Page 37 of Replay (Toronto Blaze #3)

I woke up partially, some indeterminate time later when a nurse came in, but I was tired and not even the uncomfortable chair could keep me awake.

I squirmed around, this time leaning forward, head on the bed near Josh’s hand, hoping I’d sense it if he came to.

I wanted him to see me first thing when he opened his eyes.

That wasn’t what woke me up.

“ What are you doing here?” The voice in my ear broke through the bonds of sleep.

I jerked, and my back and neck let me know they were very unhappy with the way I’d been treating them.

I shook my head and sat up, looking around, and saw the furious face of Mrs. Middleton.

I blinked to make sure I wasn’t in some kind of nightmare. When had Josh’s mother gotten here?

I was rumpled and groggy and probably looked like shit. She looked like she’d had a shower recently, and fresh clothes. Her makeup was perfect, but her expression? Pissed.

“Hi, Mrs. Middleton.” I stretched my neck and tried to corral any awake brain cells. I desperately needed coffee for this.

“What are you doing here?”

Right, she’d asked that earlier. My mouth felt gross. I’d give a lot for a toothbrush. And my bladder was letting me know I needed to get to a washroom.

I rubbed my eyes. “I was keeping Josh company.”

Her lips tightened. “Well, I’m here now so you can go.”

“Okay. I need to clean up, but I can come back later.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“I’m happy to.”

“Yes, I’m sure you are. But you’re not needed. In fact, I want you to stay away.”

My brain fog was clearing up, much too slowly. She didn’t want me here. “Josh and I are together again. Didn’t he tell you?”

“No. Which tells you a lot about how serious he is, doesn’t it? Now, will you leave or do I have to call security?”

I had no idea what would happen if she followed through on that threat. Daniel had pulled some strings to get me in here, but Mrs. Middleton was right. I had no legal status. And she did. She wanted to keep me away from Josh, and right now, she could.

Until he was awake and aware, right?

I stood up, picking up my messenger bag. “I want nothing but the best for Josh, so I’ll leave rather than make a scene. But Josh gets to decide who he’s with, not you.”

“If you want the best for him, you’ll stay away. Permanently. Goodbye.”

No confusion about whether Mrs. Middleton still didn’t like me. Now she wasn’t bothering to even try to be subtle. I limped out of the room, still achy from the awkward sleep.

I’d be back though. Mrs. Middleton could have this victory now. But when Josh woke up, then we’d straighten things out.

* * *

Josh

I was confused when I regained consciousness.

My brain was foggy and I couldn’t figure out where I was.

With all the traveling we did, I was used to being in new rooms all the time but this one smelled different.

The sounds were different too—noisier, with people and announcements. But not like the arena.

A twinge came from my knee and then everything came crashing back. The trade. Getting injured. And this was a hospital.

How badly had I fucked up my hockey career? And what about Katie?

“Josh?” The voice was soft and familiar.

Mom . How much time had gone by if my mother had made it here?

I flickered my eyes open, squinting against the light. “Mom?” The word came out in a whisper.

“Josh, it’s so good to see you awake. How are you feeling?”

She put her hand on my forehead, like I might have a fever. I felt pretty shitty, if I was being honest. Some familiar aches from bruises, muscles complaining after playing, but my leg felt heavy and my head was currently throbbing.

“Fine.”

“Would you like some water?”

I tried to nod, but that didn’t feel good. Mom got the idea and brought me a cup with a straw. I was thirsty and drank most of it.

Mom set the cup down and fussed with my covers. “The doctor will be by soon. But they say everything went well in surgery.”

What did that mean? Would I get to play again? Would I be able to play the way I had before?

I needed to sit up and make a plan for what was going to happen. If the trade was still on, how would that tie in? And I had to see Katie. That more than anything.

How could I be this exhausted? I closed my eyes for a moment and then…nothing.

When I woke up again, it was darker, so later in the day. My head was clearer, so that was good, and I was thirsty again. This time it was a man’s voice I heard, asking if I was awake.

“Yeah,” I croaked.

“Drink?”

“Please.”

Allen, my agent. He was an older guy, in his forties, with perfectly styled hair and an immaculate suit. He held out the cup and I took a long drink.

“Your mother went down to the cafeteria to get something to eat.”

I nodded and let go of the straw.

He set it back down. “What the fuck, Josh?”

I blinked at him. “What?”

He dropped into the chair. “What were you doing in that game?”

I looked down and plucked at the fold in the sheet around my waist. My eyes continued on to my leg, and I flinched.

