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He got to the arena before anyone else. Like most athletes he knew, he had a routine that he followed before every game. His included running to loosen up then quiet time to focus and prepare. By this time, the rest of the guys would arrive, and he’d stretch and get limber.
It was what he did. Without question. Not unlike how he always wore black laces on his left skate, and white on the right.
The arena was new, and he enjoyed his run, ending with a twenty-minute work
out session in the gym. By the time the rest of the guys showed up, he was ready to go and full of nervous energy. He grabbed a Gatorade and headed out of the dressing room, his intention to walk off some of the energy before he got into his gear.
Zach rounded the corner. “Hey, I been looking for you.”
“What’s up?”
“Your family is here.”
Travis was surprised. He hadn’t talked to anyone over the last few weeks. He’d been busy, and he’d been avoiding. He thought back to several messages left on his voice mail. Messages he’d yet to listen to.
“I took them up to the lounge, but if you get your ass in gear you’ve got time to see them.”
“Thanks.” Travis rolled his shoulders and sprinted up the stairs that led to the players’ lounge. It was a luxurious suite, big enough to accommodate wives, girlfriends, and family. He strode inside, nodded to a few of the ladies he knew, and stopped when he spied his father, Darlene, and Wyatt.
“Hey,” he said gruffly, walking over to them. His dad didn’t look to great. His color was off, but he smiled and shook Travis’s hand.
“I thought I’d better get a game in before this old ticker craps out.”
“Hush,” Darlene admonished. She kissed Travis’s cheek. “Wyatt told us this game would be good, so we decided to come to the city. I hope you don’t mind. Your friend brought us up here.” She held up a wineglass and whispered, “I helped myself to wine.”
He chuckled. “That’s what it’s there for.”
Travis glanced at Wyatt. “Nice seeing you, bro. Where’s Regan?”
“She’s at the hospital.” His brother had a weird look on his face. “I guess you don’t know.”
“Know what?” Travis’s gut clenched. He knew that look was trouble.
“Ryder Montgomery. He’s not good.”
“What does that mean?” He glanced at Darlene, who was shaking her head slowly as she came up beside Travis.
“He OD’d Labor Day weekend. Apparently, it was accidental, but he’s been on life support ever since.” Wyatt’s shook his head, face grim.
Shit. Travis and Ryder weren’t close. Hell, the guy had probably jumped for joy when he left town, but still…
Darlene sighed. “Poor Ruby. She was supposed to leave for the weekend, from what I heard. Was all packed and ready to go, but then she had to rush to the hospital. He’d flatlined, but they managed to bring him back. Now he’s in a coma.” Darlene looked at Wyatt. “What did Regan tell you? What is the latest?”
“She has to make a decision this weekend.”
Wait. “This happened Labor Day weekend?”
Wyatt nodded. “Sorry, bro. I thought you would know.”
Darlene began to speak, and his father joined in. Travis had no idea what they were saying. He dropped his gaze as his mind raced. Was it possible she was coming to see him? He thought of her alone in a hospital room with her brother. A brother who was dying. A brother she had to… He glanced up sharply.
“Wyatt, what do you mean she has to make a decision?”
Wyatt shrugged. “Whether or not to pull the plug.”
No. No way. Ryder was all the family she had. How in hell was Ruby going to come back from this?
Travis looked at his family. “It means a lot. You guys being here.” His thoughts were dark and chaotic. “But I gotta go. I have to be somewhere else.”
