"Alright," I keep my tone light. He's got a lot going on tonight, he can be short. But, I’ve got shit going on too man, help me help you. "You good to give me a ride home?"
Rides to the airport have been our thing since we both landed in D.C. as rookies.
"I dunno."
"Fair. I'll find another ride."
"CD Line you're up!" Coach calls to Crosby and I and we stand and get ready to hop the boards and take the ice again.
The final minutes tick by and the horn sounds giving us the victory. Felix gives an epic post-game interview where he doesn't try to explain away our record setting penalty minutes.
I'm leaning into every song blasting through the speaker in the locker room, every joke the boys are making about my chirps tonight, every discussion floating around me. But nothing fills the void in my low belly.
It’s no longer an uneasy sensation putting me on edge.
It’s a bone deep ache I think I’ll have to live with forever.
I close my eyes on the flight home, arms crossed, headphones on, but I don’t sleep. We land just after one in the morning. Aiden offers me a ride home since Crosby bolted off the plain and drove away to try and fix his shit.
I don’t even feel hurt by Crosby ignoring my help.
I’m out of fucks to give.
Young Gun and I sit in silence the entire way.
"I can't believe we're having a baby shower for Crosby tomorrow." Aiden says as he pulls in front of my building.
"Technically, it's this afternoon." I say as I point to the dashboard clock reading almost two in the morning.
"Good point."
"So, umm, I know Rhys left for Nashville."
"So?" I ask, trying to tamper down the part of me excited to talk about him.
"Just, are you alright?"
I look across the console at my stoic and typically closed off goalie. "Is this a heart to heart? Did Felix put you up to it?"
"No." Aiden denies it but it isn't clean and he knows it. I cross my arms and wait. "Maybe he asked me to ask you how it's going."
"Wow." I laugh. "Felix is good."
"What do you mean?"
"Well we had a shit storm for Crosby today and Felix still managed to get you to get an update on me."
"He's a deeply caring individual." Aiden offers.
"He's nosey as fuck."
Aiden laughs. "That too. But he's also busy with the shower tomorrow. Today."
"Right."
"Do you want Harper and I to pick you up for it?" He asks.
"Sure, yeah, sounds good."
