Misadventures of a Rookie (Misadventures #11)(50)

Max leaned over. “You’re making a face.”

I laughed, and it hurt. “He hit me in the ribs a few times.”

“You good?” he asked, worry filling his features.

I nodded. “Fine.”

Our line was called, and we went over the boards with ease. Since I was a defenseman that could score like a forward, they only threw out one forward with us. The Admirals had possession at first, but Chomsky changed that the moment he got on the ice. Unfortunately, their defense stole the puck, but when they tried to pass it up to their forwards, I broke up the pass, getting control before sending it up to Max, who was moving hard up the ice with Chomsky beside him. I rushed to catch up as they tried to make a play. Max shot, but he missed, and it went up the boards to Chomsky, who passed it back to Max. One would assume that he would have shot, but he didn’t have the lane, so I set up with a clear shot in my sights. Like I knew he would, Max passed it to me, and I shot, hard—and by the grace of the good Lord above, it hit the back of the net.

Throwing my arms up in the air, I cringed hard, letting them drop just as Max and Chomsky wrapped me up in a hard hug that hurt the shit out of my side.

Houston, we may have a problem.

But I wasn’t telling anyone.



“I may or may not have broken a rib tonight.” Looking in the mirror of the locker room, I grimaced as Bo made a face at me.

“What do you mean?”

“I got beaned with the puck,” I said, looking over my wound. Everyone had already left for the hotel, but I needed a long hot shower and I didn’t want to wait.

“Is there a bruise?”

I nodded before flipping the view on my FaceTime so that she could see the mirror.

Bo gasped out as she gushed, “Oh my God, Gus, that looks awful. Does it hurt when you breathe?”

I took a deep breath, cringing just as I did it. “It doesn’t tickle.”

“You’re crazy. Go to the doctor!”

“You’re not here though.” I pouted.

She grinned and said, “Gus, seriously.”

“Seriously nothing. I can’t go to the ER without you.”

“Then go to the team doctor, you idiot! Jesus! What if it punctured your lungs or something insane?”

I made a face. “I’m fine. Maybe I’ll go tomorrow.”

She gave me a stern look. “Now. You haven’t even left yet.”

“Ugh. I don’t want to.”

“Stop being a baby and go.”

I pouted. “Will you kiss it when you get back?”

She flashed me a grin. “That and more,” she said, wiggling her brows. “Go, seriously. Please.”

“Fine. I’ll call you back.”

“I’m getting on the plane. I’ll call you when I land.”

I nodded as I shot her a grin. “I miss you.”

She blushed as she moved her hair out of her face. She had her ear buds in, and her hair was down in big curls over her shoulders. I loved her hair down. “I miss you too, you big dork. Go.”

“I am. Damn, you’re mean.”

“Ha. Don’t act like you’re just realizing this!”

I smiled as I waved, and she did the same before the call ended. Tucking my phone into my pocket, I considered not going to the team doctor, but then I knew Bo would be pissed if she found out I didn’t go. I didn’t want to upset her since I did that daily with my annoying tendencies. So swallowing my pride, I headed toward where the team doctor was set up. I knew he was still working on Merriam, our goalie. It wouldn’t take him long to tell me if it was broken or not, but I hoped he knew I wasn’t letting this keep me from playing.

Maybe I should just let Bo get mad at me.

“Hey, Persson, come in here.” I paused midstride and looked into the room Coach Rowe was set up in. “I was about to come find you.”

“Me?” I asked, racing my brain for any reason that my coach would be looking for me.

“Yeah you, dumbass. Come in here.”

I did as he asked, and just as I went to shut the door, he held his hand up. “That’s not necessary,” he said simply. “You’ve been called up to the Tornadoes. You’ll play tomorrow night. Here is your ticket to fly out in the morning.”

I just stared at him. “I’m sorry, what?”

Coach laughed. “Isn’t rocket science, boy. You’ve been called up. One of the defensemen went down last night with a groin injury. They want you. So, you’ll go.”

I could only blink. I knew I wanted this. I wanted it more than I wanted my next breath, but I honestly didn’t think it would happen this fast. I thought I had more time. I thought… Fuck, I needed more time.

With Bo.

“Oh. Oh, shit.”

Coach smiled up at me as he held out my ticket. “I want to say I hope I get you back, but I’m pretty sure I won’t.”

I tried to muster up some kind of emotion. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Good luck, and if you do come back, don’t let that get you down. Plenty of guys play both teams until a spot opens up. Don’t worry. I believe in you. A spot will open for you.”

“Thank you,” I said once more, but all I could do was think of Bo and how she had been worried about just this. Meanwhile, I was too consumed with everything that involved her. But here I was, standing with a ticket to the NHL in my hand. This was my dream, what I had wanted since I was a boy. What I had worked for. Surely we could figure something out. I couldn’t lose her, but there was no way I would give up this chance. And Bo wouldn’t ask me to. I know she wouldn’t.