Page 23 of The Tryout

He laughs me off.

“Nah, not really. Just enough to order food.”

That seems…not really true, but I decide not to push it.

“So you were telling me about your apartment.”

“I was?”

“Yeah, in the car. You said it’s close to the arena, I bet that’s nice. Do you have a roommate?”

Oh, right. This.

“Yeah. Or, I mean, I did. Matt Poulin?”

It looks like he’s trying to place the name, then it clicks.

“Oh, damn, he’s in Phillie’s system now, right?”

I nod.

“So you gonna replace him?”

I shrug, looking at his easy, open face for a moment. What the hell.

“Honestly? I’d kind of hoped I’d be in Minneapolis and wouldn’t have to deal with it.”

He laughs, a real laugh that echoes in this small space. As if to save me from the conversation, Mr. Tran arrives with a tray full of food, sitting it all down on the table in front of us. Sure enough, there is a lot of food here.

Again, Avery starts walking me through it, pointing out soups and noodle dishes and spring rolls. I grab one of the soups, carefully using the spoon to bring the hot liquid to my lips.

Damn, this is good.

Avery is sitting there, looking at me.

“Is it…okay? We can get something else if you want.”

“No! It’s great. Thanks for ordering.”

With the food here, my post-practice hunger is starting to hit hard. Before long, the soup is half gone, along with every spring roll on the table.

“So…you like it?”

Mouth full of noodles, I give him a thumbs up.

“You know, I’m not where I thought I’d be either.”

Uh oh. This feels like a serious conversation, and here I am with a mouth full of noodles. I try to look serious and nod.

“I mean, a few years ago I was gearing up for the draft and then bam. One bad hit and I’m in surgery.”

I swallow the noodles, trying not to choke on them.

“Surgery?” I ask, voice a bit hoarse.

He looks at me, confused.

“Didn’t Jamie tell you?”