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The poor guy is trying to help, but if there is one thing Willow hates, it is people assuming she can’t do something because she is bleeding.

I stay behind, helping Coach pack the equipment away. After I’m finished, I pull out my buzzing phone.

Hockey Heroes – Group Chat

Willow Rogers:

WHO ATE MY CHOCOLATE?

I’M NOT ABOVE BODILY HARM

I chuckle. Rookie error.

Aiden Carter:

Not me

Hayes Nelson:

Nope

Willow Rogers:

I WILL FIND OUT.

Once I get out of bed.

I sigh, pulling up my private message with Willow.

Me:

Do you need me to buy you chocolate?

Anything else?

Willow Rogers:

Tampons.

I guess I’m going shopping.

***

Iwalk directly to Willow’s bedroom when I arrive back at the Hockey House. My fingers clench the shopping bags tighter as I enter her room.

Willow is still in her bed, allowing me to observe her. She is tucked under the blanket, yet I can see her legs tucked into her chest.

I sigh, making my way to the bathroom. I unpack the tampons, placing them in the basket under the sink.

“Jayden, is that you?”

I trip over the discarded clothes and a random shoe on the floor. I need to be by her side, doing anything I can to remove the pain. I climb under the covers, Willow turning to me with pain written on her face, colour still not returning to it.

“Are you okay?”

She sniffles, a small sob leaving her lips. “It’s fucking excruciating. I hate that I couldn’t finish training. You’d think I’d be used to the pain by now, but–”

Instinctively, my hand reaches out to cup her cheek. I wipe a stray tear away, my chest tightening at the fact I can’t do anything to ease the pain. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about hockey. I know you have painful periods. Do you have a heating pack?”