“Is this why you’re always running off and you’re never at home anymore?” Noah asks.
“I…I…” I don’t have anything to say for myself because I can’t believe this got out. Practice starts in ten minutes, so there is no way I can go talk to Bex about this right now.
“Have you been laughing at us this whole time because we’ve been trying to set you up with someone?” Troy asks.
“Hey, I did want you to set me up with someone,” I correct.
“Yeah, but you clearly didn’t need it,” Noah points out.
“So what, you just went for it with Bex instead?” Troy asks. “I have so many questions.”
I wince. “Can we not talk about this right now?”
“Oh, we’re going to talk about it,” Troy tells me.
“Please don’t tell Angie,” I rush out. The last thing I need is my sister and dads finding out.
“Who do you think told me?” Troy drops a hand on my shoulder. “I’m surprised she hasn’t texted you yet.”
“Ugh.” I bury my face in my hands. “Great.”
The last thing I want is to look at my phone and see the family text chain. Knowing them, there’s already a hundred unread messages.
“Alright men, listen up.” Coach Barney’s voice echoes through the locker room and all eyes turn to him. “You might have seen the news, but I don’t want that to distract us. I want us to have a good practice before tonight’s game.”
I slink behind the guys that are now standing in front of me. I don’t want to have to answer any questions right now. Not when I don’t have any clue as to what is going on.
“Now that the All-Star weekend is behind us, it’s full speed ahead. We’re in a good position for the playoffs, and I don’t want us to take our eyes off the prize.”
Changing into my pads faster than usual, I find the guys lingering by the door as I head toward them.
“You know we’re going to discuss this after practice, right?” Troy says.
“You heard what Coach said. Focus on practice,” I tell them. “Can’t you get them off my back, Cap?”
Troy laughs. “You think these guys will let up for anything? They won’t listen to me.”
“Fuck no,” Cash agrees. “It’s me or Piper. I know she wants to know the scoop too.”
“Fine.”
Walking down the tunnel toward the ice, I ignore everyone and head to the crease. Breathing in the icy air, this is one of the only things that will calm me down.
I’ve been doing this for so long that it lets me push everything else out of my mind and focus on the pucks coming toward me. On the drills I run with my coaches.
It feels good to be here. To get my legs back underneath me. Before I know it, the whistle is blowing and practice is over.
I grab my water bottle, taking a swig, and wait for the rest of the guys to head back into the locker room before following.
“Nick!” Piper’s voice echoes down the hallway.
“Hey. What are you doing here?” I ask, dropping down to give her a quick hug.
“I was meeting with the old PT staff. Thought I’d drop by and see how you’re doing.”
“So everyone knows?”
She nods. “Sorry. That can’t be easy.”
