The cab pulled up at my hotel and I jumped out. I checked the time as I sprinted into the building—I had to hurry.
I waited for the elevator, nervously pacing back and forth for what felt like an eternity, until the doors finally opened for me.
I burst through the door of the hotel room I shared with Hunter exactly at 11:59 PM. He was in bed, and though the TV was still on, he'd obviously been sleeping a second ago.
He eyed the alarm clock. “Well god damn,” he mumbled sleepily. “I didn't think you were going to make it in time.”
“Close one, eh?” I said as I hurried over to our phone and dialed the coach's room.
Hunter chuckled. “You're out of breath, dude. So where were you? What were you up to?”
I winked at him while the phone rang. “Just having some fun.”
Hunter grimaced. “Please tell me you didn't—”
I held up a finger to quiet him as Coach answered the other end of the line.
“Cutting it awfully close, Beau,” Coach said with a disapproving sigh.
“Just keeping you on your toes, Coach.”
That was that. I'd made curfew in time, so I wouldn't be punished. Still good to play tomorrow. I hung up the phone.
“So?” Hunter asked.
“What are you so curious about?” I asked, giving a little chuckle.
“Vinny told me you guys met those bakery chicks at the club. He said you went home with them.” He raised an eyebrow, and I knew what he was asking.
I took off my jacket. “Look at you, wanting to gossip. You really oughtta start coming out more, Hunter.”
“I'm good, thanks. I just think it's funny. Normally, you're bragging about your conquests, whether I want to know about them or not.”
“So what are you saying?”
“I'm just curious. Like I said, I thought I could pick up on something between you two. Really seemed like you liked a girl for a change.”
I gave a laugh. “Dude, what are you talking about? I like a lot of girls.”
“But you know what I mean.”
I rolled my eyes. “Please. I don't have time for that.”
“You know, Beau, I've been around this league longer than you. And I've seen a lot of guys like you over the years. The one thing I see a lot of? Once all the partying starts to get old, you'd be surprised how many guys settle down with an old flame from back home. It used to surprise me, but it doesn't anymo—”
I cut him off right then and there. “Jesus, Hunter, what the hell are you even talking about? Always with the 'it's time to settle down'crap. Not everyone wants to be all happily married like you, dude. Can't you get that? I love being single. I love partying. I love getting to fuck whoever the hell I want, whenever I want. And unless you're saying it's a problem for me on the ice, like it was foryouback in the day, I don't wanna hear about it anymore.”
He went silent. I stripped down to my boxers and headed for the shower. Yeah, I liked her smell, but it was time to say goodbye.
I buried my head under the shower-head and let the water rain down my head, my neck, my back. I grabbed a bar of soap and washed her off me.
But a second later, that awful, churning mash of loneliness in my gut returned. My heart began to pound, and my lungs shriveled into a horrifyingly tight ball.
I felt like I couldn't breathe and my heart was about to explode.
Fuck. Another anxiety attack.
I leaned against the tile and waited for it to pass.
