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Remi made a fist and Lay jumped out of the way.
“Remi, it’s fine,” Coach said. “Look, guys, I can’t have anything change around here. We’re a hockey team. We’re here to play. We’re here to win. We’re here to fight. I can’t have you guys looking at me and acting different. This is work.”
“Of course it,” I said. “But your wife isn’t wrong in this, Coach. If this is what she wants. She wants to be strong and show everyone what’s going on. She could end up helping a lot of people. Women. Men. Young and old. Think about what she’s going to show to your kids too.”
“That’s my fear,” Coach said. “I don’t want this to be a sad story. I don’t want tears and tragedy following me around. Or my kids around. And if she dies…”
“Hey!” Abel snapped. “Don’t fucking say that, Coach!”
“Excuse me?” Coach asked.
“I refuse to hear that,” Abel yelled. “I’ve got a daughter. I’ve got a wife. I’ve got my entire life to take care of them. Just like you have to do now for your family, Coach. Nobody is giving up and nobody is dying.”
I swallowed hard.
Coach nodded. “I appreciate this from you all.”
“We’ve got your back, Coach,” Riff said. “We’re a team and we’re family.”
“Don’t take this on the ice,” Coach said.
“Don’t trash your office,” Remi said.
“Deal,” Coach said. “I think I’m going to go home.”
“Give Carrie love from us,” I said.
“But not Lay,” Matias said.
“Definitely not Lay,” Coach said with a smile.
He pointed to the door, and we waited for Remi to make the first move.
When he exited first, the rest of us followed.
Back in the main part of the locker room, we were all mostly quiet.
The mood was shocked and somber.
“I’ve got to get out of here,” Abel said. “I’ve got to get home to Wren and Izzy.”
Abel stormed out of the locker room and Remi went after him.
“This is fucking insane,” Riff said. “All of it.”
“It sucks,” Reid said.
“We have to be there for Coach,” Matias said.
“He doesn’t want us to pity him,” I said. “Remember that. Same with Carrie, Mike Jr., and Lizzy.”
My phone vibrated in my bag.
A text from Madison waited for me.
How’s practice? Better without me taking your picture?
I smiled and my thumbs moved across the screen as I replied.
