Page 103 of The Tape Job
“Could I just—”
But Coach stares at me as if I’m asking him to donate his life savings to junior hockey. I have no choice but to follow him into his office, hoping he’ll make it quick.
He nods at the empty seat in the corner. The walls are full of various memorabilia, and there are bits of paper everywhere except for the space at the centre of his desk. He sits in his chair and rests his elbows on the surface, rubbing his hands through his hair before letting out a sigh.
“If I smoked, I’d be having a cigarette now,” he says. “But I just wanted to check in with you. Johnny said you’ve been having a hard time with your father, and I know he’s felt it, too—even if he doesn’t talk about it. Do you know if he’s looking after himself? I appreciate this is a tough question since you don’t actually have to tell me anything, but that Johnny Koenig is not the same Johnny Koenig I gave the ‘C’ to. I have a duty of care for my guys, and I hope he takes the rest time seriously. When he comes back—”
“Rest time?” I ask, knittingmy brows.
“Yeah, he requested some leave. He’ll be back to play next weekend, but he’ll be missing practice for the rest of the week.” Coach makes small talk for a few minutes before telling me to look after myself, standard ‘I’m done talking’ for him.
After leaving Coach’s office, I head directly to the dressing room. I knock once and peek inside.
“Where’s Johnny?” I ask into the room, but I already know he’s not here.
“He took off, but he said he’ll call you,” Ryan says, pulling a t-shirt over his head.
As soon as I lock eyes with him, I remember Jen. “Actually, Ryan, can I borrow you for a sec?”
Liam gives me a questioning look as Ryan comes to the door.
“Jenna called. You need to go. Now.”
His face changes and he knows exactly what I’m talking about. “What did she say? Is there a cancellation or—”
“Yes. Go.”
“Lee. Let’s go,” he says before turning to me. “You should come, too. We need witnesses.”
***
On the way home, I get Liam to stop at a gift shop so I can buy one of those obnoxious balloons that says ‘Just Married’ in the shape of a car. I also get a tonne of confetti and some banners before heading home to decorate our apartment.
“I can’t believe I just witnessed my brother getting married whilst wearing his runners,” Liam says. He’s standing on Ryan’s side of the bed, holding up his side of a banner while I pin mine to Jen’s side. “I’m glad things changed for us because I’d want a huge, fancy wedding. That was fucking dreadful.”
“Keep your opinions to yourself. Did you see how happy they were?”
Liam frowns. I didn’t realise he cared so much.
I finish putting up the banners before emptying the confetti over their bed. I leave the balloon in the corner of the room so they’ll see it as soon as they come in.
When I head into the living room, my phone rings. It’s Johnny.
“I’m okay, Vic. I’m just feeling exhausted, and I need a break,” he says when I ask how he is.
“Where did you go after the suit fitting?”
“I just needed to get away,” he says. Then I ask why he paid my rent and why he changed his locks. I feel like it’s a game of twenty questions without him giving me answers.
“Look, I’ll talk to you another time. Just trust me on this, will you? I know I’ll miss Ladies’ Night, and I’m sorry, but trust me.”
Leaving me with more questions than answers, he hangs up.
“Do you want pasta or potatoes?” Liam asks as I walk into the kitchen.
“I’m not hungry,” I say.
“Johnny will be fine, Vic. Just give him space. Remember when he broke up with Sarah?” Johnny’s last girlfriend, Sarah, caused a huge emotional impact on Johnny, and I remember it well. But I stare ahead, deep in thought. “Pasta it is,” Liam says, leaning down and kissing my forehead. “I’ll bring it through when it’s ready. Just be prepared to give him a lot of time,” he says.
