Such a waste.The guy ruined what looks like a good life.
I close out of Google, then open my Kobo app.But as I read the romance about the cowboy, I picture him looking like Theo Richard.
Because damn, that man ishot.
Chapter6
Theo
October…
Ilace my skates as my phone buzzes in the cubby above my head.Grady is across the room, telling everyone some story about the time he played Toronto and their goalie, Vetrov, challenged him to a goalie fight.“And I didn’t even realize it was happening,” Grady says.“I was distracted by one of their forwards going after Barker, and then, Vetrov tripped halfway down the ice and never made it to me.Ref hauled him to his feet and told him to try again later.After skating lessons.”
Everyone laughs, and I pretend to because my stomach is a pool of anxiety, my nerves feel like they’ve been zapped with electricity, and all I can think about is the fact I’m about to step onto the ice again, in an NHL game.Sure, it’s preseason, but it’s still technically a game.And just a month ago, I didn’t know this could be a reality.Now, I have to prove I still have it, or I’ll be dropped.Coach Larue has been quietly axing guys for the last three weeks.We’ve gone from six rookies to two.Two other free agents who were offered a chance to skate with the team have also been let go.It’s me and one other veteran, Landriault, left in that category.He’s in his mid-thirties, so this really is a last shot for him.For the rookies, Landon’s brother Callan is still here.And he’s paired with me on defense and isn’t happy about it.He hasn’t said it with words, but he says it with his face—always frowning and glaring at me in between plays.
Once my skates are laced, I stand and reach for my pads.Callan’s locker is right beside mine, so I look down at him as he tugs on his own laces and smile.“Gonna be a good one, I think.”
“Yeah.Sure.”He grunts.
I get it.He hasn’t outright said it, but he’s mad at me for what happened and how it affected his brother, and probably his whole family.I can’t blame him for that.“Callan, I get you hate me,” I say after I pull my shoulder pads on and sit beside him.“I hate me too for what I did to Grady and Landon.I have apologized to them, and now I’m apologizing to you.”
He blinks, and his blue eyes widen.I continue before he can tell me to shut up.“I never would have done that sober, but there’s no way to prove that because I was hardly ever sober back then.All I can do is tell you I regret it, and will for the rest of my life.”
He stares at me, and I can see him battling with what to say next, so I keep talking.“We both want to make this team, and I’m going to do everything possible to make you look fantastic out there by being the best defensive partner I can.If you do the same, it will up your chances, not just mine.We’re a team, you know how it is, as defense.So hate me off the ice, I get it.But on the ice, let’s put it aside and get the job done, eh?”
He turns back to his skates, but I don’t miss the curt nod.It’s something.And then we get out there, and we’re the starting defensive pair, and we rock the first period together, stealing pucks, blocking shots, and at one point, I feed Callan a perfect pass on a penalty kill that sets him up for a breakaway.He doesn’t score, but he definitely swings the momentum in our favor in the scoreless game.A few minutes later, Landon scores the first goal.
By the third period, my shoulder aches like it’s been hit with an anvil, and my left bicep burns.My overall stamina is gassed, but I’m still holding my own.Coach looks pleased, in general, and Callan and I aren’t the defensive pair on the ice for the sole Boston goal, which is great.We hop the boards for another shift with about four minutes left and head to center ice because Conner just scored for us.Ryan Darcy, a six-foot-five defensemen for Boston who I’ve never liked, skates by me even though I’m nowhere near where he needs to be.“You shoot some vodka or whiskey before the game, Richard?”
I ignore him.
“I can’t believe the ‘Tide gave you a shot.They must be fucking desperate,” he chirps.“Do they have more gay players that need outing?Or are you gonna be the next one to announce you suck dick?”
I bristle, and my gloved hands curl into fists, but I skate away, making a big circle to give myself a second to calm down.Old Theo would have chirped right back, saying something like “if I did suck dick, it wouldn’t be yours.It would take too long to find it.”Old Theo would have also headed straight for him as soon as the puck dropped and knocked him on his ass.But new Theo is trying to keep his emotions in check.New Theo is working on the theory that being out of control on the ice leads to being out of control off the ice, which leads to booze.
The puck drops.For the first time all night, Conner doesn’t win the face-off.I fix my sights on the puck and skate backward to defend our zone.Darcy is coming at me, and the puck is too, so I reach with my stick and manage to deflect it.Landon sees it happening and gets to the puck before anyone else can, then starts down the ice toward Boston’s goal.The blow to my back is like a lightning bolt in my right, newly fixed shoulder.I lurch forward and land on my knees.
“Get up, asshole!Let’s go.”It’s Darcy.He crosschecked me, and now he wants to fight.“Come on, bitch.Not sober enough?”
I get to my feet.I don’t know where my stick went.He shoves my bad shoulder.“Fuck.Off.Now,” I growl.
He drops his gloves, and I shake my head.A whistle blows.Callan skates toward us, but I wave him off because he’ll get in trouble if he intervenes in a fight not meant for him.Darcy grabs my jersey.“You don’t deserve to be here.”
He shakes me like a rag doll, and I let him.“I’m not fighting.”
“You pussy.”
“Can we stop with the slurs?”
He blinks, looking absolutely dumbfounded.“Would you rather out someone again?”
He raises his fist and uses his other hand, tangled in the front of my jersey, to shake me again.“Enough, Darcy!”
One of the linesmen puts a hand on each of us.Darcy swears.“You should fall off another roof.”
“That’s it!”the ref barks.“Two for the cross check and another two for unsportsmanlike.”
“No.Don’t,” I say to him.“It’s fine.”
