“If it isn’t the apples of our eyes.”
Turning my head, I watch as the number of people in the suite nearly triples with the arrival of our families.
“Wait. Why aren’t you wearing your brace?” Mom asks, immediately zeroing in on the fact that my right arm is no longer locked to my body in the contraption that I’ve been wearing for the last few weeks. Leave it to her eagle eye to notice it before anything else.
“Cleared to not have to wear it anymore.”
The look on her face is one of relief. “That’s great, sweetheart.”
“One step closer,” Dad tells me. “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
“I will.”
Uncle Alex, standing beside my dad, is studying me, and I squirm a bit under his gaze. With glasses hiding his eyes, I have no idea what he’s thinking.
“How are you doing otherwise, Noah?”
“I’m doing fine. Thanks.”
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve muttered that I’m fine in the last few weeks. Or good. All to get people to stop hovering. Now that the doctor has cleared me to increase my workouts and not wear a brace, I feel like I’ll have more of a leg to stand on when I tell them I amfine.
“Good. We’re all here for you if you need it.”
“I know.” I really shouldn’t be ungrateful. Not when I have so many people in my corner. “I appreciate it.”
“I won’t ask how you’re doing since you’re doing so fine,” Knox tells me with a smirk on his face.
Seeing him might be the hardest of all. All because he reminds me of what I don’t have. Graham is a spitting image of his dad.
I miss him. I hate how much I do.
“The finest of fines.” I laugh.
“Good.” Knox claps me on the back. “Keep it that way and you’ll be back with the Knights in no time.”
“Not too soon.” A new voice enters the fray of people lingering in the suite around the food tables. One I recognize well as soon as her face pops up. “I wouldn’t mind you being out to make it easier for my boys.”
“Bexley. It’s nice to see you.” I extend my hand out to her. “I wish I could be out there to beat them.”
“I know you do.” She smiles at me. “I wish you were out there. It’s a shame what happened.”
“I’m getting better.”
Bexley nods at me. She exudes a warmth that makes me see why Nick fell for her so easily. “I hope you do. The Knights won’t be the same until you get back out there.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go encourage my team to be the ones to win tonight.” Bex winks at me in a playful manner.
Having been with the Black Diamonds for most of my playing career, I know she likes to be in the locker room prior to the game. She was always down there encouraging us. Hyping us up to play our best.
Bexley really was the best GM I’ve played for. Nashville’s is great, I can’t deny that, but Bexley really does love her team, and it’s evident in everything she does for them.
“Nice seeing you, Bex.”
“You too. Good to see you on your feet.”
She’s out the door, and before someone else can come talk to me, I take my place in the back corner of the two rows of seats that overlook the ice. Both teams are out there warming up.
