Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
JASPER
The horn sounds with another Dallas goal. Fuck me. The home crowd goes nuts.
I don’t know what it is, but we can’t seem to get our shit together. We’re not playing our best and the goals we’ve let in prove that.
“Fuck.” I slam my stick against the boards.
“All right. Heads in the game. We’re still in this. Let’s get back out there and get some points on the board.”
Coach Andrews is nothing but positive behind the bench. Clapping me and Noah on the shoulder, he sends us out onto the ice for our shift.
Dallas swarms us immediately as we try to take back control of the game. We don’t have much to show for it as we move around the ice trying to put the puck in the net. One of our wingers gets a shot, but to no avail.
“Damn it,” I mutter, trying to chase down their center to prevent another scoring opportunity. They take a long shot on goal, but thankfully, it goes right into the glove of our goalie.
Thank God. Four goals would be near impossible to come back from. Hitting the bench, I swig some water as Marcus and Bode head out onto the ice. Marcus is able to get us on the board and give us a little momentum.
When it’s my shift again, I hop over the boards and call for the puck. It gets sent over, right into the cradle of my stick. I don’t need any fancy moves as I move down the ice.
I’ve got good luck watching me from home.
Our center is waiting at the top of the crease, and before I can get the puck off, one of their defensemen comes out of nowhere, checking me into the boards.
A nasty crunch sounds from my shoulder.
“Fuck!”
I collapse onto the ice, grabbing my shoulder to try and stave off the pain. A wave of nausea rolls through me.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
The whistle blows and the guys swarm around me.
“Are you okay?” Noah asks.
“Fuck, no,” I bite out.
“Is it your shoulder?”
I nod. “It fucking hurts.”
“Can you stand up?” Noah asks.
“Give me a second.”
I breathe through the pain as I gingerly stand up. I blow out a breath, wincing as my whole arm twinges.
“Need help getting over to the bench?”
I shake my head at Noah. “Thanks, man. I got it.”
Moving slower than I normally would, I head toward one of the trainers who is waiting for me and immediately takes me back to the locker room.
Never a good sign.
“Where’s it hurt?” he asks as we head into the visitors’ locker room.
“Shoulder.”
“Okay, let’s get you out of these pads and we’ll get an X-ray to see what’s going on.”
“Okay.”
I try not to let the pain show as he helps me out of my jersey and pads, but fuck, it hurts. There’s already bruising and swelling. Not good.
I lie on the table as he starts the process. Noise reverberates through the locker room.
Fuck. No doubt Dallas got another goal.
It is not our night tonight.
“Alright. Give me a few minutes to review these and then I’ll be back with some ice for you, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
Great. Just what I need. An injury to deal with. Maybe it won’t be as bad as I think. Just a gnarly bruise that will go away with some ice and ibuprofen. Something I can play through.
But the swelling tells me otherwise. I’ve been in the game long enough to know when things are serious.
Considering I haven’t been playing my best this season and now an injury? Fuck. This stings.
“Good news and bad news, Jasper.” The trainer comes back in. “You have a separated shoulder, but it isn’t severe.”
“Thank fuck,” I breathe out. “How long will I be out?”
“Conservative side? I’d say four weeks. At least until the All-Star break.”
Considering I’m not playing in it, that helps.
“What’s the game plan?” I ask, taking the sling from him as he helps me into it.
“Rotate between ice and heat. Ibuprofen to help with the pain and we’ll get you in for some PT to make sure you get back on the ice as soon as it heals.”
“I don’t want to be out any longer than I have to be.”
I can hear the heckles of the fans now.
Jasper Hayes can’t play hockey to save his life.
Getting injured? He doesn’t deserve to be on the team.
This is why I told Quinn I hated hockey in those early conversations. No matter what I do, it’s hard to drown out the voices of the people that are supposed to be your fans. I’ve given everything I have to this game since I was drafted by the Knights and it means nothing.
I’ve put my body on the line year in and year out, and now, it’s finally catching up with me.
“Think you can make it back to your locker and change?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’ll be okay.”
I take the ibuprofen he gives me and swallow it down without water. The bright side is that we’re heading home tonight.
Heading back to my stall, I find the guys already in there. Heads hang, telling me we lost the game.
Fuck.
We’re still looking good to clinch a playoff spot, but it’s January. It’s still early.
“How are you feeling, Jasper?” Coach Andrews asks.
