Part 45 (1/2)

f.u.c.k.

Crumpling to the ground, I feel tears sting my eyes as I reach down to my leg. Oh no, this can't be happening again. In practice? Really? Couldn't be in a game at least? s.h.i.+t! He got me right where my pads don't cover, on the side of my knee. And just like that, I see my career going down the drain. The pain is shooting up my leg, and f.u.c.k, it hurts. d.a.m.n it. No, this wasn't supposed to happen. I'm supposed to go in! This is my year!

Soon, Markus is beside me, his face full of worry as he throws off his helmet. ”s.h.i.+t, dude, you good?”

I nod as the pain throbs, taking away my breath and causing sweat to drip down my neck. I can see the worry in his eyes, and I know my job. It's to be strong for my team. So I lie, ”Yeah, hit me wrong.”

”You okay, Sinclair?” Coach asks as Justin, one of the trainers, comes to my side.

”Yeah, I think. Got me on the side of the knee,” I say, and I don't know why I'm lying.

”Can you walk?” Justin asks and I nod because, even if I couldn't, I would.

”I think so.”

He reaches for me as Coach does the same and they lift me. My leg comes down onto my skate, and thankfully, I can put weight on it, but it does hurt. Badly. It's throbbing, but when we start moving toward the bench door, I think I might be okay. Thank G.o.d. As relief floods through me, I swallow back the puke that wants to escape as my teammates tap their sticks to the ice, wis.h.i.+ng me words of encouragement. When I see Markus beside me, I wave him off. ”Dude, I'm good. Go practice. If I can't play, I need you to know how to go on without me.”

He rolls his eyes. ”Shut up.”

He takes me from Coach, and they help me out the back of the bench and then into the training room. Climbing up on the table, my legs hangs as the trainer takes my skate and I look to Markus. ”Go, dude.”

”You sure?”

”Yeah,” I say with a nod, cringing a bit as Justin removes my sock. ”I'm good.”

”I'll be back.”

”Okay, Arnold,” I tease and he laughs as he heads out of the room. Swallowing hard and flinching as Justin removes my pad, I watch his face. Hoping like h.e.l.l the look he gave me last year when I broke my clavicle doesn't appear. While he moves his fingers along the tender area, I hold my breath, my stomach turning as he bends my leg and presses at the area beside my knee.

This was not how I wanted my day to start.

It was supposed to be a good day. I had dinner and Netflix planned for Avery for when she came over tonight after packing. I wanted to cuddle and love on her, but it's feeling like that might change.

But then he is nodding before he looks up at me. ”Just a nasty bruise, I think. Let's do some X-rays to be sure, but I'm pretty d.a.m.n confident you're okay.”

Letting out a long breath, I nod. ”Thank G.o.d.”

When the X-rays come back to show that everything is good, I'm more than relieved. s.h.i.+t, that was f.u.c.king scary, but that's hockey. Everything can change in seconds. h.e.l.l, that could be applied to life too.

”Take it easy the rest of today and try to keep it iced. We'll see how you feel tomorrow,” Justin says as Coach comes into the room, Markus behind him.

”Verdict?”

”He's good, but I still want him to be a game-day decision. He's going to ice it and stay off it the rest of today and see how he does for the morning skate.”

Coach nods. ”Good. All right. Let me know if you need anything, Sinclair.”

”Thanks, Coach.”

As he walks away, Markus leans against the doorjamb. ”Jeez, can you be careful and stop getting hurt?”

I laugh. ”Um, this was your fault,” I tease and he laughs.

”Hey, you gotta stay out of the way of my awesome shots!” But I know it's more than that.

I roll my eyes as I shake my head. ”Yeah, okay, you're off.”

He shrugs. ”I'm good.”

I don't believe him, but I have bigger things to worry about. My heart is still pounding in my chest, and I want to say it's all because of the injury scare.

But I know that's not completely it.

It's because Jude texted me while I was in X-rays.

Call me after practice. Make sure you're alone.

After taking a shower and having my leg rewrapped, I head out of the arena and toward the Bullies' house. I know I'm stalling and that I need to just call Jude, but first, I make sure to send an email to all my teachers with the note that Justin sent me. As I wobble, I send a text to Avery and then call my mom.

”Hey, honey.”

”Hey, Mom. Listen, don't freak, but I got hurt at practice.”

”Oh, Jesus! Are you okay?” she asks, freaking out. ”Are you at the ER? Jesus, my poor baby!”

Rolling my eyes, I throw my hands up. ”Mom, I said don't freak.”

”Baby, do you need me to come take care of you?”

”Mom, I'm fine,” I laugh, but she isn't buying it.

”I'm gonna call River, and then I'm coming up there.”

”Don't. I'm fine. The only reason I'm telling you is because I might not play tomorrow. So I don't want you making the trip up here until I call, okay?”

She doesn't like that. ”Jace Ryan, I'm coming now. I'll stay with River tonight.”

”Oh, Jesus. Mom!” I cry out, wis.h.i.+ng I could scratch that image out of my brain. ”No, please don't do that. If I see your car at his house, I swear, please. Oh my G.o.d, I think I'm gonna puke.”

”Jace, I'm a woman who has-”

”Mom, please. Don't say another word. Don't come up here, and Lord, please don't. Just don't,” I beg, dry heaving. She answers me with laughter and I shake my head. ”I'm good, promise. I'll call you tomorrow.”

She's hesitant, but I really need to get off the phone with her. ”Okay, keep me in the loop. Love you.”

”Will do. Love you,” I say and hang up, knowing that from now on I won't call her until I know one way or another if I'm playing or not. Ugh, my stomach is still not right. That was just wrong, though I can't help but wonder when the thought of my mom and my coach together will stop making me sick.

Ew.

When my phone signals a text, I look down to see it's from Avery, thank goodness.