Page 94 of Forever Wild
Me
MISS YOU!
I type back the reply before clicking on the link she sent. It takes me to an interview with Jack. He’s in the Wildcat locker room wearing a black fitted T-shirt and a backward hat. He’s sweaty like he just finished practice or a workout.
The reporter stands next to him, holding a microphone.
“Good to see you out there on the ice today,” the reporter says.“What was it like being out during the playoffs last season?”
I tense. What an asshole question. Jack plays it cool, but there’s aslight shift in his body language like maybe he’s tense too and trying not to show it.
“It was tough,” Jack says. He looks down at the ground instead of at the reporter or camera.“I felt like I let down my teammates and the fans. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I’d be back at all, so I’m really grateful to be here. I don’t take any of this for granted. The past few months have been some of the worst and best times. The people that showed up for me, my teammates, coaches, medical staff…I can’t say how much it meant to me. I wasn’t an easy person to be around.”
The reporter chuckles softly.“It had to be hard to watch the team struggle. This is your team after all. This is your fourteenth season with the Wildcats and sixth as captain.”
“This is home,”he says.“I can’t imagine playing anywhere else.”
“We’re all looking forward to watching you this season,”the reporter says.“Last question, on a scale of one to ten, how excited are you to play in front of the home crowd next weekend?”
“There is no number that captures how ready I am.”
“The fans are ready too. Thanks for chatting with me, Jack. Care to give a shout out to all the medical staff and coaches that put up with you while you weren’t so easy to be around?”He grins as he uses Jack’s words.
I hate that this guy is trying to joke around about something so serious. Jack is handling it way better than I would. I wonder if James is having a coronary over this interview.
“A lot of people helped me get back here, but there is one person in particular who gave me a kick in the butt when I needed it most. It’s safe to say she saved me.”
I think I stop breathing as his words register.
The reporter is grinning wide.“It sounds like we all should be indebted to this person then. Care to thank her by name?”
Jack shakes his head but lifts his chin ever so slightly so I can see his eyes. He glances sideways toward the camera as he says,“No. I think I’ll keep that to myself, but she knows who she is. Thank you.”
I watch it twice, throat thick with emotion from seeing him and hearing him thank me.
Bridget
He’s talking about you, right?
Me
Or Sandra.
Bridget
Who?
Me
No one.
Bridget
Have you talked to him?
Me
To say what?
