Page 30 of Hard Hitter
The game that night was down and dirty. Players on both teams began racking up penalties right away. She sat beside Georgia, who could barely keep still. She wasn’t the type to yell at the ref, but she did a fair amount of screaming Leo’s name.
Ari knew just from the sin bin stats that O’Doul would have to fight tonight. She was only surprised that it didn’t happen until late in the second period, when he and another big guy from the other team began circling each other. She held her breath. And when they started swinging, she watched his movements closely.
He worked hard to keep his stance loose and his lower body out of the fray. But it made him tentative. She could see it all the way across the rink. A second later, that caution cost him. The Canadian player grabbed him in a headlock and started pounding on him.
Ari had to look away. She didnotwant to see Patrick at the wrong end of a bludgeoning fist.
The crowd made a satisfied noise, and she was afraid to look. On the ice, Patrick lay very still.
“Jesus,” Georgia whispered.
Get up, Ari inwardly ordered him.Right now.
When he finally stirred some seconds later, she let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Relief only lasted a little longer, though. Because moments later she happened to see Maddy’s name light up the screen of her phone.
Honey, I’m so sorry,the message began.
NINE
O’Doul didn’t remember picking himself up from the surface of the ice. As he skated toward the bench, his ankles wobbled in an unfamiliar way. He sat down heavily, and was vaguely aware of people talking to him. The trainer hovered, asking him questions.
It’s just that he wasn’t ready to take questions just yet. Someone handed him his helmet, and only then did he realize he wasn’t wearing it.
“Let me see your face,” the trainer said.
O’Doul turned his chin to allow it because that seemed easier than arguing. He heard the sound of the velcro giving way on his neck guard. Hands probed his skin, and he gritted his teeth.
“That hurts?” Henry asked.
“No.”I just don’t like your hands on me.
“Doesn’t look too bad. We’ll need to check for concussion symptoms. How’s the hip?”
“Fine.” And it was. He’d protected his hip, and gotten slammed onto the ice for his trouble.Fuck. He hadn’t even seen it coming. That’s what he got for fighting scared.
“Come on. The doc needs to evaluate you.” Henry beckoned.
“I’m not leaving the game.”
Henry looked at the clock. There were two minutes left. “You need to be evaluated. If the doctor is impressed, you’ll be back when the overtime period starts.”
***
He was not back when the OT started. The doctor found his concussion exam inconclusive and kept him off the ice.
What happened next was open to interpretation. According to the news stories that would run the next day, their opponents got a lucky bounce off of Beacon’s leg into the net, winning the game 3–2. But O’Doul saw it differently. When he lost that fight and then left the game, he handed all the momentum over to the other guys.
Two hours later he boarded the jet for the short flight home. His head ached a little, but his ego hurt worse.
“Can’t win ’em all,” Coach Worthington had said about the fight. That’s how he knew it looked bad. Words of pity from the coach were scarce.
The first open seat on the jet was next to Ari. He took it because she wasn’t likely to update him on his score at HockeyBrawls.com. “Hi,” he said with a sigh.
“Are you...?”
He held up a hand. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Looked like it hurt.”
