Page 36 of Not A Chance

My words fell on deaf ears as the smallest snore sounded beside me. He really was exhausted.

I was worried about Giz, despite having texted Amy no less than four times in the last eighteen hours. Even though she’d provided proof-of-life photos of her curled up on the couch, sleeping happily.

Besides imagining all the new abandonment issues I was concocting on behalf of my obviously-better-adjusted-than-her-owner dog, I dreaded the idea of running into Theo at the hotel.

He hadn’t been on tonight’s media interview roster, having been able to glide off the ice and bypass the media while Michaels and one of the other defensemen had presented a united front against the media over tonight’s loss.

The bus slowed to a stop outside the hotel, I wasn’t proud of my speedy exit from my seat. I absolutely did not climb over a dozing Connor and book it into the lobby while the majority of the team paced themselves after a long night.

Of course I did. I just chose not to think about what I looked like while doing it. Luckily, Connor was a sound sleeper.

I did not have the control over my actions where Theo was concerned. I was out of my element yet again.

A quick stop at reception had my room card in my hand and into the elevator before the team made it into the lobby.

After taking a quick shower to wash off the ick of a plane ride and the adrenaline sweat from a night of media chaos at the arena, I found a text from Connor on my phone.

MVP-C

Hey buddy. You’ve been training extra hours I don’t know about? That was some quick exit off the bus.

Whenhad I left my phone open in his presence that he’d changed his contact name?

Indie

MVP-C, huh?

MVP-C

You know, buddy. It even rhymes so it’s meant to be.

Anyways, I’m bored and so tired I can’t sleep. Stupid to catch that nap on the bus. Want to come to mine and watch a movie and raid the mini bar?

The choice between sitting in this hotel room stewing over Theo versus the guaranteed good-natured distraction that was Connor Andrews was an easy one. He made it easy to come out of my natural state of isolation. Connor was just such a safe space. I hadn’t realized how much I missed that with Abbie and Emery until I had it again with him.

Indie

You’re on. But that doesn’t sound very team nutritionist approved?

MVP-C

After all the hits I took tonight, I earned my recovery M&Ms. Room 405.

I’d changed into my pajamas after my shower. I looked down at my modal black tank and loose pants and decided the odds of seeing anyone in the hallway were slim. Unlike Connor, most of the team crashed immediately after getting into the hotel for the night. I shrugged a thin cardigan over my shoulders, just in case.

Peeking out into the hall, I made my way to Connor’s room.

I definitely wasn’t giving him enough time to pick the movie,or I’d probably end up watchingThe Mighty Ducksbecause he considered it “a classic.”

Getting up at 5:00 a.m. was no one’s idea of a good time. A lifetime love of hockey had trained me to accept these early mornings as a necessary evil.

With last night’s loss still weighing heavily on my shoulders, I dragged my ass out of bed, even though my eyes felt glued together with gravel.

Hoping the comfort of routine would shake me out of this funk, I threw on my workout clothes and left my room. I’d keep the intensity way down during my workout. It was more about having a way to clear my head.

Scrolling through my phone as I walked toward the elevator, I did not expect to run into another person at this hour. Most of my teammates would likely be starting their workout as mine ended around 6:00 a.m.

The blur of motion in my peripheral vision had me stopping just in time to avoid a collision.

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