It was a fucking dirty hit.
A cheap shot.
The gasp of the crowd was so piercing that my ears are still ringing.
I stand upright the moment the doctor walks over.
“He’s alright,” he says. “Just a mild concussion. He’s awake, so you can see him now.”
Relief spreads through me.
Rudy and I are the same age, but every time I look at him, I see the little brother I never had. The little brother I want to protect and keep safe. I know it’s not just me; it’s everyone, especially Hayes—the father figure who looks after everyone and takes on everyone’s problems so they can skate their best.
Our heavy footsteps hit the marble floor and echo around us as we make our way over to Rudy’s room.
We pass a few open doors that give us glimpses of patients. Laughter, conversation, and sitcoms spill out of them.
Finally, we arrive at Rudy’s door and file in.
“You okay, kid?” Hayes asks, tapping Rudy’s covered foot with his hand. Hayes gives him a look as if he failed him today. He always blames himself when one of us gets hurt out there.
“I’ll live. Val said Buckley’s been suspended for four games?”
“Yeah, he has been,” Oliver confirms. “I saw his own captain give him shit for charging.”
“What happened out there, man?” I ask, replaying it.
“I didn’t see him,” Rudy answers.
I shake my head. “That’s not what I mean. You had your back to him, and you didn’t see the hit coming, but you frozebeforehe came after you.”
Rudy’s face pales.
It’s the same look he had out there on the ice.
He glances down at his feet.
“Spencer?” Hayes’s voice is questioning.
Oliver gasps, and Rudy’s eyes shoot up to meet our captain. He’sneverused Rudy’s first name. Rudy has always been, well, Rudy.
My gaze cuts across the room when a small figure moves through the door. Even covered by balloons, I know who it is. I walk over to take the coffee trays she’s balancing in one hand. Erin’s face shifts into a quiet thank you and walks to the foot ofRudy’s bed to tie the balloons in place. When she looks up at Rudy, the light in her eyes dims.
Then it hits me—that look. It’s the same one he gave her when they met on my birthday. =
“Sorry, I can go if you want privacy,” she says a little too quickly, pointing to the door. “I just wanted to bring you coffees since you’ve been waiting awhile. And the balloons. Hospitals can be… depressing.”
“Stay,” I say to her before addressing Rudy. “Why do you keep looking at her like that?”
Rudy avoids my eyes and lets out a curse under his breath.
My own breathing comes to a halt.
Shit.Does he like her?
“You’re right,” he says, his voice hoarse like he’s smoked ten a day from a young age. “I was distracted.” His eyes flick to Erin. “I didn’t expect to see you by the bench. I thought you’d be in the suite with the WAGS,” he says before letting out a sigh. “Someone might want to hold Pretty Boy back,” Rudy adds, eyes locking on mine, “and remind him that I’malreadyin a hospital bed.”
I frown. “What are you talking about?”
