Not to mention, our playoff hopes were still alive. Two games remained. We had to win out the rest of the way, but at least we had a shot.
The boys were talking about heading out tonight to celebrate our victory … but I wanted to celebrate with someone else. I went straight for my cell phone and texted Honor: “So? Did you watch?”
The boys all around me were going nuts, dancing to our victory song as they tore off sweat-soaked equipment.
“Hey Rockwell!” Vinny yelled at me over the noise. “Six points tonight, you fuckin'beast!Did you start juicin', bro?”
Vinny had a good night himself—three goals, all assisted by me.
I laughed. “I went back to my old curve, actually.” I showed him my old stick. The one I hadn't used since my Boston days.
“God damn, that's flat.” Vinny inspected the blade. “Why the change?”
I shrugged. “I've been forcing things too much. Thought I should go back to my roots, I guess, and start dishing the puck out more instead of trying to do it all myself.”
“Well hey, I appreciate you makingmelook like the hero for once!”
I stared into my phone, waiting for a reply. None yet.
Vinny pointed at me. “Get a load ofRon Textallover here.”
The boys burst into laughter. And then they were discussing where we should go find girls tonight.
“What about you, Rockwell?”
I shook my head. “Nah. I'm staying in.”
“What? Why?”
“Heart's not in it, boys. Sorry.”
“Pff. Whatever.”
***
The boys went out, but I went straight back to our hotel.
Still no reply from Honor. I texted her again. “Hope you watched that game.”
Twenty minutes went by, and still no reply.Huh.
I typed up one more text. My last one for the night, if I didn't get a reply: “Everything ok?”
Her reply came fast. “So who's Allison?”
I read it and groaned. I dialed her number immediately, but she let it go to voicemail.
I texted her again: “I can explain over phone. My thumbs will fall off if I have to type the whole story up.”
Her reply, a few minutes later: “Fine. Call again.”
I did. This time, she answered. “Hi.”
Hearing her voice? Damn, man. My heart felt lighter. Even though I knew she wasprobablyabout to hate me, and then it'd be heavy all over again.
“Hi Honor.”
“So? Who's Allison? Madison told me I should ask you about her.” She sounded a little tipsy.
