Page 87 of Stick Play

I’m not good at keeping secrets, especially big ones and I might blurt something out. “I’ll probably be too busy.”

“Oh, okay.”

The alarm on my phone goes off. “I have to go, Ash. Zoe is getting out of school shortly. Kick butt at your games.”

A beat and then in a quiet voice he murmurs, “Okay, bye.”

“Bye.” I hang up, my anxiety at an all-time high, because what I’m about to do is going to change everything between Ash and me, but now that I’ve made my mind up, nothing is going to stop me.

28

Ash

As I tape up my stick, ready to hit the ice against New York, I try to play it cool, try to pretend that my life might not be imploding. Even though I think it very well could be. Why is Gina running back to California? I mean, it seems so strange, and not to mention it to me all week, and then only mentioning it after that asshole Theo told her about my private conversation with Coach. Motherfucker. I ought to go beat his face in right now.

“Everything okay?” Brady asks. I guess I’m not doing such a great job of hiding my feelings.

“Yeah, just getting mentally prepared.” I rip the tape and smooth it over my stick. If we were back home, I might call Melanie or even Brighton to find out if they know anything. But here on the road, I don’t want to start anyone panicking, and the guys need me to have my head in the game.

“I talked to Tuck.” I don’t miss the concern in his voice.

I keep my eye on my stick and answer with, “Yeah.” I really don’t want to get into this right now, but I know he’s concerned about me.

“That black eye Theo is sporting is from Tuck.”

I snort out a laugh. “Good.” I glance at Brady as he scrubs his chin and shakes his head like he too wants a piece of Theo. “What the fuck is wrong with that guy?”

“We don’t have enough time for that conversation.” I stand and stretch out my legs as I shove my tape into my bag.

He looks a bit hesitant when he asks, “You talked to Gina?”

I nod. “As far as I can tell, she believes me.”

Then again, maybe she was just pretending to believe me, not wanting to fight over the phone, and maybe she’s headed back to California to see if she can patch things up with Zoe’s father, now that Maria and the kids are out of the picture.

Dude, come on, you don’t believe that?

It’s true, I don’t. I just don’t understand what’s left for her in California. The whole bit about her grandparents felt off. They’ve been gone a long time. What loose ends does she have to tie up and she hesitated when I asked, like she was making it up on the spot.

Her up and leaving felt far too familiar. Far too much like what my mother did.

But Gina isn’t like that.

Okay, Ash. Clear your thoughts and get your head in the game.

Brady nudges me. “Let’s go.”

“I just have to give Dad a quick call.” He nods and I pull my phone from the locker and call Dad. Maybe he knows something I don’t. I can’t come right out and ask. I don’t want him worrying about anything either. Dad answers on the first ring.

“Hey, son. I’m in front of the TV with Elena, Maria and the boys. We can’t wait to watch you kick butt tonight.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I go quiet for a second, and unable to help myself I ask, “Have you talked to Gina?”

“At the café she told Maria she had to fly out of town to take care of some personal business.”

I grip my helmet tighter as the guys all start filing out. “Yeah, okay. I was just wondering.”

“Everything okay?” he asks quietly.

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