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Greg says something to him and he turns his head, not bothering to acknowledge me.
Good. That’s good. Because I’ll probably punch his face in. The guy didn’t apologize even though my injury was his fault. And even though I had to retire from top class hockey before I was ready to.
With a tight jaw I bring my attention back to my team, calling out their names. They look up at me and I nod at them.
“Time to go, team.”
For once they do as instructed, without me having to yell at them three times. We head to the locker room and I tell them to sit down, annoyed at how much I’m affected by Hart’s arrival.
I pinch my nose and take a deep breath, trying to get my head straight.
“Okay,” I say. “The fun’s over. Thank you for being so gracious to our guests, but now it’s time to focus on our game.”
They nod, wisely keeping quiet.
“And it’s time to think like a winning team.”
* * *
ELI
“Hart’s here,” I tell Holden, because he’s the only one I can call right now.
“What do you mean he’shere?” Holden says. “Where?”
“At the stadium. Practicing. He’s been recruited to the All Stars.”
“What? Who invited that asshole? Don’t they know what he did to you?” Holden can keep a grudge better than anybody I know.
“I guess not.” Or they don’t care. I think it’s likely the first though. I can’t see Greg inviting Hart to play just to piss me off. He’s not that kind of guy. He wants this game to be fun, to be a spectacle people will enjoy.
Otherwise, it’ll reflect badly on him.
“So what are you going to do?” Holden asks. A voice echoes – an overhead announcement in the hospital I think. He’s supposed to be off work for the next few days, taking some long-unused vacation time to come watch this game with our family.
I guess he couldn’t quite drag himself away from his patients until the last minute.
“I’m not going to do anything,” I say. “I just wanted to warn you. And ask you to warn the others that he’s here.”
My whole family will be at the game. I don’t want them being surprised by Hart coming on and playing.
“You’re still going to play though?” Holden says.
“Yeah, that’s the plan.” I have clearance from the team doctor. It’s an exhibition match and I can’t see myself being on the ice for more than thirty minutes. I want to give the whole team a chance to play. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to get revenge.”
Holden chuckles. “Good. You already ruined one knee, let’s try to keep the other one working, okay?”
“That’s the plan,” I tell him. It’s good to hear his voice.
“So I talked to Liam and Sophie last night,” Holden tells me. “They told me you and Mackenzie are getting serious.”
“Yeah we are,” I say softly, because I’m still in the stadium.
“They also told me what he got Brooks and Linc to do to your cabin.”
I roll my eyes as he laughs again. But it’s good to hear him happy. He works so hard with kids that need all the help he can offer. It’s rare that he turns off from being a doctor.
“That was fun,” I say, deadpan. “I’m still working out how to get them back.”
