“I should’ve been faster.” I’m wearing a path on the floor. “Should’ve gotten to him sooner. Before it escalated.”
“You couldn’t have known?—”
“I was right there. Right fucking there.” My phone is in my hand.I check it again. Nothing. “And now Zach’s not responding to any of my texts.”
Juliette sits up, watching me pace. “How many times have you texted him?”
“I don’t know. Five? Six?” I type out another message.
Almardon. Talk to me. Are you okay?
“Fuck.” I run my hand through my hair. “He’s my best friend and he won’t even answer me.”
“He’s probably processing?—”
“He’s blaming himself.” I know him. Know how his brain works. “He’s sitting in his apartment right now torturing himself over those two goals. Convincing himself he cost us the game.”
“Did you tell him that’s not true?”
“Of course I did. But he won’t believe it. Not from me. Not from anyone.” I check my phone again. Still nothing. “He’s going to spiral and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
She’s quiet for a moment. Then says, “Go see him.”
I stop pacing. “What?”
“Go see him. Right now. Don’t text. Just go knock on his door. He only lives four floors down.”
“He won’t answer.”
“Then knock until he does.” She gets out of bed and crosses to me. “He’s your best friend. He needs you. Even if he doesn’t know it yet.”
“I should stay with you?—”
“I’m fine. I’m going to sleep.” She cups my face gently, careful of the bruising. “But Zach needs you more than I do right now.”
I look at her. At the understanding in her eyes. At how she always knows exactly what I need even when I don’t.
“You sure you’ll be okay alone for a bit?”
“I’m sure. Go.” She pushes me gently toward the door. “Anddon’t come back until you’ve talked to him. Actually talked. Not just texted.”
I grab my keys and hoodie. At the door, I turn back.
She’s standing there in one of my t-shirts, arms crossed, looking at me with so much faith it hurts.
I cross back to her and press a kiss to her forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Now go be a good friend.”
She’s right. He needs me.
And I’m not letting him spiral alone.
But as I walk down the hallway, I think about what I’m leaving behind in that room.
Juliette. Waiting for me even when everything else is falling apart.
Six months ago, I was just a guy chasing a championship. Hockey was everything. The only thing that mattered.
