Page 76 of Mind Pucked

More than that, I just can’t get over the fact that she suspected it was me who killed Lyla, and who had killed Preston. She knew the body wasn’t found…she didn’t think I had him tied up somewhere for two years or something…did she?

I shake my head as my phone rings. I look at it, praying it’s not Amelia, though I don’t know why it would be. I nearly choke when I see it’s Coach calling.

“Oh boy, the time has drawn nigh,” I say out loud sarcastically as I pick up the phone. “Hey, Coach,” I say, trying to sound casual.”

“Hey, Jackson,” he says. “I was wondering if this is a good time to talk for a minute?”

My heart begins to beat faster. This is it…either he’s going to lecture me, fire me, or something bad has happened and he’s calling to tell me. I can’t win for losing.

“Sure, I have a minute,” I tell him, though in truth it seems as though I have way longer than that.

“Good,” he says. “I was just wondering if you might be available for a quick meeting with me and a few of the guys in the locker room this evening. I just need to go over a few things.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask, hoping that if this is about me, he’ll say so.

I need to know what to prepare for.

“Yeah, sure, just wanting to talk over a few things is all,” he says, but I don’t know that I buy it.

“What time, Coach?” I ask him.

“Let’s say six,” he says. “The ice is open tonight so that should work just fine.”

“Works for me,” I say. “See you at six.”

“See you at six,” he agrees, and then the line goes blank when he hangs up.

I look at my phone for a moment, dumbfounded. I guess I called that one. I don’t know for sure what this little meeting is all about, but if it’s just a few of the guys, I worry it’s some sort of intervention.

I sigh as I sit back and reach for my beer. I hate that I’ve started drinking so early, but with Hayden at a playdate with some of the guys’ kids and wives, I figured I had the time. Now, as it turns out…I have exactly four hours to sober up.

I chug the remaining beer before taking it to the kitchen and throwing the can in the trash.

I look around and see Amelia everywhere. She organized this place and made it into a home fit for Hayden.

I sigh again as I walk out to the back yard. Even here, Amelia is everywhere. I think about Hayden falling, and what I said to Amelia about not being her mom. Now I know that the whole time, Amelia was sure I was involved in the death of Hayden’s mom, and it feels so much worse.

I sit on one of the swings and drop my head into my hands. I need to get my shit together, that much I know to be true.

A few hours later, and after checking to be sure Hayden can stay with Quinn, I’m driving to the rink. My buzz is gone and now I’m just numb.

I pull in a few minutes before six. It’s hard to see who’s here since the parking lot is massive and goes all around the building. The whole team could be here and I wouldn’t know it.

Resigning myself to my fate, I get out of the car and head into the rink. I can already hear the voices of Coach and a couple of the guys as I make my way to the locker room.

I take a gulp before entering.

Coach is sitting at one of the tables that flank the massive room. Oliver, Felix, Vaughn, and Benjamin are with him.

Damn. I shake my head. These are my best guys.

I know now this has to be some sort of beat-Jackson-down meeting, but as much as I know that, I know they can tell something is up with me, though I haven’t said anything to anyone about what happened between Amelia and me, or what she told me about Pres…or any of it.

“Hey, guys,” I say as I turn one of the chairs around and sit in it backward like both Felix and Oliver are doing.

“Hey, man,” Oliver says, reaching over to fist-bump me.

“Hey,” Felix says, tipping an imaginary hat which brings a smile to my face.

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