Page 69 of When Alec Met Evie
Suddenly, everything Theo is doing makes so much more sense, and my heart nearly breaks for the kid. He’s not angry because he’s a stupid punk kid. He’s angry because he’s grieving.
“I’m sorry about your dad, Theo. That really sucks.”
He shoves back from the counter, his barstool scuffing against the floor. “Look, you don’t have to do this,” he says, waving his hand in my general direction. “Help, or whatever. Ijust want to play hockey. I don’t need a heart-to-heart with the team captain to do that.”
I push my palms against my thighs, debating how I should play this. Theo needs compassion—his dad only died a year ago—but he also might need some tough love.
“You do if your captain is worried you’re screwing yourself over.”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever, man. How about I worry about my game, and you worry about yours? And youshouldworry. Word is there are a couple of rookies who are looking to take your spot.”
My jaw clenches, but I don’t move while Theo stalks out of the kitchen. He’s trying to antagonize me, and I won’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he has.
Last night, in a post-game locker room interview, a journalist got particularly pointed with her questions. “There’s been talk from inside sources that your knee is giving you trouble. In light of the numerous surgeries you’ve already had, your physical limitations, and the strength of rookie defenders like the Williamson twins, are you giving any serious thought to retirement?”
It’s one thing to have the team talking about my knee. To have the general public speculating about my future like it’s no big deal is a new level of frustration. To them, it’s just a question. A matter of who will be on the ice next season. For me, it’s my life. Mylivelihood.
“Well, that was an intense conversation to have before coffee.”
I turn to see Evie standing in between the living room and the kitchen, Juno in her arms. She’s dressed for work in jeans and a plaid shirt tied at her waist, Juno’s diaper bag draped over her shoulder. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and I’m struckfor the millionth time by how beautiful she is. At the sight of her, some of the tension in my shoulders melts away.
“You heard that?” I ask.
“I stopped at the bottom of the stairs because I didn’t want to interrupt.” She takes a step closer and drops her bag onto the couch. “He shouldn’t have said that, Alec. About you and your spot on the team.”
“I’m not worried about that,” I say, even though it isn’t the full truth. This season hasn’t gone at all like I wanted it to, and I hate thinking about what happens next. But that’s on me. It doesn’t have anything to do with Theo.
“I could be wrong,” Evie says, “but it sounds like Theo might be doing a little bit of self-sabotage.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe he feels guilty about playing? About enjoying his life when his dad isn’t around to see him do it?”
I lean forward and prop my elbows on the counter. “Yeah, maybe. I just wish I could help him. I don’t want to push, but none of the other guys know what he’s been through. I don’t want him to get himself in trouble, and if something doesn’t change, he will.”
“That might be what he wants,” Evie says. “If he gets kicked off the team, he can’t feel guilty about playing.”
“But I think he reallywantsto play,” I say.
“Does the team have a psychologist on staff?”
“Not on staff. But there’s one the team refers us to if we need it. He’s great. I’ve seen him a few times. Nathan, too. And he and Felix are basically best friends.”
She tilts her head and smiles. “So you’re saying real men aren’t afraid of boybandsortherapy.”
I chuckle. “I’d also wear that t-shirt.”
“It’s a lot that he even told you about his dad,” she says. “And you’re showing him you’re a safe space by not taking his attitudepersonally. Maybe just give him a little more time. He might still open up.“
I stand and move toward her, crouching down so I’m eye level with Juno. “Yeah. I just hope he doesn’t screw himself over in the meantime.” I take Juno’s hand and let her wrap her fist around my pointer finger. “Hey, Juno.” I look up at Evie. “She looks bigger today. Is that possible?”
“I actually had the same thought,” she says. “I have no idea how, but yeah. She totally does.”
Juno drops my finger, and I lift a hand to her head, brushing it lightly over her wispy curls. When my gaze shifts back to Evie, there’s a sadness to her expression that I can’t quite define. It wasn’t there moments before, but it’s there now, and it makes my gut tighten with unease. Have I missed something going on with her because I’ve been caught up in my own problems? Caught up with the twins?
I lift a hand to her face, every other frustration and worry vaporizing in an instant. Right now, I only see her.
“Hey. What’s wrong? Why are you frowning?”
