Page 36 of Not in the Plans (London Lightning #1)
Chapter Thirty
TAG
A s if life wasn’t shitty enough, the team is playing like crap. We’d been on a hot streak since the holidays but it’s come to a grinding halt. Any progress they made was thrown right out the window tonight.
Missed passes. Easy goals let in. High sticking and holding that led to time in the sin bin.
When the final whistle sounds, I can see the collective relief on their faces as they skate off the ice.
And it pisses me off.
“You coming to the locker room?” Jack elbows me in the side. The entire team is gone and the arena is clearing out.
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
The last thing I need to do is take out my own feelings on the team. Even though they played like crap doesn’t mean I have to lash out at them. I’ve had enough coaches do that to me that I never want to lead a team like that.
We head back to London tomorrow and have one more game this weekend. Maybe we can bounce back and put this game behind us .
The Zamboni comes out to clear the ice, and I take that as my cue to head back toward the locker room.
Heads are hanging and the mood is somber when I step inside.
“It wasn’t our best game tonight.”
“No kidding,” someone mumbles.
That pulls a laugh out of me. “I don’t want anyone getting too down about this. So it wasn’t our best game? We’ll learn from it. We’ll study film tomorrow before we play again and learn from this. We’ve still got a great team and have a shot at making the playoffs.”
A few guys mumble in return, but that’s all I get.
“Alright. Hit the showers and then I want everyone to turn in early tonight. No going out, straight to bed. You got it?”
“Yes.” That gets more of an answer.
By the time we get back to the hotel, the guys at least seem to be in better spirits. Me? I’m ready to crash.
Between the travel and wondering where things went wrong with Liv, I’m exhausted.
“We’re getting drinks,” Jack tells me matter-of-factly.
“I’m tired.” I shake my head.
“Nope.” Alfie grabs me by the shoulders and steers me into the hotel bar. “You’ve been a sad sack and we are not going to let this continue.”
“I agree.” Jack nods. “We just got our asses handed to us and you’re down, so we need a drink tonight.”
“Shouldn’t the coaches set the example for the team? I told them all to go to bed.”
“Coaches’ prerogative. We can have a drink. ‘Discuss the game.’”
I sigh. “Fine.”
Alfie heads to the bar to order a round of pints as Jack and I find a table in the corner for us .
“What’s going on? You’re usually happier than this.”
“Everyone has their off days.”
“This is more than an off day,” Jack says. “What’s wrong?”
Alfie returns with a pitcher and three glasses. He pours us each a glass and passes them around. “Is everything okay with Liv?”
“How much time do you have?”
I gulp down half the lager in one go, wiping my upper lip.
“Shit. Did you two break up?” Alfie asks.
“Yup.” Another gulp. At least the beer might help my feelings.
“What happened? You two were so good together,” Jack says. “Last I saw, you two were annoyingly happy.”
I shrug a shoulder, picking at the coaster that sits on the table. The hotel bar isn’t busy, with a few empty tables scattered around the small space. If I can find the words, I’ll be able to talk without anyone overhearing.
“Said I didn’t fit her plan.”
While I, on the other hand, was doing everything to make Liv a part of mine. Isn’t that what you do with people you love?
“Fuck, Tag. I’m sorry,” Jack commiserates. “There’s nothing worse than getting kicked to the curb.”
“Tell me about it. I think getting divorced hurt less than this.”
I gave Liv every part of me. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. The gulf in my chest widens.
“At least you can focus on hockey,” Alfie says. “And we’re here for you.”
“Whatever you need,” Jack reiterates.
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.” It’s nice to have people I can count on here. Ones that I can turn to when things go to shit. I hold up my glass in cheers. “I know we lost, but I’m glad to have you guys by my side out there.”
“Cheers, mate.”
I take a long drag of beer before pouring myself another glass.
“Now, enough talk about me. Give me the update on your lives.”
“You mean besides hockey?” Alfie quirks a brow at me under his glasses. “Pretty much all we do here.”
“Then the three of us are all single? Damn, are we sad or what?”
“Hey, I didn’t say I was.” Jack leans back in his seat and crosses his arms.
“Are you seeing someone? You haven’t said anything.”
Jack laughs. “Unlike you two, I tend to play things closer to the vest.”
“That’s a no.” Alfie laughs. “I tried to set him up last week and he said that he wasn’t interested in dating right now.”
“Fucker.” Jack flips him off. “It could have been because I was seeing someone.”
“Which you’re not,” Alfie corrects him.
“Fine. I’m not. But I’d like to be.”
“You’re interested in someone?” I ask.
“Yes, but I’m not telling either of you who.”
“I’ll tell you I’m interested in someone,” Alfie starts, “but you won’t like who.”
“Why not?” My senses tingle. “Why wouldn’t we like this person?”
“It’s Imogen.”
“Ahh.”
One of Liv’s best friends.
“Sorry. ”
I hold up my hands. “No need to be sorry. Is what it is. Feel free to see her.”
“If only.” He sighs.
“Listen. You two finish the beer. I’ll see you in the morning, alright?”
Jack smiles at Alfie. “He lasted longer than we expected.”
I flip him off. “Ass.”
“Hey. We’re here if you need anything,” Alfie says.
“Thanks, guys.”
Heading back up to my room, I wait on the elevator. Tension gathers in my shoulders. I would have loved to call Liv and talk to her. Hear about her day. Tell her about the game. Get razzed because we lost and won’t be the most popular sport in London.
But I don’t get any of that.
All I want is Liv, and I get nothing from her now. I hate it.
It’s going to be hard to move on when she works for the team. At least we’re in separate parts of the building and I don’t have to run into her if I don’t want to.
At least, that’s what I tell myself to make things better.
Because they have to get better, right?