Jules had been very subdued when we said goodbye this morning, but I didn’t want to pressure her into sharing what she was feeling. She was going through a lot and she didn’t need me adding to it.
I had a jam-packed day. Smitty and I were helping Max organize a tournament at the League this week for the U15’s. My time was split between helping Max organize shit and keeping scouts happy.
I wasn’t a big fan of the schmoozing; it had never been my thing, I just liked playing hockey. But having played in the NHL, I could just stand there and nod and smile here and there and they accepted me. I ended up bragging about my team more often than not, telling them they’ll have some awesome guys to watch out for in a couple of years.
I kept checking my phone all day but hadn’t heard anything from Jules.
I figured the next best was Canyon. I had gifted him an iPhone a couple of weeks ago. Jules was a little iffy about giving it to him, but I assured her it didn’t have internet abilities- it was only to make calls and texts. I thanked God I gave it to him because I wanted him to be able to reach out to me if Kevin ever came around. I told him so much before I had left this morning.
When Jules was getting ready, I snuck off to Canyon’s room.
I wanted to tread lightly with the topic, reminding myself that I didn’t know the full story. I decided to make my directions to him very vague.
I shook him slightly.
He rubbed his eyes open, “Coach?”
“Hey, bud. Make sure you call me if you or your mom ever need me, okay? I’ll drop everything. Your mom might be too proud to call, so you make the call. Sound good?”
He nodded firmly, still rubbing his eyes. “It’s like the crack of dawn,” he complained and turned to go back to bed.
Canyon recently replied to my text saying that Troy was sleeping over and that’s Jules was in the kitchen with Troy’s mom.
That eased my worry. She was probably just busy.
Max invited all the parents and coaches to Benny’s after the last game, and I figured I’d go… until Jules texted me at least. Well, I hoped she would text me again…
“Coming to Benny’s?!” One of the assistant coaches of the U15 team named TJ called out to me across the lobby. TJ was only about 26 or 27 and he was still trying to make it in hockey. He was on an AHL team’s roster but was out for a couple weeks with a knee injury. Max was letting him use the League to train in exchange for some coaching. TJ was a couple years younger, but he was always around the rink growing up.
“Yeah man,” I slapped him five as he came nearer. “I just have to put some shit from the tournament in my car real quick and then I’ll be in,” I told him.
“Awesome, need any help?” He asked with eager eyes.
“You want to help take shit to my car?” I asked dubiously. No way the kid actually wanted to help with such a mundane task.
He rubbed a hand through his pretty boy hair, “I’m having lady troubles and Max said he passed the torch to you,” he said sheepishly.
I laughed at that, “No, bro, I’m still having some troubles of my own. Paige is who you actually want to talk to,” I pointed out.
He cut his eyes over to Benny’s, “It’s not weird to ask her?”
“She is the expert, man. Max is just the front man. The security guard to the love doctor, if you will,” I chuckled. “But if you want to help me…?”
He grimaced and looked toward Benny’s again.
“Go get help, kid,” I told him. He nodded distractedly and walked off.
I exited the rink and was making my way toward my car, juggling a hockey bag of shit and trays of empty water bottles.
The other team’s bus just pulled out of the parking lot, leaving it pretty empty. Most of the parents were still in the rink. The lot would be full soon, busy with parents leaving after getting their fill of chatting about the game with each other.
I set the water bottle trays down by my car to open the trunk.
What’s funny, is that I heard it before I felt it: The sound of a crack as I looked at the pavement.
Then pain came.
Shocking, horrible pain around my head.
My vision started to swim in and out as I staggered to stay upright.
I caught a massive whiff of what smelled like a brewery and I heard someone yelling at me from the back. I couldn’t make out any words though, they all sounded like they were coming from underwater.
I tried to stand back up straight and turn to face them, but couldn’t because somehow, I didn’t know where the ground was.
My first thought was that I wasn’t supposed to have any more head injuries.
But I was on the cement then, looking under my car, and black bled into my vision on all sides.
