Page 87 of Unlovable Player

“Grandbabies.”

“Oh my god, just drive before I get out.”

She chuckles to herself as she puts her seatbelt back on and turns the ignition. “A blond and a brunette-”

“Drive!”

By the time I leave Ma at the hotel, it’s late. I go in with her to make sure she’s okay and end up watchingCasablancaon the little TV until she kicks me out.

“Are you gonna talk to Seb?”

“Not tonight.”

She raises a warning eyebrow, the one I get when I’m in trouble.

“I will Ma, I promise.”

“Okay.”

I kiss her on the cheek and head home. I can get a bus, but I walk to clear my head. Every part of me is drawn towards Seb’s place. I imagine ringing his doorbell and finishing what we started. The smell of his aftershave still lingering on my hoody. But it’s late. Really late. I’ll see him in practise tomorrow. Even though it’ll be hell to be his linemate and have to wait until we’re alone to say what I need to say.

Gray’s asleep when I get back to our apartment. I slip into bed quietly and try to sleep.

He doesn’t show.

I wait until everyone’s in their pads and jerseys and taping their sticks before I go to speak to Coach.

I can’t make it through an entire practise without knowing where he is.

“Ah, come in, take a seat.”

I stay standing.

“Where’s Seb… Huntington?”

“Sit down Austin,” Coach says.

I take a seat, my legs like jelly. Has something happened to him?

“He came to me this morning to say he was quitting the team.”

“What? Why would he do that?”

“He says hockey isn’t in his future and his presence on the team is harming the moral.”

Shame washes over me. “I failed as a captain.”

“No you didn’t. I’ve been watching you, you did a good job trying to integrate him into the team, but this is just something that happens sometimes. Transfers don’t always work out.”

“But we were good.”

Coach nods. “This is Sebastian’s decision. He wants to go and work for his father after graduation-”

“No, he doesn’t.” I don’t mean my tone to be as sharp as it is.

Coach widens his eyes.

“Sorry Coach, but you know he got the internship with the Canucks?”

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