Page 63 of Payback On The Ice

I put the phone face down on the painted lantern next to me, and sit there on center ice in the dark with the scoreboard glowing green, HOME 3, GUEST 2, until I can't feel my legs anymore.

17

THEO

Nico texts me a little before one.

N: he knows everything

N: I told him all of it. marrack. august. coach. all of it

N: I'm so sorry. I'm also so mad at you. I'm mad at everybody. priya says I'm allowed

N: he told me what he did to you

N: theo why didn't you TELL me

I lie in his old bed and look at the screen until it goes dark. Then I tap it so it lights up again.

Me: because you would have done something about it

N: YES. OBVIOUSLY. that's the POINT

Me: I know

Me: I'm sorry

N: don't. I can't do sorry from both of you in one night. my neck hurts

N: go to sleep swede

N: I love you idiot. I'm still mad

I don't go to sleep.

A while later I open the team contact sheet and find his number, the one I've never once used, and I type two lines and delete them and type them again.

Me: I'll be there at 6

Me: if you don't want me to be, say so and I won't

Delivered.

He doesn't answer.

When I get to the end of the tunnel, the rink is dark.

All the overheads are off. The only light is the red EXIT signs at either end, and the green glow off the scoreboard. HOME 3. GUEST 2. Nobody reset it.

I almost turn around. Then I see him.

He's sitting on center ice. Right on the dot, in the middle of the big painted lantern, in the dark. He's still in his suit from last night. His knees are up. His arms are around them. He looks like he's been there for hours.

He has. I know he has.

I don't turn on the lights. I walk out onto the ice in my sneakers, slow, sliding a little, and the sound of my feet echoes in the empty building. He hears me. He doesn't turn around.

I stop a few feet in front of him.