Page 138 of What If I See You

“Wait, Griffy,” Gage says, pointing to the phone. “They’re wearing their uniforms.”

“Yeah.” Griffin nods. “They have a game to play tonight. It should be starting in the next hour or so.”

“But you’re going to miss it.”

Griffin smiles. “Yeah, but I’m here with you bud. I wanted to make sure you were okay. You’re way more important than a stupid hockey game.”

“Hey.” Gage points at his brother. “Hockey isn’t stupid. You have to go play so I can watch you.”

“Well, it’s a little late for tonight bud. We’ll have to cheer on the guys. You and me together.”

“I can find the game on my iPad,” I tell Gage. “You guys can watch it right here if you want.”

“But what about Chicago?” Griffin’s told me before that Gage knows every bit of his brother’s schedule. Every stat. Every score. He makes it his job to know.

“I don’t need to go, Gage. It’s okay. Coach knows where I am.”

“I want you to go. You love the birds.”

I chuckle hearing Gage call the Chicago Red Tails the birds as that’s how the team refers to them as well.

“I do. You’re right.” Griffin nods. “But they’ll understand. It’s okay.”

Gage shakes his head. “Griffin, I’m fine. I can do this. And you can go play. Your teammates are counting on you. They need you. If you’re not there, Dex Foster will beat up on Bodhi Roche and the team will lose.”

Griffin laughs. “I won’t tell Bodhi you said that, okay?”

Gage shrugs. “Okay but it’s true. Dex can be a rough player until you’re on the ice. You guys have fun together.”

“Yeah, we do. You’re right.”

“Gage is right, Son,” his dad says. “He’s going to be okay. If you want to play in Chicago there’s still time to find a flight out even first thing in the morning if not tonight.”

Griffin surveys his family and then glances back at me. I only offer him a helpless shrug because this has to be his decision. Definitely not mine.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” he asks his brother. “I have no problem staying here with you.” He holds Gage’s leg. “You’re more important to me than anyone.”

Gage smirks. “Even Layken?”

Griffin shrugs and then loudly whispers, “Bro before Doe.”

“Hey Ollenberg!”A familiar face walks toward us in the hallway of the arena as Layken and I enter the players area. The hole in Dex Foster’s smile where he had yet another tooth knocked out a few nights ago gives him an all new mischievous look about him.

“Hey Foster. You ready for tonight?”

“Ready to kick your ass you mean?”

Griffin tips his head back and cackles. “In your dreams buddy. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

When Dex reaches us he gives Griffin a big hug and does this bro-like handshake that I couldn’t replicate if I tried. “How’s your brother, man? I heard he was in an accident?”

“Yeah.” Griffin nods. “T-boned by a fucking drunk. He pulled through surgery though and is doing okay. R-I-P to his spleen and he has some new hardware in his arm but he should thankfully have a full recovery.”

“Optimus Fine he is then, huh? More than meets the eye.”

“Yeah,” Griffin laughs. “It was his idea for me to get the hell out of the hospital so I could come whip you into shape on the ice.”

Dex laughs. “Dammit, that’s going to suck for you isn’t it then? When you have to tell him you failed.”

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