Page 124 of Ice Darling
With the last of my strength, I throw over my shoulder, “I’m late for the game. I need to go.”
“Let’s go together. I can drop you off on my way out of town,” Brennon says, walking after me.
“No!” I bark.
He stops abruptly.
“I’ll take my bike.” I know my voice is shaking like a hurricane, but it’s the best I can do.
At first, I fast-walk, and then I jog, and then I full-onrundown the apartment stairs.
I’m the tough one.
So even if it feels like the world is crumbling, I can’t allow anyone to see.
Not even for a second.
The noise in my head roars louder and louder.
My heart feels like it’s being pulled at the seams.
I’m tough.
No one can know it hurts.
Pulling my helmet on, I get on my bike, point it away from town, and drive far, far away.
Chapter Forty-Two
Renthrow
“Dude, where’s your head at? You completely missed that pass!” Theilan skates past, mean-mugging me through his helmet.
Up ahead, Watson throws both hands up in a what-the-heck gesture.
I come back to the moment and realize I’ve been out of position.Talk about embarrassing.
“Go, Daddy!”Gordie screams from the stands. “Go, Uncle Theilan! You can do it!”
Theilan waves to my daughter and then grumbles, “Get it together, man.”
The younger player takes off after the puck when Chance drives it down the line. I follow, forcing myself to remain focused on the game.
Chance tries to get creative with the play, and it doesn’t pay off. Theilan steals the puck and takes off like a gunshot. I skate to the block, racing to situate myself for the pass.
The puck shoots straight to me, and I quicken my pace to get there before everyone else. Then I pass back to Theilan and keep moving until I’m closer to where Gordie’s sitting.
She’s in the stands with my mom, Rebel, April, a few other friends. Some locals who heard about the scrimmage and had nothing better to do wandered in too.
Miss Potts is also here for reasons I don’t really care to know.
But there’s one glaringly empty seat.
As I skate, I check around the stadium. Maybe I missed her. Maybe she’s tucked into a dark corner—Bobby only flipped on the lights over the arena.
“Yo, Renthrow!”
The puck comes sailing toward me, fast. I instinctively move my stick, but it doesn’t deflect where I need it to. The puck hits the board behind me with a smack that makes my entire team groan.
