Page 55 of The Substitute
NINETEEN
AMBROSE
With winter break in full swing, hockey is ramping up, and being responsible for Teddy is taking all of my time. I hate that I don’t get to spend more time with Tobi, but at least I know Savage is busy too, so he’s probably having a hard time seeing Tobi as well. There’s not enough of me to go around, and the guilt is eating at me.
We’re barely off the bus at the hotel, and Teddy has already disappeared. Seriously. He needs a fucking bell.
Ambrose: Where the fuck did you go?
Teddy: On 1 adventure!
I groan. That could mean anything.
Ambrose: Get back to the hotel.
Teddy: butt…
Ambrose: What are butt donuts? Are you having a stroke?
Teddy: do u need a diction canary?
Ambrose: Do I need a canary? Is this a coal mine?
Teddy: If ur in a coal mine ur lost u should call some1 bout that there could b gators.
What the fuck have I gotten myself into?
Ambrose: I’m not in a coal mine. What are you doing with a canary?
Teddy: Obviously u can’t follow a simp-ple conversation so
A picture comes through with a pink bakery box flipped open and half full of donuts. Has he really eaten half the box? How does he not have a stomachache?
Ambrose: Bring them with you but seriously, get back here.
I really don’t want to do this, but I don’t have a choice.
“Hey, Coach?” The gruff man looks at me with a questioning brow. “Can you make Teddy my roommate?”
He huffs out a quick laugh and shakes his head.
“Yeah, I can make that happen.” He checks his paperwork, then scans the crowd of our guys. “Shredder, you’re off the hook.”
“Fuck yes!” He raises a fist in the air, and I want to punch myself. This is going to be a long fucking weekend.
Teddy shows up as I’m getting my room key, so at least I don’t have to hunt him down. He grabs his bag and, with the box of donuts in hand, he follows me up to our room.
“I claim the window bed,” Teddy announces the second we open the door.
“Okay, but why?”
We drop our stuff next to our beds, and I sit on mine while he carefully places his pink box on the table. The arm chair in the opposite corner makes me want to laugh. Why do hotels always have a cuck chair?
“Because if someone breaks in, they’ll get you and give me a chance to run.”
Of course.
“Where are you going if I get attacked first? Those windows don’t open?”
