Page 69 of Cross Check My Heart
Shrugging in response to Grey, I try to keep up with the game. Reid and Landon are still on the ice with the other guys, running a really good play and setting up for the first goal of the game. Sure enough, after a couple perfectly timed passes between the guys, and a bit of distraction by Reid, Landon slaps the puck into the top left corner of the net. Everyone on the benches all jump up and cheer, lining up over the half wall to meet the guys on the ice for a high-five. As I finish clapping Greyson on the back in celebration, I can’t stop my eyes from drifting to the seats.
My heart stalls in my chest at what I see.
Paige is standing up with her phone pressed to her ear, worry and anger spread across her features as she turns to talk to Garrett. Whatever she says to him has his head whipping toward me, in that moment, I feel my heart bottom out, roll to the ice and get beaten by twelve hockey sticks.
Lilly.
His shoulders drop and his mouth opens like he’s going to try and say something but can’t figure out how. I glance at Paige and find her picking up her sweater before quickly slipping past the people in her row and jogging up the stairs toward the exit. Garrett follows behind her and once he’s made it to the end of his row and to the stairs, he turns back toward me. Holding his phone up and pointing to it before he turns to follow after Paige.
At this moment, I absolutely hate the fact that I leave my phone in my gym bag during games. Glancing at Coach James,I contemplate for a moment if I should say anything to him, but quickly decide against it.
For the remaining five minutes of the period, my attention is completely shot. When I’m sent out next, I know it’s about to become obvious that my head is no longer in the game. I hit the bench and ignore the glances from the coaches and Grey. How the hell am I supposed to focus on finishing the game if I can’t even get through sixty seconds on the ice?
By the time the timer hits zero, I’m already off the bench and making my way toward the locker room. Someone calls my name but I’m too focused on getting to my phone. Something is wrong and there’s no way I’ll be able to get through the remaining hour and ten minutes without knowing.
Garrett’s text doesn’t do much to actually help calm me.
Gare-Bear:
Something happened, but she’s okay. Eva is with her, we’re going to meet them now.
Gare-Bear:
Focus on the game, we have Lilly. Just call me when you’re done.
I let out a heavy sigh as Grey and Landon walk up behind me.
“Dude, what’s wrong?” Landon nudges me, worry painted across his face and I rack my brain for something to tell them. I just shake my head as I finally tear my gaze away from my phone. Grey’s brows furrow as we stare at each other.
“Something wrong with that girl you’re seeing?” Landon’s head whips toward Greyson before turning back to gape at me.
“You’re seeing someone?” I nod stiffly, clenching my jaw as I debate on texting Garrett back. Even if I do, he’ll probably just ignore my message until he knows the game is over. He only sent those two to calm me down and remind me to focus. Whichnormally wouldn’t be a problem, but the thought that something is wrong with Lilly has all rationality flying out of the window.
Greyson shoots a quick sideways glance at Coach James before finding me again. I nod in subtle confirmation. He keeps his mouth shut and lets Landon do the talking.
“Fuck man, that’s cool. She okay?” Landon questions as I pinch the bridge of my nose.
“Don’t know. I was told to focus on the game and call after.” Landon nods, but before he can say anything more, Coach James is calling for our attention.
The next hour seems to take forever to pass. Normally, games fly, since we all get caught up in the high of the game. But not tonight. Not when I know that something is wrong with Lilly. It’s a close game, we’re still sitting tied one to one with five minutes left, yet I find myself not even caring who scores next. I just know that I do not want this game to go into overtime. So, when Reid scores with fifty-four seconds left in the game, I’m letting out a breath of relief and gathering my shit.
By the time the horn goes off, signaling the end of the game and our win, I’m already heading to the locker room. I know that one of the coaches is going to yell at me for leaving before formalities, but all I’m thinking about is Lilly.
I make it to my bag and am hitting Garrett’s name before I even notice that someone is following me. As the phone rings, I turn and find Greyson behind me. The expression on his face is all I need to know that he’s here for support, not to give me shit for dating the coach’s daughter.
“Did ya win?” Garrett half jokes by way of answering the phone.
“What happened?” I don’t even bother with humoring his question. I’ve waited this long to ask, and I feel like I might explode if he doesn’t tell me now. His sigh on the other end ofthe phone followed by the sound of a PA system has my nerves dancing.
“Garrett.” I snap.
“She’s okay. Well, actually, once she’s been given pain meds, she’ll be more than okay.”
What the hell?
“What? What the fuck do you mean pain meds?” Tucking my phone between my shoulder pads and my ear, I sit on the bench and start hastily untying my skates. I’m slightly aware of Grey doing the same as he helps me clean our shit up as we remove our gear.
“Lilly wanted some extra time to finish up her edit changes for Sam, so she told Paige and I to leave for the game and she’d be right behind us. She said she would only be a half hour behind us.”
