Page 50 of Mister Hockey
A popular meme circulated around the hockey fan sites entitled The Many Faces of Tor Gunnar.
Happy: Stoic Face
Sad: Same stoic face
Hungry: Same stoic face
In Love: Same stoic face
Apparently they could add a new listing. Star Captain Announcing Surprise Retirement: Same Stoic Face.
“Quite a day.” Tor’s gray eyes were the color of steel at dusk.
“Thanks for getting over here,” Jed said speaking fast. “I’m on my own.”
“It’s true then?” Tor closed the door behind him, wholesale ignoring Breezy and Neve. “Not another online rumor going wild.”
“I’m considering retiring from the game. Yeah. Shit. More than considering.” Jed dug his hands into his back pockets. “This is a hell of a way to break the news. I’m sorry, man. I only just decided. But—”
“Someone spilled the beans. But the source isn’t in this room,” Neve piped up.
There was an old saying that still waters run deep. Deep in the coach’s serious eyes stirred a nameless emotion when focused on her sister.
Hard to say if he wanted to kill her or kiss her.
“This is people’s lives,” he bit off. “Not a game.”
“I’m not dignifying that statement with a reply.” Neve sniffed. “My sister had nothing to do with this. Neither did I. End of story.”
“Jed...” Breezy knew there were right words for any occasion. She had read so many that had shaped her life, formed her worldview. But right now they all abandoned her. If only he’d look at her, but he fixed on the blank yellow wall as if the truth was written there.
And who knows, maybe it was. That wall could be spelling out a future doesn’t exist.
“Come on, Westy.” Tor turned for the door, shaking his head. “We can weather this at my place.”
“Don’t let the door hit you, Coach.” Neve’s tone was all sass.
He froze, his hand tightening infinitesimally on the knob before he opened it and stalked onto the porch.
“Jed.” Breezy wasn’t sure if she repeated the word, or if it was just the plea in her heart.
But he didn’t turn back around. Didn’t offer so much as a single backward glance.
He walked into the storm and when the door slammed behind all that remained was silence.
Chapter Seventeen
Breezy squeezed her eyes shut but when she opened them her living room was still the same. Neve stood in the middle of the area rug with a “what the hell just happened” look stamped on her face.
“Before you say anything. Can I see it?” Neve crossed the room and grabbed her wrist. “The hand that decked Jed West.”
“Don’t try to make a joke and make me feel better.” Breezy couldn’t laugh, cry, sigh or even yell at her sister. How was she supposed to feel? There’d been no warning the day was going to be like this. When she woke up it had been sunny. Jed had kissed every square inch of her body. It had even been a good hair day.
No sign that the universe was sending over a giant shit storm of epic proportions.
Neve walked to the window. “He’s talking to Channel Seven.”
“Should you be out there?”