“I’ve been better.” I grimace. “Separated shoulder.”
“Really?” Bode asks from his spot in the locker. “Fuck, man. I’m sorry.”
“How long will you be out?” Dax asks.
“A few weeks. Could be worse, so there’s that.”
“Damn. This sucks,” Noah grumbles. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Look.” Coach Andrews calls everyone’s attention to him.
“Tonight was not our night. I don’t want us to get too down about this.
We still have a great group of men and that will carry us through these next few weeks before the All-Star break.
Let’s rest up tonight, and tomorrow we’ll study film to see what we can improve on for the next game. ”
Guys hit the showers as I drop into my seat, not having the energy to get cleaned up at the moment.
Hell, I don’t even have the energy to grab my phone and see if Quinn texted me. Knowing her, there is a slew of messages.
“You need any help?” Dax asks.
“I’ll be okay.” I shake my head. “Just need a minute.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. Fucking sucks we lost.”
Dax winces. “Definitely not our best game of the year.”
“Hey.” Bode claps him on the shoulder. “We’ll get it back. We always do.”
We’ve been having one of the best seasons in the history of the Knights franchise. With only a dozen or so losses, our playoff standing is looking good.
Knock on wood.
“Damn right we will,” I say.
With my left arm being in a sling, I start to change as carefully as possible. It’s not easy with one arm, but it could be worse.
By the time I’m changed, I’m exhausted and ready to hit the bus. Dax grabs my bag for me and I follow him, finally taking out my phone.
I smile as I see the string of texts from Quinn.
Quinn
This game
Ouch
What is with Dallas tonight?
It’s like they’re playing for the Cup
Calm down, Dallas
It’s January
Fuck, another goal
This sucks
My smile grows wider at the play-by-play I’m getting of the game. I know the minute I left the game based on how fast the texts came in.
Quinn
OH MY GOD
Are you okay?
That hit was bad
They should have thrown him out of the game
Two minutes in the sin bin?
Please
I’ll come down there and kick his ass
See how he likes it
That has a snort coming out of me. God, I love this woman and how readily she’ll come to my defense.
Quinn
Is it your shoulder?
Your arm?
What’s wrong?
Why aren’t you texting me back?
Was it something worse?
Do you have a concussion and they aren’t saying?
Please text me back, Jasper
I’m worried
Okay, they said separated shoulder
I hope that’s all it was
The game ended fifteen minutes ago
You get another twenty before I use my pull to contact the team and find out how you are
Ten minutes, Jasper
Tick, tock
Looking at my phone, that was fifteen minutes ago. Stepping onto the bus to head to the airport, I walk straight to the back and take an empty seat and dial her number. She answers immediately.
“Thank God. Are you okay?”
“Sore and in a bit of pain, but I’ll live.”
“I was about ready to send out a search party for you.”
“No search party needed.” I smile even though she can’t see me. “Just needed to change and get to the bus so I wouldn’t be left behind.”
“No concussion or anything? They said separated shoulder, but I don’t know if they’re lying or not.”
“They weren’t lying. I’ll be out a few weeks, but hopefully I’ll be ready to go after the break.”
“Okay, good. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Not right now. Maybe I can come over tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ll take care of you. Make sure you don’t overdo it. Do you want me to go get Zucchini so you don’t have to worry about her?”
“No. Maybe she’ll help me feel better tonight. I’d come over to you, but that’s too far for me.”
“I can come to you,” she says.
“It’s late. You get some sleep and I’ll pick up breakfast on the way over.”
She laughs. “Let me guess—you’re going to bring over Frosted Flakes.”
“Have you actually tried them before?”
“Ugh. Not in years, but you’re going to make me, aren’t you?”
I smile. “Only if you want to. I was going to bring a good breakfast, but now I’m definitely making you try them.”
“Fine. Only because you’re injured.”
“Hmm. I wonder what else I could get away with.”
“That’s how it’s going to be?” Quinn asks.
“I might make you stay in and watch movies with me all day.”
“You say that like it’d be a hardship.”
“Maybe a Julie Andrews marathon.”
“Again, I’m not hearing anything that doesn’t sound fun. Curling up with you on the couch and watching movies? I’d take that any day of the week.”
“Good. Then plan on it,” I say. “I’ll bring breakfast, Zucchini, and me.”
“What else do I need?”