Misadventures of a Rookie (Misadventures #11)(61)

“Have a fucking seat, Persson.”

Haynes shot me a curt smile as I sat down, and something inside me told me that I wouldn’t be staying. Neither of them was smiling, and they didn’t look very pleased at that moment. Maybe I hadn’t done as well as I thought I had last night. Maybe I should have listened to Bo and gone to the doctor.

Shit.

“Fuck. Who’s talking? Me or you?” Coach asked, and Haynes shrugged.

“Doesn’t matter,” he said simply, and then they both looked at me.

I was a big dude. I usually carried myself as one, but at that moment, my heart was in my throat and I felt so damn small. On the one hand, I wanted to be sent back down. I wanted to work things out with Bo, and it would be easier if I were in the same place she was in. But then, I wanted more than anything to be a Tornado.

“I can go, if you’d like,” said Haynes.

“Ah, fuck off, I’ll do it,” Coach said, throwing his sandwich down and then setting me with a look. “All right, kid, it’s fuckin’ simple. Sykies is out for the immediate future. He fucking tore something instead of the pull we originally fucking thought, so you’re in.”

My mouth parted a bit as I stared back at him. I was convinced I was being sent back down. I really didn’t think I would stay, even though that was all I wanted. “Really?”

“Yup. You’re a fucking beast, kid. I’m pretty pissed at this dude for not bringing you up sooner,” Coach said, nodding his head toward the GM. “We fucking need you. Are you ready?”

Was I?

I wanted to be.

I was.

Fucking hell, all I could do was think of Bo.

Maybe I should tell them about my injury, get sent back down, and fix things. But then, I was okay. It hurt, but I was still able to perform. I wanted this. I needed this.

But Bo.

“I think I bruised my ribs.”

Haynes perked up as he glanced over at me. “When?”

“Back when I was with the Suns.”

“And you played last night with bruised ribs?” Haynes asked.

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

He looked at Coach just as Coach glanced at him. When they both looked at me, Coach said, “Well if that’s how you fucking play hurt, then I’m chomping at the fucking bit to see how you do when you aren’t aching.”

They both started to laugh, and I joined in, though it wasn’t real. Did I really just try to ruin my chances in the NHL to be with Bo back in Malibu? Was I an idiot? I must have been, because I didn’t regret it, though it didn’t matter. They still wanted me. I should have been proud of that.

But I wasn’t.

“Well, go on and see the fucking team doctors. They’ll fix you the fuck up.”

I nodded as I stood. They did the same before we all shook hands. Walking out, I went the way they directed, but it wasn’t like I was really paying attention. My thoughts were with Bo and how everything I had with her was probably over. I wouldn’t be there to be in her face. She was leaving tomorrow to go back to Malibu, and I wasn’t sure when I would be able to go back to get my stuff. Or if I even would.

When I reached the doctor’s office, there was someone already in there. Leaning against the wall after being told to wait, I twirled my phone in my hand.

I either had to give up on her or on my career.

I didn’t want to do either though.

And there was only one person I wanted to talk to about it.





Chapter Thirty-Three





Bo





“I love this movie.”

I glanced over at Davis as he was stuffing popcorn in his mouth along with candy corn he had left over from Halloween. We were watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. I wasn’t even watching. How could I, when I couldn’t get Gus out of my head? The way he looked at me when I left his hotel the night before… I felt a lot, but most of all, I felt miserable.

I missed him. God, I missed him. Yet, that didn’t stop me from ignoring his texts or his calls. I couldn’t talk to him yet. I was so embarrassed by my breakdown, how I basically word vomited all over him and then decided I couldn’t let the shit with Jesse go. Which was just stupid. I was over him. Not only had I not seen him in years, but I didn’t even think of him. I didn’t even think of him when I looked at Davis.

When I looked at Davis, I only felt love. That was it. I still had some guilt from not being the woman he needed as a mother, but mostly, I just loved the kid. He was way better off with my mom. I knew that, and the only reason I regretted him being with her was that she kept on throwing it in my face. But that wasn’t holding me back from being with Gus.

I was holding me back.

Scooting toward me, Davis rested his head against my arm, and I smiled, touching my head to his. Inhaling hard, I wondered what Gus was doing. I remembered him saying he had a meeting this morning. Glancing at the clock, I realized he was probably there now. Swallowing hard, I prayed that he got his spot. He deserved it. He worked so damn hard, and hell, he was playing with busted ribs and still was killing it. I had never seen someone play the way he did. He was destined for big things.

I just wasn’t sure if I would be with him through them all.

I could be, if I would stop being so pathetic and dwelling on the past, but I was so scared. If I fell, if I gave in to the feelings that wanted to suffocate me, I would be his completely. But the last time that happened—well, we know what happened.