The locker room is hopping. Every guy in here is ecstatic as Coach Andrews follows the last few guys into the room.
“That was a hard-fought win, gentlemen. We tried to give it to them a few times.” I don’t miss the subtle way Coach’s eyes linger over me before moving on. “I know it was hard to lose a player of Noah’s caliber, but I think we’re doing a great job filling that void.”
“We want to make him proud,” someone pipes up from the other side of the locker room. I’m not sure who it is.
Hanging my head in shame, I stare down at my skates.
“I’m sure he is,” Coach agrees. “I want to take this energy we’re playing with down the stretch and maybe we might even be talking about playoffs. So rest up tonight, and we’ll study film tomorrow then we’ll work on cleaning up our mistakes. And let’s not forget to congratulate Marcus, who will be heading to the All-Star game this weekend.”
Cheers and claps echo around the locker room.
“Make sure to represent the Knights well,” Coach Andrews tells him.
“You know I will.”
He nods at him. “Finish it off for me.”
Coach takes a step back as Marcus moves into the center of the locker room. “Alright, men. You heard him. Let’s keep this going. Knights on three. One, two, three…”
“Knights!”
My voice doesn’t carry the usual enthusiasm it has after a big win.
“Fisher. My office when you’re done.”
Coach doesn’t even give me the chance to acknowledge him before he’s out the door to where the coaches’ offices are.
I can’t keep going on like this. Just the thought of Noah has my heart clattering around in my chest. Something’s got to give.
Being at home by myself is too hard. Everywhere I look, there are memories of me and Noah. Of better times. Of when he was still here and not back in Denver with his family.
Not with me.
Because that’s not what we are to each other anymore.
“You doing okay?” Bode asks me, pulling me out of my errant thoughts. Thoughts that have been taking over every aspect of my life.
“Sorry. I’m just not with it.”
Jasper comes up, clapping me on the shoulder. “Are you worried about Noah?”
“Uhh, yeah.”
“He’s going to be okay, right? Isn’t that what the doctor said?” Bode asks.
“Yeah. Just hard to see a teammate go down like that.”
“He’ll bounce back. Come back better than ever next season,” Jasper tells me. “He came back this season after that injury last year and look how good he was playing.”
“Right.”
No need to point out that the injury was at my hands, but I’ve had too much self-flagellation for one day.
“Playing like an asshole isn’t going to help,” Marcus chimes in. “I know it sucks, but the longer you’re in the league, the greater chance it is you’ll get injured.”
“Is this supposed to make him feel better?” Jasper asks. “Because this isn’t much of a pep talk, Cap.”
Marcus rubs his nose, subtly flipping him off. “All I’m saying is, it happens. And the doctors said he’ll make a full recovery. So why worry when he’s going to be okay?”
