Page 73 of Rookie Move
When he caught Leo watching him, his chin snapped down, allowing Leo a view of the bandages on the side of his face. “You okay, rookie?” he asked Leo suddenly.
“Yeah, sure. I’m not sure why everyone is freaking out over this hit. It’s just another day at the office.”
“Maybe ’cause you didn’t see it.” O’Doul tapped his fingers on the bench. “Looked reckless as hell. If your body had been positioned differently, coulda been ugly.”
“Good thing it wasn’t, then.” Leo took a step to the side to see how big the bandage on O’Doul was. “You okay? That looks kind of brutal.”
“’Course.” O’Doul stood up quickly. “Just a flesh wound.” His Monty Python accent wasn’t terribly accurate, but Leo wouldn’t call him on it. “Want to walk back? I don’t feel like waiting for the fucking bus.”
“Sure, why not.” Leo held the dressing room door open for O’Doul to pass through.
“Are you the last ones?” a young man with a Bruisers’ ID hanging around his neck asked in the hallway.
“Yeah, Jimbo,” O’Doul confirmed. “Thanks.”
The young man went into the dressing room they’d just vacated, probably to start packing up their gear. It felt strange to Leo to just walk away from his gear after a practice or a game. But these days it was someone else’s job to pack up his pads and his equipment and transport them to the next facility.
Weird.
He and O’Doul exited the rink via the back door near the parking lot. Leo didn’t know exactly where they were, but he could see some fans waiting over to the left, probably hoping the home team would come out and sign jerseys for them.
O’Doul pointed right, and the two of them wordlessly avoided the crowd in favor of a slightly longer walk around the exterior of the rink.
In his pocket, Leo’s phone buzzed. He drew it out, noticing that O’Doul did the same. “You get this text?” Leo asked. It was an automated message from the travel team, asking his location and whether he needed transportation.
“Yeah,” O’Doul grunted. “Just reply to it and they’ll leave you alone.”
Walking back, Leo texted.Thanks.
O’Doul shoved his Katt Phone into his pocket. “They’ve got the geolocation working all the time. If you ever rob a bank, leave the Katt Phone at home.”
“Good tip.”
“Though you must not be a criminal, or Kattenberg wouldn’t bring you on board. He’s the most sophisticated miner of data in the business, I’m told. He probably knows your shoe size, how many fillings you have, and your kindergarten teacher’s first name.”
“Millie,” Leo offered. “But I think she’s dead now.” They reached the main drag, and the hotel lights were almost on them. “Thanks for, uh, throwing down for me tonight.”
“Anytime. You’re wearing the sweater, I’m gonna have your back.”
Leo chuckled. “I know it’s not personal. You’d defend even the most irritating rookie.”
To his surprise, O’Doul gave him a playful check with his elbow and said, “You’re not even the most annoying guy on the team. Gotta work harder if you want that title.”
“Damn. Okay. I’m on it.” A man in uniform opened the hotel door for them, and they went inside.
“Night, college boy,” O’Doul said without a glance over his shoulder. Then he broke away, heading for the bar.
Leo almost followed him, because O’Doul made him curious. The dude was not easy to read. But he didn’t feel like a trip to the bar. His ribs ached, and he was too tired to drink. So he headed to the elevator instead, where he texted Georgia.Hi, honey, I’m home.It sure would be good to see her face.
As soon as he reached his room, he got out of the suit and into his favorite sweats. With the remote in hand, he climbed onto the bed and wrapped an extra blanket around his body. Only then did he tuck the ice pack they’d made him under his shirt.
Silas walked in a minute later. “Hey! How’s the ribs?”
“I’ll live. Not partying tonight? I’ll bet you won’t have to pay for any drinks.”
“I’m beat,” Silas admitted. “Long road trips really take it out of me. Imagine what would happen if I actually played.” He did a face-plant on the other bed.
Leo laughed, and then his phone buzzed with a text. He picked it up quickly, hoping to hear from Georgia. But it was his mom.Are you okay? I waited90minutes to ask. My new record.
