“So, Kylomeister, what’s happening?”Mitch Reilly said.
“Huh, I thought that was Dougie’s line,” Jai objected.
Doug Lehtonen, who had been quiet until now, shrugged.“Happy to pass on the beacon of greatness to another.Even if he’s less worthy.”
“Whoa.You saying that about Tinks or about Mitch?”
“Mitch for sure.Kyle still gets a leave pass from me.”
Mike frowned.“Are you okay, Dougie?You don’t seem yourself.”
He shrugged, but glanced away.
Kyle joined the others in raising his eyebrows.
“Dude, are you okay?”Mitch persisted.Now that man had softened a lot in the time Kyle had known him.“There’s no shame if you’re struggling.That’s what we’re here for.If you want us to pray for something, then let us know.I’m not a mind reader.”
Doug shook his head, and Jai, his captain, spoke up.“It’s been a little challenging lately.Today was JT’s birthday.”
“Oh, man.”
“I didn’t know.”
“I’m sorry.”
The quiet words said a lot about how this brotherhood was more than just hockey and jokes.People really did care, and went out of their way to pray or help in whatever way they could.When Jai and Allie Mullins had asked for the Northwest Ice posse to contribute to a fundraiser for JT’s widow, every man and significant other had stepped up.Kyle himself had contributed twenty grand for the unborn baby’s college fund.
“How is Elsa doing?”Chris asked.
Doug shook his head.“Not great.The baby is due soon and she’s struggling to find anything positive.”
“Of course.”
“Those first milestones are always the hardest,” Franklin said.
Zac nodded.“You let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.Ainsley was asking about her the other day.”
Mike nodded.“Bree said to let Elsa know that she’s praying for her.”
“Bailey did too,” Luc said.
“Thanks,” Doug rasped.“I’ll pass that on.”
Hmm.Interesting that it was Doug who seemed to be carrying more of the emotional burden of this than Jai.And while he couldn’t see Doug as being interested in a widow, it was still kind of interesting to see.
“Hey, we still haven’t heard what Kyle has been up to,” Ryan complained.“Anyone else thinks he’s holding out on us?”
“Yeah, he keeps changing the subject.”Zac smiled.
“No, I don’t.There’s just not much to say.”
“Come on.There’s always more to say,” Luc goaded.“What’s this I hear about you being treated by a pretty doctor?”
“What?What have you heard?”How had he heard?Was his encounter now part of hockey’s gossip chains?
“Aha.Here we go.Now we’re talking.Spill the tea.”
“There’s nothing to spill,” he protested.
