It’s another hour of tilting and turning, stretching, and engaging. They’re trying to find out whether anything else hurts or if I’ve injured myself while trying to compensate for my hip, something that we’ll need to take care of in the off-season.
Doctor Lowell doesn’t say much, just tells me what to do before muttering, “Hmmm,” and making a note. We move on to functional testing, a concussion and neurological screening, and bloodwork to inform my nutrition and supplement plan.
Just when I think we’re done, Doctor Lowell announces, “We need to set up some imaging before you head out.”
It’s not what I want to hear, but I knew it was coming after my recent injury. So before I leave, I set up an appointment at their office in the city for X-rays, ultrasounds, and an MRI on my hip.
A few hours later, I’m freshly showered and riding the elevator to the party.
Larsen throws the door open after I knock, throwing his arms around me.
“Kane!” he practically yells in my face, and I catch the unmistakable odor of cheap beer.
I walk inside, a sinking feeling in my stomach as I take in the large group of people milling around the living space. There are at least five women squeezed into the kitchen, and the living and dining rooms are overflowing with people.
“Hey, Kane,” Li hollers, waving aggressively as I attempt to navigate the crowded area to get to where he’s seated on the couch.
“Li. What the fuck is this? I thought this was a casual hang.”
“You’ve met Larsen; this is casual for him.”
I groan, seriously considering covering my ears. This room is unbearably loud. “Why didn’t he just do this at a bar?” I glance at the women in the kitchen before quickly looking away when I make eye contact with one of them. “Does he know how bad an idea it is to let random puck bunnies know where he lives?” I whisper.
Li laughs. “God, Maya would die if she knew you called her that.”
“Maya?” I ask.
“My twin sister.” He points his chin toward the petite woman with long, dark hair sitting on the countertop. “And Gloria might’ve been a puck bunny before she married J.D., but I’ve never worked up the nerve to ask either of them.”
I know Gloria is J.D.’s wife, but as I’ve intentionally avoided spaces where I’d interact with family members, I can’t be certain which of the other four women she is.
“The blonde is Gloria?” I guess as I take in the room through a whole new lens. It’s not some random crowd. It’s only players here. And apparently a few WAGs or family members.
“The brunette. Hair in the fishtail braid.”
“The what?” I ask, unable to keep a hint of humor from my question.
“You know, the type of braid that looks like—Oh, fuck you,” he says as I burst out laughing. “I have atwinsister. I didn’t make it past middle school without learning all that stuff.”
“This explainsa lotabout you,” I tease, snagging the spot on the couch next to him when Herrera gets up.
Li runs a hand through his wavy black hair. “Probably more than I want it to.” He pauses for a beat, his gaze locked on where his sister sits, all the women laughing at something Larsen says. “But I wouldn’t give it up for the world. I learned how to be part of a team from the womb, and I’m not sure I’d be where I am today if I hadn’t.”
“Is she just in town visiting?” I ask, turning my attention to the television screen where the game is about to start.
Larsen interrupts Li, waving his hands in a shooing motion, “Make room for me, boys. This is my couch, after all.”
I shove him as he starts to sit on my right thigh. “Don’t some of the guys live in houses?” I ask. “Ones that could actually hold all of us comfortably?”
Larsen shakes his head. “No way. I begged J.D. to let me host this.”
“Are you talking about me, Larsen?” J.D. calls from his spot near the food.
“Only to explain to Kane that, while your house could fit all of us, it wouldn’t have had the special sauce that only a Matt Larsen party can.”
“None of us want your special sauce, Larsen,” Li’s sister calls, and the room bursts into laughter as Larsen’s cheeks turn a bright pink.
When the room quiets, we turn our attention to the Bears game, and I hear Larsen quietly ask Li, “It’s a good party though, right?”
