Page 72 of In His Skates

I don’t ask him for details because that’s something only Leigh can tell me if she wants me to know. I want to be the man she can trust. I also have an overwhelming compulsion to protect her at all costs. No one I’ve ever dated has ever made me feel this way, but I can’t be sure of my feelings when my life is upside down.

The game starts, and my adrenaline levels go through the roof. I’m usually on the starting line, but it seems Coach moved Leigh. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s playing on the third line tonight. I pray she doesn’t make too many mistakes. I told her that if it was getting dicey, she should fake an injury. It’s better to exit the game because she can’t play than fuck things up and end up getting hurt for real.

My stomach feels queasy, and when Leigh finally takes the ice, I fear I might hurl. I’ve never been more nervous in my entire life. She’s definitely not playing like me. She’s slow, doesn’t check the opposing players, and loses possession of the puck too fucking easily. I can already see the headlines tomorrow calling my game trash. But funny enough, I’m not worried about that. My heart is beating at breakneck speed because it’s only a matter of time before someone levels her to the ice.

A second later, that’s exactly what happens. Leigh has the puck, and she manages a breakaway to center ice. But an enforcer rams her into the boards, hitting a little too low. Her face connects with the glass, and she falls at a weird angle.

“What the fuck!” Bobbi blurts out.

I stand up so I can have a better view. Get up, Leigh. Get up, please.

She’s not moving.

Simon jumps onto the ice to get to her since he wasn’t playing on her line, followed by the team’s physician. The game stops, and the crowd goes eerily quiet. My heart is stuck in my throat. I can’t breathe.

After an excruciating minute, she moves her arm and then gets back on her feet with Simon’s help. He and the physician have to assist her getting to the bench while players of both teams tap their sticks to the ice and boards. Leigh disappears down the tunnel. That’s my cue.

“Come on, Bobbi,” I say as I exit our row.

“What’s happening?” he asks.

“I don’t know. But I’m not going to sit here and wait.”

Because of Leigh’s high profile, we’re in one of the VIP suites, so getting to the team area takes longer than is good for my anxiety. We have passes that allow us entrance, but I know I’ll be barred from entering the room where the physician is checking Leigh.

By the time we get there, we’re between periods and the players are all here, including Simon. Thank fuck. He sees us walk down the hallway and strides to meet us.

“How is he?” I ask, remembering to use the correct pronoun. There are too many people around us.

“We don’t know yet.”

“What did Le—I mean, Keanu say while you were helping him off the ice?” Bobbi asks.

“He didn’t say much, but he was in a lot of pain. He might not be able to play for a while.”

Guilty sits low in my belly, like a year-old lump of moldy bread. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have let her play.”

“It sucks, but look at the bright side. Being put on the injured reserve is the best outcome for you. You might still have a career after the problem is fixed,” Simon points out in a low tone of voice.

I shake my head. “But now she has to suffer. I hate that.”

“You really do, huh?” Bobbi stares at me as if he’s seeing me for the first time.

“Of course, I do. I…” The word love is on the tip of my tongue, but I stop myself from blurting it out. “She’s important to me.”

I can’t be certain of my feelings when all this fear is present, clouding everything. What if Leigh and I never switch back to our own bodies for good?

28 LEIGH

Upper body injury. At least six weeks without playing. The team’s physician said I was lucky. I don’t feel very lucky. Everything hurts, and I know this experience will give me PSTD. I never saw that player coming until the collision. Then I passed out for a moment, and when I came to, I thought I was going to die. Pain radiated through my entire body.

They gave me painkillers before I could leave, but I need to follow up with a doctor tomorrow. Keanu and Bobbi are waiting for me when I walk out of the examining room. Simon must be back on the ice. The game doesn’t stop because one player got hurt.

Keanu springs to his feet and walks over. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I was hit by an eighteen-wheeler.”

Anguish swirls in his eyes. “I’m so fucking sorry.”