'm not even there.
"Time out!" Coach skates to center ice. "Hayes, with me. Now."
Shit.
I follow him off the ice, with my teammates watching. I can feel their irritation with me. Forty-eight hours ago, I was unstoppable. Now I can't complete a simple drill.
Coach pulls me into the tunnel, away from everyone else.
"What's going on with you?"
"Nothing, Coach. Just an off day."
