Page 87 of Payback On The Ice

"That was a good block," he says. "The ankle."

"Thanks."

Okoye looks at him for a second.

"Something's wrong with that guy," he says. "Marrack. Something's off."

Theo doesn't answer.

Okoye nods, like he's made up his mind about something, and goes to shower.

One more win. One more, and it's over. We're champions, and Marrack goes home to Ashby, and in two months there's no season left for anything to wait until after.

I sit in my stall and tape my stick, and watch Theo across the room. He's sitting hunched over with his skate off and a bag of ice on his ankle, looking at his phone. Whatever he's reading, it's made his face go white.

23

THEO

Cole: T. you there

Cole: marrack had a meeting with us after the interview

Cole: whole team. in the video room. doors shut

Cole: said if anybody "talks to media or outside parties about last season" it's a violation of team rules and they lose their money. he said it like a joke. nobody laughed

Cole: he looked right at me and mikey when he said it

I'm sitting in my stall with a bag of ice on my ankle. Everybody's talking around me. Somebody's playing music. Okoye is in the shower singing something off-key. Halvorsen's in the hall yelling happily at a reporter.

I read it four times.

Me: I'm not going to say anything

Cole: I know you're not. I'm not saying that. I'm saying don't do anything till the season's done

Cole: mikey's mom got laid off in january. he NEEDS his money. if marrack pulls it he's done. he goes home to flint and works at his uncle's shop and that's it

Cole: I'm not asking for me. I'm asking for him

Me: I know

Cole: please T

Me: I won't

Me: I promise

Cole: thank you

Cole: for what it's worth that was a sick block tonight. the ankle. you're a lunatic

Cole: we're gonna try to kick your ass tomorrow. nothing personal

Me: I know. same

I put the phone face down on the bench. I look up.