Chapter 27 Logan
LOGAN
I do a quick hit with the broadcast crew on my way into the dressing room, grinning from ear to ear.
“This is a hard barn to play in, every single time, yeah.”
“They made us work for those goals, and we rose to that challenge. It felt good.”
“Looking forward to the game in Anaheim tomorrow, absolutely.”
I wrench off the headset, hand it to the producer, and head into the dressing room just in time to hear Stevo holler, “Let’s go, boys!” His voice echoes off the concrete walls as he bangs his stick against the floor. “That’s how we do it!”
I can’t stop smiling as I peel off my jersey, my body still thrumming with adrenaline. We dominated a playoff team on their home ice.
“Granger, you were flying out there tonight,” Toth says, reaching over to fist-bump me.
Wilson appears in the doorway, his expression less sour than usual.
“Good effort tonight. Took advantage of our opportunities. That’s the kind of hockey we need to play consistently, and it’s worth celebrating.
” He pauses, and I brace for the but. It doesn’t come.
“Don’t get into too much trouble tonight. ”
The room erupts in surprised appreciation as he disappears.
“Holy shit, did Coach just give us a night off?” someone asks.
“Don’t jinx it,” the back up goalie mutters.
I thunk my head back against the visitor stall. That fucking asshole.
Everyone else thinks Wilson is gifting us a reward.
I know he’s giving me an impossible choice.
He just set it up so the team should go out and celebrate my two goals tonight.
It would be real fucking weird if I ditched them.
And if they get up to trouble, it’ll be my fault tomorrow.
Either because Coach will learn about it, or they’ll play like shit.
He knows playing well matters to me.
And he also knows I think my personal time is my own, because it fucking is.
He’s just robbed me of that.
Coop claps his hands. “All right, you fuckers. Get some food, see the docs, and then we’re going out. Toth, find us somewhere good!”
My phone is already in my hand, pulling up my messages with Frankie. She’s texting me as I open the app.
Frankie
Amazing goal, we were screaming
Logan
I heard you
Frankie
No you didn’t
Logan
I’d recognize my wife’s voice anywhere, anytime
Frankie
There are limits to human ability
Logan
Tell that to the goalie I just sniped one past
Frankie
Touché
Frankie
Can’t wait to see you, heading for the train now!
Fuck. Well, I can give her something immediately. I stand up and send her a grinning, sweat-slicked bare chested selfie. She sends me back one of her and Sloane wearing competing jerseys.
Toth bumps against mine. “Who’s the girl?”
I smack my phone into my chest. “Get out of my face.”
“Secret girlfriend?”
“Your grandma.”
“Dude.” He makes a wounded sound.
I put my phone away, making sure it’s locked, and finish stripping down, then head to the showers, my brain spinning the whole way about what I’ll say to Frankie. Because I have to go out with the team, but all I want to do is sprint outside and find my wife before she gets on the Metro.
In twenty-four hours, I’m getting on the team plane and I won’t be back for months. There’s still so much I need to say to her.