AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I worry about the ramifications of last night. I don’t know how much money she had saved for tuition, but I can guess that any amount going missing would be a major setback.
Winter recovers and makes a nice pass, but her teammate misses the opportunity to score. My dad returns to the bench when Winter gets called off the ice and leans in to talk to her as she takes a seat. Her eyes stay locked on the game, and her jaw tics, but she nods, as though she’s agreeing with whatever he says. I wonder if this is something she’s used to doing—being agreeable so she doesn’t rock the boat. Not to mention being afraid to lose this opportunity. Winter glances over her shoulder and gives me a small smile, but she looks tired and anxious.
Her knee bounces a few times as she turns back to the game, and she keeps pulling at the chinstrap of her helmet, like it’s too tight. One of her teammates pats her shoulder, maybe in reassurance.
Winter rotates back onto the ice as our team gains control of the puck. She passes to her teammate and skates behind the net, staying in control in the crease. It’s a great setup, but I see what Winter can’t, and that’s the opposition coming up from behind, looking to get between Winter and the boards. The player moves in tight to Winter, causing her to lose her focus and her balance. One second the puck is kissing Winter’s blade, the next she’s sprawled across the ice, taking the opposition down with her.
Winter gets to her knees, gloved hand going to her face. Red spatters her white and black jersey and dots the ice under her. She touches her chin, face contorting in a grimace.
“Shit, she’s injured.” I start to stand, but realize I can’t do anything. Besides, she’s not the type who likes to be fawned over, especially under these circumstances.
The refs call the play, and the buzzer sounds.
Winter yanks off her gloves and spins around, as if she’s looking for someone to go after. Thankfully the ref and her teammates have surrounded her. Fern Harmer, the team captain, steers her toward the bench, and the opposition gets a penalty for interference. Blood drips from Winter’s chin, leaving a trail on the ice. A thin stream travels down her throat and soaks into her jersey. Her eyes are on fire.
Once she’s on the bench, my dad is there, helping unclip her helmet while the action on the ice is paused.
Winter takes the wad of tissues Uncle Alex hands her and dabs at her chin while he and my dad inspect the wound and the team doctor steps in. I can’t hear the conversation, but all my time spent at an arena means I’m pretty good at reading lips. Winter’s body language reads tension and worry.
She tips her head back for the doctor. Even from here, I can see she needs stitches. When the team doctor echoes that thought, Winter’s eyes widen. She shakes her head, but after more back and forth, she finally follows Dr. Fellows down the hall to the therapy rooms, where he’ll presumably stitch her up.
Dad watches her leave, and his eyes catch mine. I have questions, but they’ll have to wait until after the game.
Winter returns halfway through the next period with fresh gauze on her chin, but they don’t rotate her into the game. She gives me a chin tip when the team heads for the dressing room, but doesn’t acknowledge me otherwise. I have to guess she’s upset about being benched after the injury. Our team won by one goal, which is awesome, but I’m sure Winter would have liked to be a bigger contributor to that win.
I stop by the offices so I can catch up with my dad once he’s done giving the team a pep talk. I stretch out on the chair in the hall to wait. The next thing I know, he’s shaking me awake.
“You waiting on me?”
“Yeah. Just wanted to make sure Winter’s okay.” I didn’t tell him about last night, partly because it isn’t my place. I don’t want to betray Winter’s confidence.
“She’s all stitched up. Doc says no concussion, but she’ll have a headache, and she’ll need to take it easy.” My dad rubs his beard. “She was worried about the cost of treatment. She didn’t realize the medical forms she signed meant she has full coverage.”
Healthcare is one of the biggest perks of being on the team. “Is that all she’s worried about?”
“She’s concerned about proving her worth to the team from the bench.”
“She’s used to opportunities slipping through her fingers, and she doesn’t like to ask for help.” And last night proved that her fears are valid.
Dad leans against the wall, his expression pensive. “I met her mother at the diner yesterday.”
“I know. She hadn’t told her parents she was playing for the women’s team.”
His brow furrows. “Well, that explains her mom’s reaction when I asked if she was coming to watch Winter play today. Fuck. I wish I’d known that.”
“It’s a small town. They would have found out eventually.”
“Still. She didn’t say anything about it today.” He strokes his beard.
“She holds her cards close to the vest.” I tap on my knee, restless.
“What’s going on, BJ? What aren’t you saying?”
I bite my lip, debating. “I don’t want to betray Winter’s confidence, but financial constraints are only part of the problem. Maybe talk to Logan.”
He strokes his beard again. “Is she in danger?”
“Seems like a lot of words are being thrown around in that house, but I don’t know if that’s where it ends. She can hold her own, but she shouldn’t have to.” And the whole stealing her tuition money says a lot about her dad.
