The crowd explodes around us as the horn blasts through the arena.
Vancouver is up 4-1 late in the third. With the way we’ve been playing tonight, there’s no way we’re going to make up the deficit.
Duncan skates past me to hit the bench. “Where are you, Williams? You’re sluggish tonight.”
“Me? You’re the one who didn’t pass the puck to me earlier!”
“Because you’ve been playing like shit.” He gets up in my face.
“And maybe if you were more of a team player, I would’ve been able to score.”
I’m seething with anger. I don’t think I’ve ever been this pissed off during a game. What the fuck is wrong with this guy?
“Guys. Cameras are watching.” Troy skates between the two of us as he heads out to center ice to take the ensuing faceoff.
I take my spot on the bench. Far away from fuckface Duncan. I can’t believe I’m on the same line as him. He’s a mediocre player at best and proved it by hogging the puck and losing an easy scoring opportunity.
I take a swig from my water bottle, trying to cool down. There’s no point in getting worked up. Nothing is going tohappen. Duncan is going to keep being a tool and selfish with the puck.
Coach Barney is walking down the bench, trying to pump up the team. “We’ve still got time, boys. Williams,”— he looks at me—“Hanson is weak on the left side, so if you see your chance, take it.”
“You got it, Coach.”
Not like I haven’t been trying to beat them there all night. Vancouver is putting up one hell of a fight tonight.
Troy and Noah are doing everything they can, but to no avail. We end up losing 5-2. One pitiful goal to close out the third period.
I make it through postgame interviews without losing my cool. Cleaning up, I change back into my suit and head toward the team bus.
“We’re going to hit the bars.” Troy walks up next to me on the long walk outside. I pull my coat tighter around me. The wind is biting in Vancouver tonight.
“I really don’t want to,” I groan. It was a hard-fought game. And to come out with a loss makes it even harder.
“The little lady got you on a short leash?” Duncan slams into my shoulder as he walks past me.
“Fuck off, man.”
After my night, I want to head back to the hotel and call Piper.
But I can’t.
Because we’re not together anymore.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Troy tells me as we walk out of the arena. Vancouver fans are lingering, and a few boos escape from them.
“Don’t you want to call Angie?” I ask, dropping my bag onto the sidewalk to get loaded onto the bus.
“Nah. We talked earlier. She’s going out with some friends from work tonight.”
“Fine.”
“Good.” Troy looks smug. “If you’d have said no, I would’ve dragged your ass out anyway.”
I collapse onto the seat and wait for the rest of the guys to get on.
It’s like I’m moving through quicksand. Everything is moving around me but I barely notice it.
Is this what heartbreak feels like? Because I did not sign up for this.
