Page 71 of Love You Too

I look around the bar for something—anything—that I can use to distract myself from pursuing this conversation. I find only a couple at a table behind us, laughing and chomping tortilla chips with their margaritas.

Turning back to Barrington, I think I’m asking a question but that’s not how it comes out. “You never said anything about it before.”

He shrugs. “I don’t advertise it, but it’s not something I hide. Anyone who looks at my bio on the team website can find it.” He lets that land before smiling. “I don’t expect you to hang out and read bios on the team website.”

“Still, seems like something a semi-observant human would know.”

“Don’t beat yourself up.” Barrington signals to the bartender and asks for a bowl of nuts. It occurs to me that I’ve never done this before—sat with my coach in a hotel bar. Maybe he does this after every game, and it’s just news to me. I wonder what else I don’t know about him. Before I can ask, he waves a hand dismissively.

“What I studied or didn’t study in school isn’t the point because most of what I know was learned on the job. As a player and a coach.”

I nod. “Yeah. Same here.”

“Good. So you should understand that what makes a team powerful is player health, and I’m not just talking about physical fitness. If your head’s a mess, you’re a mess, do you hear me?”

“Yes.” I take a long pull from my drink.

“So get it straightened out. Especially with a baby in the mix.”

I nod.

“You said her name’s Trix…” He looks up at the ceiling like he’s imagining what someone named Trix would look like.

“Yeah.”

“Pretty name. I don’t need to ask if you love her because it’s written all over your dumb face. You’re nuts about her, so I don’t understand why you’re ignoring her texts.” The bartender puts a small dish of peanuts in front of us and a second dish with green olives. Barrington pops a handful of nuts into his mouth and chomps down on them, talking as he chews.

“Because I don’t know how to convince her I’m serious about the two of us. So I’m giving the team my total focus until I can get back and talk to her.” I figure he’ll respect my commitment to the team.

He rolls his eyes and eats a few more nuts. “That’s not how it works. You don’t get to put people in boxes and decide when to take them out and play with them. You integrate them into your life, or you lose them. I learned that the hard way many years ago, and I won’t make the same mistake again. Neither should you.”

“I thought you were married.”

“I am. Third time’s the charm in that department. Now that I’ve gotten it right, I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize my relationship. Not one thing,” he says, slapping the top of the bar. The bartender looks up, but Barrington waves him off. “Just emphasizing.”

“Not sure it works that way for me. I don’t know how to do both, and I’ve always been a hockey player.”

“Learn,” he says. “Learn to do both equally well. I know you’ve got it in you, Renaldi. I didn’t choose you as captain because you’re a charity case. And I don’t want your broken-hearted ass showing up for training after she dumps you for acting like an ass. If you think being in love’s distracting, try heartbreak.” Barrington finishes his drink and holds up a finger. “Scratch that. Don’t try heartbreak. Just do the right thing. At least check your phone for crying out loud.”

Flipping the phone over, I find another text from Trix.

Trix: Don’t want to freak you out, but I’m feeling some weird pains

While I’m reading that one, she pings me again with another text.

Trix: Julie is taking me to the hospital just to be safe

I show the text to Barrington as I feel the blood drain from my face.

“Take the jet. It can come back in the morning for the team.”

“Are you sure?” I can’t think straight. I don’t know whether I should just text Trix back or get on a plane.

“It’ll just be sitting there all night waiting to take us back in the morning. Go. Go now.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I hop off my barstool and take off at a run.

CHAPTER 32

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