Page 18 of Wrap Around
Weeks pass. The bruises fade, the tension shifts, but nothing really heals.
The team has clawed its way back to something that almost looks like cohesion, even if it doesn't feel quite right. We're winning more than we're losing, but barely. The defenseman that moved up to my line is doing well enough. Tomas and I mesh well together, but it's still work. It's nothing like the easy chemistry that Gideon and I had, though. We don't read each other quite that well, but maybe with time it'll come.
I throw myself into the grind on the ice, in the weight room, and at home. It's easier than overthinking every aspect of my life or hoping that I'll run into Gideon during one of his visits to see Lily. Sometimes I can tell he was there just by the scent of his cologne on the sofa, or by the extra glass next to an empty tea pitcher. It hurts to know he's been there but is taking such pains to avoid me. I'm glad Lily is getting to rebuild her relationship with him, but I can't help but be a little jealous.
After a grueling practice, I spend some time in the gym, coolingdown my tired legs on one of the stationary bikes. On my way out, I run into Coach Dempsey.
"Oh good, Caldwell, I was hoping I'd run into you." He gestures for me to follow him, then waves me into his office. "Shut the door, will ya?" I do, the click echoing like a gavel. Like I'm about to be sentenced. He's got a look that makes me worry: tired, serious, and regretful.
I sit in the chair across from his desk, trying to ignore the way my heart is hammering faster than it should.
"You've been playing some damn good hockey for us, Caldwell," he says finally, tapping his fingers on the edge of his desk. "I want you to know that I'm real thankful. Pulling green players is a risk, but so far it's mostly paid off."
Mostly.
"Thank you, sir."
He leans back, folding his arms. "How are things off the ice? You getting along with the team alright?"
"Good, I think. I've been pretty busy with my family lately. It's been a long time since we could be in the same place. I've been soaking up every second. So I haven't really had much chance to hang out outside of practice and games, but everyone is real nice, and I think we're playing well."
He hums and nods, like he expected my answer. "That's understandable. Family is important, and I know all too well what it's like to play professional hockey when you have young children. Being on the road so much can be rough." He smiles, but there's a serious edge to it that makes it easy to hear thebuta mile away. "But the team is important too. We've worked out some of the kinks, but there's still tension on the team that's holding us back." The way he says it makes my stomach churn. "You and Shepherd, in particular."
"I know," I say, nodding gravely. "I'm working on it."
But that's a lie. I haven't done anything but stay out of his way since the day he slammed me into the boards and nearly broke my nose. I've never seen Gideon angry like that before. It's the first time I’ve felt like there's no hope to get back any of what we had.
"You've handled that whole situation better than most would have," he says. "I commend you for it."
I force a tight smile. "Thanks."
Dempsey shifts forward, putting his elbows on the desk in front of him. "When we brought you on, Gideon didn't say a thing about there being any history between you two. You're from the same town, is that right?"
I narrowly avoid scoffing at his obvious attempt to fish for more information. It's understandable that he'd want the story behind our animosity.
"We were teammates," I tell him. "Friends."Understatement."I, uh… I married his sister. We were still in high school."
Considering Coach knows we have a young daughter, and by the way his eyebrows lift, I think it's enough to understand the implications.
"Well. That certainly puts things into perspective."
I shrug a little awkwardly.What can ya do?
Coach scratches the back of his head. "Look, kid… I'm not gonna pretend this is easy. The team is doing better, but considering the bar is brawling between teammates, that's not saying much. We've lost almost half our games. The lines are a mess, and what we're doing just isn't cutting it."
Here we go. I nod, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Truth is, when we signed you, I had a very clear vision of how things would go. It makes sense that the two of you played together before, because I thought you had some similarities in the way you play. I saw how you’d fit in with the existing line before I saw it, if that makes sense, which is why you started where you did. Then the way you and Shepherd worked together that first practice?" He shakes his head like he was in disbelief that his instincts were so on-point. A heavy sigh leaves him. "We need that back. What we’re doing isn’t working. Not like it should."
He's right, of course. It's obvious. I stay silent, waiting for him to spit it out. I know it's coming.
"If you and Shepherd can't figure your shit out, I'll have no choice but to make some trades or let someone go." He isn't saying who, but it could go either way. I have far better stats right now, but they're not much better than Gideon's were before I got here. Gideon's the one causing problems, but I'm the catalyst that threw his team into disarray. "Shepherd isn't the player he was last year," Coach says, echoing my thoughts. "He's playing scared. Too angry to see the puck."
My throat tightens. I can't take this from Gideon.
"I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it work," I tell him seriously. "But if it doesn't… I'd understand if you need to trade me."
Coach stares at me like I've grown a second head. I'm sure he expected me to throw Gideon under the bus, to point out that he's the problem. Flaunt my better stats and the fact that I haven't fouled any of my teammates so badly I got kicked out of a game and suspended for five. But I can't do that.
