“All right. I’ll go.”
Raimo shouts, and Trevor pats me on the back.
“Ride with me,” Raimo demands.
“Fine.” I smirk. “Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Will do. I need to shower first.”
“Crank! I need a word,” Coach shouts.
I grimace. Is it too much to avoid going to his office? It’s like being called into the principal’s. When I was injury free, I didn’t mind a summons to Coach’s office. Hopefully now he just wants my thoughts on how the lines performed and if we need to switch any people around to create a better combination for the team.
But I don’t have much hope. All we seem to talk about now is how I’m doing and if there are any improvements. I don’t want to tell him my eyesight seems a little dimmer, and I only know he’s him because of the boom of his voice. I can’t make out the details of his face. Can’t see how long his nose is or how bushy his eyebrows always are. I can’t even roast him about looking like a walking advertisement for Mr. Clean with that bald head of his.
Instead of objecting, I get up and hope no one crosses my path. Though Coach banned me from attending team practices, I come to the arena late to practice alone, counting the steps to get from place to place.AndI have the bruises to prove it.
“Come on in, Crank.”
I release a breath, thankful I made it to his office with only one bump into a rounded wall.
“Have a seat.”
The chair sits to the right in my periphery, so I maneuver into a seated position. “Everything okay?”
Coach huffs. “You’reaskingmethat?”
“Yes?”
He chuckles at my confusion. “I called you in here to see how you’re faring.”
I knew it.
“I know I haven’t been by since you were in the hospital, but the doc’s been giving me updates. Four Eyes too.”
Four Eyes is our optometrist’s nickname. Since he takes care of everyone’s vision and wears glasses, it works. Hockey players are all about easy nicknames.
“I’m doing as well as can be expected.”
“You need to talk to someone? A counselor maybe?”
My back stiffens. “No, sir.”
“Now, don’t get that look on your face. I’m only trying to help.”
Great, now my face is talking for me. How unfair that I can’t see his facial expressions but mine are still on display for the world to notice. I quickly thinkneutralso my face follows suit.
“I just—I worry about you, Jabari.”
Uh-oh. He’s using my first name now? How can I be mad? “I’m okay, Coach.”
“But are youreally? Do you have a friend to talk to? And I don’t mean the guys. I can imagine you need to talk to someone who isn’t in the hockey world.”
Val immediately comes to mind. Though she knows the sports world, she isn’t relegated tojusthockey. Not only that, but she’s already proven to be a good listener. At our blind date, she mentioned not being an agent but a project manager. So, yeah, Val definitely fits the description of someone not in the hockey world.
“I do have a friend.” Our tentative agreement feels more solid now, like we have an actual friendship.
“Really?”
