“No.”
“Okay, Jason. Come on down tomorrow. Tanaka wants you back.”
“Can I come now?”
Coach sighs. “Sure.”
I grab my things and head for the arena.
Finally, I reach the locker room. The other guys must be training on the ice, and I change quickly, then join them.
No one rushes to me. There’s no celebratory banner, and no one flings glitter. There’s not a single we’re-so-glad-you’re-alive sign.
But everyone notices my return.
Heads turn to me. Troy doesn’t block a puck from Noah, and it sails into the net.
“Jason has requested to join our training,” Coach Holberg announces. “He has permission.”
The other guys avert their gazes, and the air heavies with their unhappiness.
They still blame me for Dmitri’s departure, I’m sure.
Finally, Evan skates toward me. “Welcome back, Larvik. Glad you’re safe.”
He extends his fist out, bro-man style, and I bump it.
He grins.
No one else does. Vinnie glares from a corner, likes he’s a leopard poised to leap on me and dismantle me bite by bite should he deem my behavior bad.
“Were you really lost on a tropical island?” Noah asks.
“Yes.”
“That must have sucked,” Finn says.
I nod.
The others continue to eye me.
I hate it.
“I have something to say,” I announce.
The others flick their gazes around. Some of them have queasy expressions on their faces.
“Sure,” Coach says. “Just don’t take too long. This is practice.”
“Right. Of course.” I nod too many times.
Everyone continues to stare at me, and heat prickles the back of my neck.
“I’m sorry,” I finally stutter out. “I’m so sorry.”
Some gazes soften. Others harden.
I’m not acting particularly reassuring that I’m good for this team.
