Page 56 of Christmas on Ice
“I do. And he’s a big part of it.”Getting bigger and bigger each day.“I need him to know that.”
“I’m sure he knows it. Would you like to come in for tea or coffee?”
“I’d love to.”
29
Trask
Iloosened my tie as I stepped into the plane at the Colorado Springs airport. Our chartered flight was headed to Missoula, Montana, where we’d kick off a four-day, three-game run. After my performance during today’s morning skate, I felt there was a good chance I wouldn’t be playing tonight. I’d been home less than twenty-four hours and worrying where I stood with Kami was messing with me. My mother had called and told me about Kami’s visit, which renewed my hopes. But I was still on edge. I wanted to take action.
I headed for the back of the plane so I could wallow alone. As I lifted my carry-on to put it into the overhead compartment, I was brought back to the moment just a few short days ago when the flight attendant made a comment about me being Ryleigh’s dad.
My eyes stung, and I swiped a tear away. I had to get it together. I felt myself slipping into the old post-breakup Trask, and I hated myself for it. I also didn’t understand it. Kami and I hadn’t dated for three or four years. It’d hardly been a week. Why was I reacting this way? I stared out the window and wracked my brain to try to make sense of it.
“Can I sit here?”
I nodded at Coach Conway, and he dropped into the aisle seat. I braced myself for what I knew was coming.
“I’m going to start you tonight.”
“What?” That made no sense. I’d been a disaster on the ice. “Why?”
“Because I recognize the funk you’re in. And the only way out of it is to focus on something else. Like making sure we win tonight. Unless you think you need a few days off?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. I called Kriz and Brewer. They’re coming tonight.”
“But—Alexei just had a baby. Why would he—”
“Because he’s your friend, Emerson. You need an intervention to fix your mindset, and Dexter isn’t here.” Jason was traveling with the Denver Edge this week since their starting goalie had a family emergency.
“Yes, Coach.”
* * *
My mood continuedto sour through warm-ups, but I was playing better, so Coach went ahead and started me. It was a rough game. The Missoula Glaciers were an old team, but they’d just affiliated with the new NHL expansion team, and every player was looking to prove himself in the hopes of getting called up to the next level.
By the third period, I’d had enough of their violence, and when Noel got slammed into the boards by three of their guys at the same time, it looked like a coordinated attack. Our rookie had been unstoppable all night and had just scored his first hat trick for our team.
I joined the fray and threw off my gloves. The refs let us go at it until our backup came and it turned into an all-out brawl. I jumped on the right winger, who’d been roughing up Noel all night, and let out all of my frustration on his face.
His helmet came off, and we fell to the ice. I realized his eyes were closed and he wasn’t fighting back. I hardly comprehended being pulled off of him and being ejected from the game. I stalked past our trainers and waved off their help. I didn’t care that I had a cut on my face or if it was bleeding.
Back in the locker room, I stripped off my gear, throwing it at the cubby. I couldn’t believe I’d knocked a guy out. It was true what they said—hurt people hurt people. I didn’t want to be that person, though.
“I see Tiger is appropriate nickname, no? Never saw his claws come out quite like that.” Alexei’s broken English interrupted my internal pity party.
“What’s causing this, Trask?” Kingston asked. I sat on the bench and pressed my lips together before I could say something I’d regret to my former teammates. Kingston sat beside me, and Alexei flanked me on the other side.
I filled them in on everything that had happened in the last few days. “I just can’t seem to move on. Why can’t I move on?”
“Maybe you’re not meant to,” Kingston said. “Maybe this is the one you fight for. It’s only been a couple days, right? Are you even sure it’s a breakup?”
“Important question.” Alexei leaned in. “Are you thinking about future together with her, or can you not see past the present?”
That was easy. “Dude, if she asked me to quit hockey and move back to South Carolina with her in May, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
