Page 76 of Mind Pucked
More than that, I just can’t get over the fact that she suspected it was me who killed Lyla, and who had killed Preston. She knew the body wasn’t found…she didn’t think I had him tied up somewhere for two years or something…did she?
I shake my head as my phone rings. I look at it, praying it’s not Amelia, though I don’t know why it would be. I nearly choke when I see it’s Coach calling.
“Oh boy, the time has drawn nigh,” I say out loud sarcastically as I pick up the phone. “Hey, Coach,” I say, trying to sound casual.”
“Hey, Jackson,” he says. “I was wondering if this is a good time to talk for a minute?”
My heart begins to beat faster. This is it…either he’s going to lecture me, fire me, or something bad has happened and he’s calling to tell me. I can’t win for losing.
“Sure, I have a minute,” I tell him, though in truth it seems as though I have way longer than that.
“Good,” he says. “I was just wondering if you might be available for a quick meeting with me and a few of the guys in the locker room this evening. I just need to go over a few things.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, hoping that if this is about me, he’ll say so.
I need to know what to prepare for.
“Yeah, sure, just wanting to talk over a few things is all,” he says, but I don’t know that I buy it.
“What time, Coach?” I ask him.
“Let’s say six,” he says. “The ice is open tonight so that should work just fine.”
“Works for me,” I say. “See you at six.”
“See you at six,” he agrees, and then the line goes blank when he hangs up.
I look at my phone for a moment, dumbfounded. I guess I called that one. I don’t know for sure what this little meeting is all about, but if it’s just a few of the guys, I worry it’s some sort of intervention.
I sigh as I sit back and reach for my beer. I hate that I’ve started drinking so early, but with Hayden at a playdate with some of the guys’ kids and wives, I figured I had the time. Now, as it turns out…I have exactly four hours to sober up.
I chug the remaining beer before taking it to the kitchen and throwing the can in the trash.
I look around and see Amelia everywhere. She organized this place and made it into a home fit for Hayden.
I sigh again as I walk out to the back yard. Even here, Amelia is everywhere. I think about Hayden falling, and what I said to Amelia about not being her mom. Now I know that the whole time, Amelia was sure I was involved in the death of Hayden’s mom, and it feels so much worse.
I sit on one of the swings and drop my head into my hands. I need to get my shit together, that much I know to be true.
A few hours later, and after checking to be sure Hayden can stay with Quinn, I’m driving to the rink. My buzz is gone and now I’m just numb.
I pull in a few minutes before six. It’s hard to see who’s here since the parking lot is massive and goes all around the building. The whole team could be here and I wouldn’t know it.
Resigning myself to my fate, I get out of the car and head into the rink. I can already hear the voices of Coach and a couple of the guys as I make my way to the locker room.
I take a gulp before entering.
Coach is sitting at one of the tables that flank the massive room. Oliver, Felix, Vaughn, and Benjamin are with him.
Damn. I shake my head. These are my best guys.
I know now this has to be some sort of beat-Jackson-down meeting, but as much as I know that, I know they can tell something is up with me, though I haven’t said anything to anyone about what happened between Amelia and me, or what she told me about Pres…or any of it.
“Hey, guys,” I say as I turn one of the chairs around and sit in it backward like both Felix and Oliver are doing.
“Hey, man,” Oliver says, reaching over to fist-bump me.
“Hey,” Felix says, tipping an imaginary hat which brings a smile to my face.
