Page 16 of Rookie Move
Letting Georgia go was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. And he’d only been able to manage it because he was sure it would help her be happy again. He hated wondering if she’d become a bitter person since they were together.
If she wasn’t happy, he was going to need to know why.
Leo didn’t spot her in the crowd, though. Maybe she wasn’t needed on open practice days. As the new guy, he had no clue how the organization worked. It was hard to say how long he’d be in Brooklyn. But one thing he knew for sure—he was going to talk to her, and soon. He didn’t want to leave here without knowing if she was okay. The next time he spotted her, he planned to ask for a little of her time.
When he reached the locker room, it was already loud, the guys busy with their smack talk and teasing. As the new guy, he stripped off his pads in silence, replaying the practice in his mind. His effort today had been truly solid. And he’d been having a great season with the Muskrats, so he was in top shape.
All he could do was persevere, and hope the right people noticed.
Silas, the backup goalie, sat down beside Leo. “Hey, you did all right out there. But you weren’t joking. Coach is not your biggest fan, eh?”
“Is it that obvious?” Leo pulled off his skates.
“You got a plan?”
“Skate my ass off. And avoid signing a long-term lease.”
Silas laughed. “Where are you living, anyway?”
“Dunno. Got any suggestions? My folks are less than an hour from here, but that’s probably too far. Can you imagine if I’m late for practice because I’m sitting on the LIE? That’s not what I need. Though Coach is coming from the same neighborhood. Maybe if I offer to be his chauffeur, he’ll like me more.”
“Offer towashthe car.” Silas snickered. “And maybe paint his house. Anything to keep on his good side.”
O’Doul came to a halt in front of their bench. “Watch yourself,” he said to Silas. “The college boy doesn’t like advice.”
Well, damn. “Look, I’m sorry about yesterday. I’m calm on the ice, but not so good in a room full of reporters,” Leo offered. He’d said the same thing yesterday after that disaster of a press conference, but O’Doul had flipped him off and walked away.
“No big,” Doulie said now, his mouth grim. “I don’t get offended. But seems like our new fearless leader doesn’t like you much. That’s your real problem.”
Apparently nobody in the universe had missed it. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
O’Doul gave him one more ornery look and stalked off to the showers. The guy was awfully hard to read. He seemed to work hard projecting a laid-back image, but Leo was pretty sure the captain was wound tighter than a drum.
“Shit,” Silas said. “It won’t help if he can’t stand you either.”
Leo privately doubled the workout he was going to dotomorrow morning. He’d better impress everyone. Immediately. “What time does the practice facility open?”
“Seven. But before you lift there’s yoga.”
“There’s... did you sayyoga?”
Silas grinned. “Welcome to Brooklyn, man. Don’t worry. You’ll only look like an awkward chicken the first twenty times. And it’s not like they’re gonna make you do a beet juice cleanse afterward.”
“Whatever. I’ll be there.” If the Bruisers did Jell-O wrestling or Falun Gong, then he’d do it, too.
“Look—I got an idea for you,” Silas said. “The guy you replaced on our roster was renting a room in my place on Water Street. That’s two blocks from here. Now that he’s gone, I’m out the cash. I’d give you his spot without a lease, because I can’t really afford the place alone—I’m on a two-way contract. Getting paid minor league money until they pop the question.”
“Huh. Two blocks away?” That sounded like a slam dunk.
“Yeah, the commute is awesome. But you should still think it over. You might not want to say yes.”
“Why? You snore? You have a thing for disco music?”
Silas shook his head. “Negative. It’s just that the room has kind of a revolving door on it. You’d be the fourth guy in there in as many months.”
Leo chuckled. “It’s cursed? Take Silas’s second bedroom, and get booted from the Bruisers?” That was silly. But...fourguys?
“People believe in stupider shit than that,” the goalie pointed out.
