Page 82 of Staying Selfless

The team trainer hurriedly makes his way out, doing a quick assessment, and asking for assistance to get my boyfriend off the ice. As much as Cam wants to help, he’s just too short to do much, so Zanders swings one of Eli’s arms over his shoulders as the trainer does the same on the other side. The three of them make their way off the ice and into the player’s tunnel, but I catch the look of unbearable pain on my guy’s face as he keeps one blade lifted off the ground.

“Logan.” Jack snaps me out of my trance. “Go.”

I look around, panic clear on everyone’s faces as I try to figure out my exit plan. I don’t know where I’m going or how I’m going to get there. I just know I need to see Eli.

The aisles are crowded with worried fans, attempting to get a better view of the gut-wrenching scene that just occurred.

“Logan!” I hear my name with a loud smack of the glass.

I find Goody waiting on the other side. He doesn’t say anything. He just points towards the end of the bench where the tunnel connects.

I frantically make my way to the edge of the railing as Goody does the same, opposite the glass.

Suddenly, Marc grabs me from behind as he lifts me over the rail to Goody’s waiting arms before Eli’s teammate gently places me back on my feet, sending me on my way.

“Second door on your left!” he calls out, concern clear on his face.

I take off down the tunnel, sick with worry.

“Logan!” I hear again, causing me to turn back around.

Marc tosses me the keys to his Jeep. “Text me which hospital,” he says calmly, seeming way too familiar with this situation.

That’s when it hits me. He is familiar with this situation because this exact thing has happened to Eli before. His sophomore season against the same team.

My stomach instantly drops with what this could mean for Eli’s future in hockey.

I run down the tunnel, trying to find my way. I’ve never been in the players’ tunnel at this end. I’ve only ever waited on the other side of the locker room, close to the parking lot.

Zanders quickly passes by me, making his way back to the ice.

“Hey!” I call out to stop him. “Thank you.”

He offers me an apologetic smile as he continues back to the game.

With the help of Goody’s directions, I find the door labeled ‘Training Room,’ but when I go to pull it open, it’s locked.

I frantically knock on it, but there’s no answer, so my polite knocking quickly turns to pounding.

“Are you Logan?” a voice behind me asks.

I turn around to find a kind-looking man wearing a custodian’s uniform. My eyes immediately fall to his name tag—Tony.

“I’m Tony,” he says. “I’m the maintenance guy around here.”

Tony doesn’t need to explain. I already know who he is. He’s the one who gets Eli the hookup to the rink whenever he needs it. He’s also the guy who helped get us onto the basketball court when Eli asked me to be his girlfriend.

“I’ll get you in there.” He pulls a specific key from his massive ring of keys.

“Thank you.”

As soon as Tony unlocks the door, opening it for me, a college-aged guy comes out of nowhere, blocking my path.

He looks annoying as hell if I do say so myself, and his blatant stance to stop me from entering just confirms it.

“Wes, this is Logan. Maddison’s girlfriend. Let her in,” Tony explains.

“No.” Wes stubbornly crosses his arms at his chest. “No fans allowed.”

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