Page 180 of Puck Me Back to Life

“I'm fine. Go home. I'm going inside.”

“Kai—”

“I'm done talking.” I push away from her. My skates dig sharply into the ice as I head toward the players' tunnel.

Behind me, I hear Angela call my name once.

Then again.

I keep skating.

If I stop now, I'll apologize.

If I apologize…

I'll cry.

I don't trust myself to do either.

By the time I step off the ice, I can hear her hurrying down the concourse behind me. “Kai!”

I don't turn around.

The hallway leading toward the locker room feels strangely narrow, the concrete walls pressing in around me as my pulse pounds louder and louder in my ears.

Just before I reach the secure entrance, a uniformed security guard steps politely into Angela's path.

“I'm sorry, ma'am.”

She stops short. “I just need to talk to him.”

“I understand.” His voice is kind but practiced. “Players and team personnel only beyond this point.”

“I'm his friend.”

“I don't doubt that.” He offers an apologetic smile. “But I can't let anyone back here without credentials.”

Angela looks around him, searching for me. “Kai.”

I don't stop walking.

Her voice follows me anyway. “Please call Sonia.”

I go into the equipment room. The anger feels too hot. Like someone poured gasoline into my veins. I lean both hands against an equipment locker and close my eyes.

Angela.

Ash.

Noah.

Everyone wants something from me.

Everyone thinks they know what's best.

Nobody understands what it feels like to wake up in my own head every morning.

“Fuck!” My fist collides with the metal locker, pain blossoming across my knuckles.