Page 127 of Hot for the Hockey Player
Just hearing her voice eased so much of that strain in my sternum that I was finally able to suck in a deep breath.“Um … I, uh … I got the all clear to play again.”
Silence.
I swallowed.
“And …”
“I don’t know what to do,” I said on an exhale.“Do I go back and play with them this season, help them get to the playoffs?They certainly need it now that Franks is also in trouble for the same shit as Henderson.If I can play with my team, finish the season with them, I should, right?Or do I just retire now?Or wait until the fall and hope that the Storm signs me again?”
More silence, and this time it had my pulse spiking and my gut queasy.
“Gabrielle?”
“You need to play,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.“Don’t come back.”
“What?”I breathed.
Don’t come back?
“Let’s … let’s not fool ourselves, Maverick.You were always going to go back.All of the other options—including us—were plan B.And don’t plan for retirement at the end of the season.You don’t know what the future holds, but we both know it’s not on the island.It’s not here with us.You’re meant for …” She swallowed.“You’re meant for far greater things than San Camanez.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do,” she croaked out.“Go play the game you were born to play.The game you excel at.You’ll regret it … you’ll resent m—you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t.”
Where the hell was this coming from?“You don’t mean this.W-what is going on?Can we talk about this some more, please?I’m really struggling.The doctor is talking about quality of life and that I could end up in a wheelchair if I keep playing.”
“I … I have to go.Um, let me handle Damon, okay?”
“What?I’m not just going to abandon the kid.Any of the kids.We have watercolor and woodworking.Metalwork.And I have another cheese making workshop booked.I have a bowl to paint with Hugh.We haven’t finished our bat boxes.And Damon’s been doing all the editing for me.I need to at least explain …” Scrubbing my fingers into my hair, then down my face, I rested my hand over my heart where the tension was back and worse than ever.
“Leave that to me.It’ll be okay.Go play hockey.”
“Gabrielle!”
“Goodbye, Maverick.”Then she hung up.
She fucking hung up.
I called her back immediately, but it went to voicemail.Then I texted her, pleading with her to tell me what the hell was going on and why she was doing this.But I got no response.
My brain felt like it was going to shatter into a million pieces.Nothing made sense.Sunday was like a dream come true.We had dinner like a normal family of four, joking and laughing around the table.Then Damon and I played video games while Gabrielle and Laurel baked cookies in the kitchen.Then Gabrielle and I made love, and she fell asleep holding my hand—which was a big deal for her since she wasn’t the most tactile person when it came to affection.She kissed me goodbye when I drove to the ferry and I thought for sure I’d be returning to the island, to these people I loved so much, and the place where I felt more at peace and happier than I’d ever been.
And now she was telling me not to come back.
This woman and the emotional whiplash were going to kill me.
With a shaky breath, I called Dr.Avery’s office and went through all the prompts until I finally reached a real human.“Hey, this is Maverick Roy.I was just in to see Dr.Avery.Can you tell him to send my file to the team doctor, please?I’ve changed my mind and I’m going to play again—now.Thanks.”Then I hung up.
Next, I shot off a text to Roman.
Clean bill of health.How soon do you think Nilsson will have me on the roster?
He messaged back immediately.
If he knows what’s good for him, tomorrow night!
Despite the turmoil raging inside of me, I smiled.I’d need to get back on the ice and practice a bit, as well as hit the gym before I made my way into a game again.The playoffs started in less than a month.Hopefully, I’d be in tiptop shape again by then.
