Page 95 of Goalie Secrets

Sabrina appears beside him, worry etched into every line of her face.

“How are you feeling?” she asks, her voice gentler than I’ve ever heard it.

“Like I got hit by a car,” I manage, my attempt at humor falling flat.

She doesn’t laugh, just exchanges a glance with Kyle.

“I’m your emergency contact,” Kyle says after a moment.

“Yup,” I murmur. “No family here. Only my boss.”

Sabrina frowns. “Do you want us to call anyone else? Someone who can help while you recover?”

I close my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat.Jeremy is the last person I want to see me like this.

“Ashley,” I say finally. “In Boston. Can you call her for me? I can stay with her and her husband while I recover.” My apartment in Boston is under sublease for the year I’m in Columbus.

Sabrina nods, pulling out her phone. “I’ll get in touch with her as soon as I’m out of here.” She clears her throat, her gaze intense. “What about Jeremy?”

My eyes snap open. “No,” I say immediately, my voice creaky.

Sabrina looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Why not? He’s your neighbor. He’d want to know.”

“No,” I repeat, more forcefully this time, though it costs me. My ribs ache with every syllable.

Kyle shifts his weight, his expression hardening. “Sabrina is right. Jeremy will want to know.”

“Jeremy doesn’t listen to me,” I cut him off, anger bubbling to the surface despite my exhaustion. My words are slurred by the drugs. “He won’t listen to you either.”

Sabrina’s brows knit together in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

I shake my head, fighting back tears. “He’s skating when he shouldn’t. His hip is getting worse. I told him, Kyle. I hope you can get it in his head to allow more tests. He doesn’t care. He’s stubborn, and now he’s going to ruin himself because he thinks he’s invincible.”

Getting the words out was like running a marathon. While drunk.

Kyle sighs. “This isn’t the time, Vanya. Let it go.”

The words hit me harder than I expect. I stare at him, stunned. A bitter laugh escapes before I can stop it.

Of course he’s shutting you down, Vanya. These macho men care more about hockey than people.

“He needs to see Dr. Leroi,” I beg one more time, my voice cracking.

“Please focus on your recovery,” Kyle says firmly.

I turn away from him with frustration and shame at my impotence. I can’t stop them. I’m too weak to fight right now, anyway.

Sabrina shifts uncomfortably. “Still, he should know—”

“Don’t,” I cut her off. “Please don’t tell him.”

“Why not?” she presses, her voice softer but insistent.

“Because…” I trail off, unsure how to explain the swirling emotions I can barely contain.

Because he’ll show up and act like he cares, but it won’t change anything. He’ll skate, he’ll get hurt, and I’ll just be another person he pushes away.

“Vanya’s right,” Kyle says, his tone final. “She’ll tell Jeremy herself when she thinks the time is right.”