Page 27 of Make Your Play

Hockey is a sport where you cannot afford to get hurt. There’s always someone who is waiting to fill your position. It doesn’t take much for a career to end. Injured players are liabilities and once you start getting injured, you start to become more prone to it happening.

“We can’t let you go back out,” Dr. Forge says with a stern look on his face.

“You could do more damage,” Liam, one of the assistant coaches, adds, equally not pleased with the idea of me headingback to the game. “Get changed and we’ll get you back to your room and someone will have you on the next flight home so we can get medical imaging done and see what happens next.”

Liam helps me out of the room and we head back to the dressing room. I try to push him away and hobble over to my spot on the bench, dropping down in a rush. He gives me a look, almost like he doesn’t know what the hell he’s supposed to do next. Ignoring him, I drop my face into my hands, feeling the anger and despair engulfing me all at once.

“Fuck!”

***

“What did the doctors say?” Lincoln asks me as he takes a sip of his water bottle and tilts his head to the side. “Do they think you’ll be able to play?”

I shake my head at him. “I’m flying home tomorrow morning. They want me to get imaging done and they’ll figure out what happens next.”

“Shit. This isn’t good,” Carson chimes in, his lips pursing as his nostrils flare.

“It’s not ideal, but it’s for the best,” Caleb says, nodding his head. Leave it to him to always be the levelheaded one who views things logically instead of emotionally. “The last thing we need is for you to be on the ice and fuck it up worse.”

“Yeah, if that happens, then we’re really fucked,” Rowan says, nodding along with Caleb. “We can’t afford to have you out even longer.”

I let out an exasperated sigh, settling into the bed as I feel the pain medication swirling around in my brain. My lips part, my jaw expanding as a yawn takes over me. The pain is still lingering but the pills they gave me have definitely taken the edge off.

“I’ll see if Nova can pick you up tomorrow,” Lincoln says, motioning to my leg. “You probably shouldn’t be driving.”

“I can drive with my left foot instead.”

Caleb gives me a look that makes me reconsider. “So you can fuck that up even worse once you’re home?” He looks at Lincoln. “Call your sister. If she can’t, we’ll figure something out.”

“Jesus, you guys are ridiculous.”

“Nah, we just love ya, bud.” Carson smirks as he rubs the top of my head playfully. “Come on, guys, we should let him get some rest.”

“If you need anything, you call one of us,” Caleb tells me, his eyes burning holes into my face. “Is someone going to take you to the airport tomorrow?”

I give him a look. “Yes, mother. They have it all arranged.”

“Good,” he says with a nod before he motions for his brother and Rowan to follow him out of my room.

Lincoln is the last one left. “I’ll text you when I hear from Nova.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Of course.” He smiles and nods. “That’s what family is for.”

Lincoln leaves the room after the rest of the guys do, leaving me alone with my own fucking feelings. It’s not something I particularly care for, but what else can I do? My feelings are pretty dull and numb right now, so I sink deeper into them as I scroll through the channels on the TV before settling on another show.

I’m not sure how much time has passed since the guys left, but my eyelids are progressively growing heavier. I feel them beginning to close just as my phone vibrates on the bed beside me. I glance at it, feeling the urge to ignore it, but decide against it and lift it up. Closing one eye, I force the other to focus before I’m able to look at it with both of my eyes.

I was expecting it to be Lincoln, but it’s not him. My heart skips over itself, butterflies fluttering in my stomach when I see her name.

Riley

Nash. Are you okay?

Nash

I’m okay. How are you feeling, mama?

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