Page 44 of Power Move
Remy moves the massage to my neck and the base of my skull. “We’ve got you.”
The worries roll out of me. “I’m scared I’ll lose my spot on the team. What if the fracture doesn’t heal right, and my hand is messed up for months? What if Rhys and I can’t be together onthe same team? I can’t go through fights like this every time he disagrees with a decision I’ve made.”
“You’ve been playing together for a few months, and this is the first time that’s happened. I think his emotions are higher because Chad was involved.” The mattress dips as Morgan shifts to sit beside me. “But you know that if any of those things happen, you still have us. We’d take care of you.”
I lean into him and into Remy. “Thank you. Maybe we can spend the rest of the night figuring out how much stick tape I’ll need.”
I need to be able to play. I have to prove to Rhys and the team that I’m able to handle anything that comes my way.
CHAPTER 12
RHYS
The alarm clock’sblare yanks me from sleep. I roll over, wincing at the screaming protest in my shoulder and back. At least my head isn’t pounding anymore.
The mattress dips behind me, and with a rustle of blankets, the alarm silences.
Sage came back?
Our fight last night was a mess. I’m still angry and worried about his hand. We need to talk, and I’m not sure what to say.
Pressing my hand into the mattress, I push up and turn over.
Maxim sits beside me, the blanket pooled in his lap, his sleep mask askew on his forehead. “You have to start using your phone for your alarm. No one needs to wake up to that awful beeping. There are better options.”
Surprise that he’s here and disappointment that Sage is not, hit me in equal measures. He came in last night after Sage left and sat with me. I remember him being here when I drifted off. “You stayed?”
“Your boyfriend asked me to.” He gets out of bed, adjusting his sweatpants. “He was worried. I was too. How are you feeling?”
“Not awesome. At least nothing’s torn or broken this time.” Just deep bruising that makes every movement hurt. I rub my hands over my face. “Chad’s a piece of shit.”
He opens the curtains, flooding the room with light. “I texted Phil and Gio after the game and asked them to do some digging. They know some guys on Chad’s previous team.”
“Okay…?”
“Chad blames you for his getting traded from Vancouver, and his resulting tour of the minors, instead of taking responsibility for his own actions. By all accounts, he’s a bitter man and a shit teammate. And I’d like to add, a mediocre hockey player who coasted by on some talent, but never put the work in, and deserves everything he gets.”
I’m torn between pity and disbelief. “Fuck.”
“Yeah. So, score one for my intuition being bang on once again.” He raises his fist in the air. “Do you need help getting up?”
“I think I can manage.” I push off the blanket and see I’m still wearing the shirt and pants from last night. Taking that shirt off and putting another on won’t be fun. Swinging my legs to the floor is okay. The bedside table gives me leverage to stand.
Maxim watches me, his arms crossed over his chest. “What happened with Sage?”
“I don’t know if I want to talk about that right now.” I shuffle to the bathroom. After I do my business, I load up my toothbrush and return to find Maxim hasn’t moved an inch.
He cocks an eyebrow. “Sage was upset when he left last night.”
With a sigh, I finish scrubbing my teeth, then rinse. “We both were. We had an argument.”
“I know that much. These walls aren’t that thick.”
I unzip my suitcase and pull out a fresh tee, joggers, and socks. Lifting my shirt up is a struggle. Maxim catches the hem and does the work for me. “Thanks.”
“Talk.” He slaps the new shirt against my chest.
Scowling, I rub my left pec. “Ow.”