He sighed. “Sorry, I know that the knee must be bothering you. But honestly, what were you even doing that this happened? That’s not how Josh Middleton plays.”

I shook my head. What could I tell him? “I just…wanted to go out with a win if it was my last game in Toronto.”

“You know trades are a part of life in hockey, right?”

I did. I’d been traded to Toronto. But I didn’t want to leave, not this time.

“Were you trying to fuck up the trade?”

I looked at him. “No, I didn’t do this”—I waved toward the contraption on my leg—“on purpose. Am I going to play again?”

I held my breath while I waited for his answer.

“The odds are good. But you’re going to have to work harder than you ever have in rehab to get there.”

I couldn’t have fucked things up any worse. Being traded was bad enough, but traded and not playing? Unless maybe I could rehab here…

“The trade is off. Management is pissed. They’re deciding now whether they’ll try to replace you or start selling.”

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I hadn’t just fucked things up for me, but for the whole team. “I’m sorry.”

“You should be. You were in a great place, Josh, even with the trade. Despite the slow start, you were playing well. Seattle would have been a good fit with you.”

But not for Katie. “So what now?”

“Now you rehab like your life depends on it. You don’t breathe a word about a trade. And if the team finds another winger, you hope he’s not as good as you, or more expensive, or older because the next trade might not be as good.”

I swallowed. “Are you going to fire me?”

He shook his head. “I was tempted. But the optics aren’t good if I do. Plus, for some stupid reason, I like you. And I think you can come back from this.” He grinned, an expression that made me think of a shark. “You do that, and negotiations become fun. I like a challenge.”

Something relaxed inside. Allen wasn’t giving up on me. He thought I had a chance.

Mom came in the room, smiling at Allen. She liked him, because she thought he was taking good care of my career.

I wasn’t sure Allen liked her, but he never said anything.

I was kind of shocked he’d said he liked me.

He and I had a business relationship, so I knew at the end of the day it came down to money.

“He’s awake again,” she said.

Allen stood. “We were talking. But I need to see the Blaze management, and then I have to fly back to California.”

“Thank you for coming. We both appreciate it.” Mom smiled at him.

She hadn’t been told off like me, but I was grateful he’d shown up. I didn’t get into trouble so I didn’t see Allen often. I’d like to get back to that arrangement. He was unnerving.

Once he was gone, Mom came over to fuss with the blankets and offer me more water.

“I’m fine.” Now that my head was clearer, I wanted to hear from the doctors about my knee, and I wanted to see Katie. “What did the doctor say?” Mom had said she was coming by.

“She didn’t tell me much. But everything is going to be fine.”

Was she coddling me? Had the woman said something bad, and Mom was keeping it from me? Or was I being paranoid? I needed details. Did fine mean I’d walk again, or that I’d play? “When is she back again?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

I started to fidget and stopped when my leg twinged. I was going to have a whole night to worry about this. I needed to at least talk to Katie.

“Where’s my phone?”

Mom looked around and then shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m not sure it’s here.”

Right. It would have been in my stall when this happened and might still be there. What would they have done with my clothes and personal items?

There was an iPad on the table tray thing at the side of the room, the one that could swing over my bed. I recognized the cover. It was Katie’s.

I relaxed against the pillows. Katie had been here. She’d be back. That was good. I needed to see her.

“When’s Katie coming back?”

Mom stiffened. Yeah, she didn’t like Katie, and didn’t know we were going out. I should have said something when we switched from friends to dating, but I didn’t like upsetting people.

“Katie?” Like she didn’t know who I was talking about.

“I know she was here. That’s her iPad.”

Mom’s lips tightened and she picked up the tablet.

“What are you doing? I want that.”

“I don’t think screens are good for you right now.”

Something about the way she spoke made me realize there was more to what she said than the words. She wasn’t just talking about the screen.

“Where is Katie?” I repeated.

Mom’s chin went up. “I sent her away. I don’t know why she was even here, but she had no right.”

“When’s she coming back?” I needed to see her.

Mom shoved the iPad in a drawer in the bedside table, at the bottom where I couldn’t reach. “She isn’t coming back, as far as I know.”

“Mom,” I warned.

“She has exams now, doesn’t she? She’s busy.”

True, but she’d come here, somehow. That meant everything. I needed to speak to her, but Mom wasn’t going to budge. And right now I was stuck in a bed, with no phone and no one who’d help me reach out to her.

I’d find a way to get her back here. If Mom hadn’t said anything too horrible to her. Would she be upset I hadn’t told Mom about her?

I had to make it right. But my head was getting dizzy, and my thoughts were floating away from me. I fell asleep again.