Chapter 26 #2
The last place I want to be right now is on the ice.
We’re down by two goals, both resulting from power plays when I was sent to the sin bin.
All night, this jackass has jawed in my ear, saying shit to piss me off.
I get it, it’s a normal tactic, but tonight is not the night to fuck with me.
I should’ve told Coach I couldn’t skate, but it would have to be a cold day in hell for me to utter those words.
For as long as I can remember, hockey has been my life.
The rink is usually the one place where I can escape everything, but not tonight.
As soon as I walked into the locker room, Jude was on my ass for making his sister cry.
Fuck him. And fuck her. She put my niece in harm's way.
She continued to see her ex behind my back, even going as far as to ask my permission to hang out with him. I must be some kind of idiot.
The line switches, and I head off the ice.
“Rose, do you plan on playing tonight, or are you just wasting space on the ice?” Coach asks.
I don’t answer because there isn’t a good one to give.
“Answer me,” he says as he whacks my helmet.
I stand and face him. Even without skates on, I’m taller than him, and right now, I tower over him.
“Don’t fucking touch me.”
“Get the fuck off my bench,” he yells and points toward the door which leads to our locker room.
I do as he says without hesitating, with no questions asked.
I don’t bother showering, and I don’t even wait for the game to end before I’m out the door and heading toward my car.
Thea’s voice rings out from behind me. I ignore her and continue to my car, lengthening my stride to get away from her.
“Kyler, please.”
She can beg all she wants. I’m not stopping.
I reach my car and get it, locking the door as I start the engine.
My headlights flash on Thea just as I pull out of the parking spot.
One look into my rear-view mirror, and I see her standing in the middle of the lot, watching me drive away.
I’m not wrong in how I feel. I told her from the get-go I don’t let people into my life because I don’t trust them.
I made the mistake of trusting her, only to be let down. Lesson learned.
Instead of going home where I know Thea and the others can find me, I drive toward the southside of town to the warehouse hosting tonight’s fights. Throughout my very short relationship with Thea, she begged me to stop. I’m glad I didn’t listen because I need to hit something or someone tonight.
I check in at the desk and then maneuver myself to the front of the makeshift ring, which is just hundreds of men gathered in a circle.
The two fighting now are circling each other.
When one threatens a punch, the other steps back.
This goes on for a good five minutes until someone from the crowd pushes one of the fighters into the other, and then it’s on.
I pretend it’s me and practice my moves with each punch thrown.
It’s not like we’re professionals or anything.
We’re just a bunch of dumb fuckers looking for excitement and to make a few extra bucks.
There’s a tap on my shoulder, and when I turn, the “owner” beckons me to follow him. We end up in a corner, and he tells me I’m next. I agree and take off my shoes and shirt. I’m thankful I wore shorts out of the locker room because fighting in jeans sucks. I need as much movement as I can get.
When the current bout ends, I step onto the old gym mats someone brings with them to each fight. They’re caked with dried blood, they’re ripped, and most of the padding is gone. They’re used to prevent skulls from breaking open when someone falls.
The guy before me sizes me up. I let him.
He’s a bit shorter than me, and his arms are stubby, giving me a reach advantage.
I roll my shoulders, put my hands up and march toward him.
He swings and connects, stunning me. And it’s in this moment where I decide I need the pain, and I allow him to pummel the shit out of me until I blackout.
There’s noise all around me. Someone is talking fast while something is poking me.
I hear cops, bushes, and then I feel something cold against my leg.
A bright light shines in my eyes, and I try to bat it away, but my arms won’t move.
I’m trapped. I want to move my head away, but something holds it in place. But what?
I moan. It’s the only thing I can do.
“Can you hear me?” a voice says.
Another moan.
“You’re going to be okay. You’re on the way to the hospital.”
Another moan.
“I know you’re in pain, but we’re going to take care of you. Just hang tight. We’re almost to the hospital.”
Moan.
“I wish you’d wake up and tell me your name,” the voice says. “I’d like to call your family and let them know where they can find you. I’m sure they’re worried.”
No one cares about me.
“All right, my friend, we are here. Let’s get your fixed up.”
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Something is pinching my hand. It hurts and is annoying. I reach for whatever it is and then cry out in pain. My eyes open, and my hand instantly goes to my head, and then I cry out again. I take on my second fight of the night, this time with my consciousness, but quickly lose that one as well.
* * *
“Good morning,” a man in blue scrubs says to me. I glance at him with blurred vision.
“Morning.” My voice is raspy. “Where am I?”
“Northport General,” he says. “You were brought in my ambulance two nights ago.”
“Two nights?”
“Yep, it seems you were mugged and left on the side of the road.”
“Mugged?”
“What’s your name?”
“Kyler,” I say. “Rose.”
“Great, now we can put a name on your chart and stop calling you John. You definitely don’t look like a John, but I imagine you don’t look much like a Kyler either at the moment.” He flashes his light into my eyes, and I close them.
“Everything hurts.”
“I imagine. You took a beating, but nothing is broken. We’ll keep you for another night, and then you can go home. Is there anyone I can call for you?”
I start to shake my head, but it hurts too much. The nurse nods as if he understands and tells me he’ll be back with some pain meds for me. When he returns, he puts something in my IV, and it’s a welcome relief. It takes about five seconds to knock me out.
When I wake again, the same nurse is in my room. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I say as I try to sit up. I wince and struggle through the pain.
“The doctor has been in a few times to check your vitals. Your scans don’t show any internal damage. You’re very lucky.”
“Yeah.”
“The police will be by later to file a report.”
I nod but know I won’t file anything. “Can I eat?”
“I’ll have lunch brought in.”
“How long have I been here?”
“Four days now,” he says.
Four days.
“Is there anyone I can call?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, I’m fine.”
He nods and leaves.
I’m flipping through the TV channels while picking at my lunch when my door opens. If ever there was a time to call for a nurse, it’s now. Standing at the foot of my bed is Adam Nelson.
“What the fuck do you want?”
He smiles like the psychopath he is. “I’m here with an offer.”
“Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it.”
“I think you do,” he says. He paces in front of my bed with his hands in his pockets. “You’re facing a hefty hospital bill with this,” he pauses and points to me. “I want you to stay away from Thea, and in exchange, I’ll cover this hospital bill and give you twenty thousand in cash.”
“Fuck you.”
He chuckles. “Do you want to think about it? It’s a nice offer. You won’t have debt collectors calling you or coming to take your junky car. You won’t have anyone garnishing your wages, assuming you make it back to work. And all you have to do is stay away from a girl you barely know.”
“And your family stays away from Lacey?” I add.
Adam seems surprised. “Sure, why not.” He shrugs and extends his hand to me. We shake, and he pulls out a wad of cash and sets it on my tray. “You can count it if you want. I’ll settle up in billing on my way out.”
He leaves, and the regret seeps in.