Page 74 of Gap Control

He looked at me. "That's the only reason you're holding back?"

"Trying to protect your mouth from mine." That was part of it, but the truth? I didn't want to ruin the quiet.

Twenty minutes later, TJ declared, "Snack break."

I was about to suggest the vending machine when we heard footsteps pacing outside our door. TJ padded over and cracked it open.

"Monroe?" he called softly.

"Oh, hey." Monroe appeared and stepped into our room, still in his team-issued sweats, hair sticking up at odd angles. "You guys settling in okay?"

"Yeah, man. What's up?"

Monroe glanced over his shoulder, then back. "Look, this might be weird, but... Mercier's kind of having a moment. I don't know what to do with him."

I sat up straighter on the bed. Mercier, our goalie, was our rock. Steady, unflappable, the guy who'd talk you through a panic attack while making perfect saves. If he was struggling...

TJ crossed his arms over his chest. "What kind of moment?"

"I don't know. He's been staring at his phone for about an hour, won't eat, and keeps muttering about letting people down. I tried talking to him, but..." Monroe shrugged helplessly. "You know how he gets."

TJ didn't hesitate. "Send him down."

I blinked. Monroe blinked.

"Seriously?" Monroe asked.

"Yeah. Give us fifteen, then send him over."

Monroe nodded and disappeared back down the hall. TJ closed the door and turned back to me, expression shifting from decisive to slightly sheepish.

"Was that okay? I just figured—"

"That was..." I searched for words. I'd never seen TJ take charge like that. Not with authority and that brand of quiet confidence. "Yeah. That was good."

While we waited for Mercier, I asked, "Have I ever told you how I made the Traverse City roster?"

He shook his head. Not a big gesture—just enough to let me know he was listening.

"I wasn't supposed to. They had a guy lined up already—big name. Great stats. He pulled a groin in the last week of preseason. I got called up to fill in—emergency depth." I hesitated. "They said I had good effort. Coach liked my discipline."

TJ didn't say anything, and I didn't need him to.

"But the whole time, I knew I was the backup plan. Even after the guy came back, they kept me on. Probably because I didn't screw up too badly, but I wasn't who they wanted. I was what they could afford."

I paused, fingers absently brushing my lip again.

"That didn't start with hockey. It's kind of been the pattern for me." My voice sounded small in the dim room. "Group projects in school—last picked. I had a neighbor once, and we were in the same Sunday league. His mom told mine she felt bad for me, so she made him carpool with me."

I let out a quiet laugh. "I thought we were friends. Turns out, I was a pity ride."

A soft knock interrupted our conversation.

TJ glanced toward the door. "That'll be him."

I sat up slowly, ribs protesting. "You sure about this?"

"No, but he needs help, and we're here."

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