Page 54 of Unrivaled

Tough on the team, and tough on the kid, but it was the right call. Barny’d either get used to playing after he made a mistake or he’d wash out. The only way to get used to it was to do it.

It didn’t make Grady feel better when he finally caught that pass from Zipper with two minutes left and finished the hat trick. It was a beautiful pass—tape to tape, with Coop acting as a screen until suddenly he wasn’t and Grady had a clear shot. Half-clapper, top shelf, where Mama keeps the peanut butter.

But it was a meaningless goal, because the Tartans put two more in the net, one after the other.

The buzzer went seconds after Grady put the fourth goal past the goalie’s pads. Final score Tartans 7, Grady 4.

It was a team game. But wasting a four-goal night on a loss sickened him. Disgusted, he snapped his stick over his thigh and got slapped with an unsportsmanlike fine and a game suspension, even though it was after the buzzer.

He didn’t care. He tossed his stick in the trash on his way to the locker room and didn’t talk to anyone through the process of cooldown, showering, and dressing. Even Coop gave him a wide berth.

On the bus, Grady shoved his earbuds in and pressed his shoulder against the window.

Then he stared down at his phone, willing it to buzz. Max always texted him after games, usually to chirp him. At some point it had stopped being annoying and become part of how Grady unwound. Maybe Max was losing his touch.

Maybe Grady had Stockholm Syndrome.

Tonight, Max didn’t text him. That was weird. Grady didn’t think Max was constitutionally capable of ignoring a dick trick—scoring four goals in a game.

Had Max played tonight? Was he injured? Grady pulled up the NHL app and found the Monsters’ news and schedule. Max’s game had ended half an hour before his. He’d played until the end of the third period, and there was no mention of him going down the tunnel to treat an injury. Grady watched the highlights to check, but no—Max had had an assist and a hooking penalty in his team’s victory over Carolina and drew a penalty on Gorges for roughing, but it didn’t look like he’d been hurt.

Probably he was out celebrating. The Monsters were at home, and they had a day off tomorrow.

But just in case he’d gotten hurt and checking up on Grady had slipped his mind, Grady sent,Nice assist. What did you say to Gorges?Whatever it was, the guy took a hell of a swing at Max.

Grady only watched that clip once. Thinking about what could’ve happened if that hit connected differently did unpleasant things to his stomach. But Max could handle himself. He was a big boy. He knew the risks of playing a contact sport. He didn’t need Grady coddling him.

Grady didn’t even want to coddle him, and just because he didn’t want Max to get hurt didn’t mean helikedhim. Hockey was just better when everyone was at their best. That was it.

When the bus pulled into the hotel parking lot and Max hadn’t texted him back, Grady huffed and turned his phone off. Whatever. He didn’t want to talk to anyone anyway.

The next day was a travel day with nothing else scheduled. Grady turned his phone on in the morning and found a text from Max from the early hours of the morning.Asked him what perfume he was wearing cuz i wanted to get some 4 my sister. Guys a douche.

Gorges was the hypermasculine type, so Grady could see that.

A few minutes after the first message, Max had sent,nice dick trick [eggplant eggplant eggplant eggplant]. Too bad the rest of ur team sux. Also wtf was that temper tantrum????

In the light of day, Grady felt childish for breaking his stick. It had seemed like a better idea than lashing out at his teammates, but it made him look like a sore loser with an anger management problem. And sure, he didn’tlikelosing, but dealing with losses maturely was part of the game.

Breaking his stick was not mature. Sulking alone in his hotel room and not speaking to anyone probably wasn’t a great look either.

He sighed.

It really sucks to score 4 goals for nothing.But I should’ve handled it better.

He didn’t expect a response right away, but a moment later, his phone buzzed.Fuck it id have done the same. Cant even celebrate a dick trick. Fuckin travesty.

The Grady from a few months ago would have recoiled in horror that today’s Grady found comfort in that.

Today’s Grady opted not to think too much about it and went down to breakfast.

After they checked into their hotel in Quebec City, he called his sister.

Jess didn’t bother answering withhello. “You want to talk about the four goals or the suspension?”

“Neither. Fuck.” Grady slumped against the headboard. “Talk about something else, please.”

“Oh God, youmustbe feeling pretty dumb. You know the rules, Grades.”

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