You know it, I agreed, and the two of us fist bumped.
So, what are your plans for the off-season ? he asked, taking a seat on the bench next to my bag. Seeing family ? Sticking around ? Heading back to the east coast ?
I rubbed the back of my neck. Honestly, I haven’t thought much about it. I’ll probably go see my folks for a few weeks, but otherwise, I’ve got a place here, so it doesn’t make sense to head back to Boston.
While a handful of guys had already booked their flights back to their home countries for the next couple of months, the rest were set to scatter across the states in the coming weeks. Ruderman and his wife, however, lived in the Los Angeles area full-time, and it seemed like me, him, and two or three other guys were the only ones planning to stick around.
He looked slightly shocked by my answer though, raising a brow. You’re not going to try to fix things with your girl ?
Uh… I trailed off, not knowing what to say. I’m not sure there’s much I can do.
As long as you didn’t cheat, which I know you didn’t, there’s always something you can do, he said. I know you’ve been zeroed in on the season the last couple weeks, and I totally get it, but hockey’s over now. And didn’t you say she texted you after the loss ?
I had indeed.
The message that’d come through was just two simple words. I’m sorry. Yet those alone, with the added heart as punctuation had made me yearn to hold her.
But then the regret and embarrassment settled in, knowing I’d compartmentalized my life after the fight Lia and I had, and put my focus solely on hockey. I hadn’t reached out to try and mend things, because I really hated the idea of not being able to do so in person. I didn’t have the ability to hop over to Boston for a weekend, and I knew she didn’t have time in her schedule to fly out here either, so I’d done nothing.
The fact that she’d also not tried to contact me had me thinking that maybe I’d made the right choice, but then her text had come through in the exact moment I’d wanted to hear from her, and suddenly, I felt like my choice was the wrong one.
And now I didn’t know what to do.
She did.
That was an olive branch, man. The ball’s in your court to fix things, and you have time off, so hop on a flight. Go get your woman.
I couldn’t stop the way my lips twitched upward as I rolled my eyes. But truly, I was thankful for his advice. Aren’t you going to be lonely if I jet off to Boston ?
I think I’ll manage, he said with a chuckle.
After a moment, I sighed, raking my fingers through my hair. You think she’ll even talk to me after the silent treatment ?
If she ever had true feelings for you, trust me man, she will.
She will. She will.
About an hour later, after I’d hit up a taco truck for lunch with Ruderman, I pushed through the front door of my condo with three bags full of hockey gear. Letting the two duffle bags full of workout clothes and under armour drop to the floor with a thud, knowing they definitely needed a wash, I rolled my equipment bag to the hall closet and tossed it inside.
After all, I wouldn’t need it for the next couple of months.
Shutting the closet door, I sighed, once again hit with the melancholy feeling that went hand in hand with the end of the hockey season, but as I moved into the living room, I was also hit with an unexpected bout of loneliness.
Realizing that I was in a city where I knew next to nobody (except a few of my new teammates) for the next few months didn’t sit well with me, and honestly, made me restless.
Almost as though he could tell I needed a friend, my cell rang, and I pulled it out of my pocket to see Nyberg’s name flashing across the screen.
Sinking into my couch, I let my head fall back against the cushions with a groan and answered the phone.
As much as I love you as a friend, I really hope you didn’t just answer the phone while rubbing one out, was the first thing Nyberg said.
I snorted. Not likely. I don’t need your ugly mug in my head while I’m doing that.
Well, I figure that the long-distance thing must be tough on you. And now that you have a lot of time on your hands, maybe don’t moan when answering the phone, he teased. You don’t want people to get the wrong idea.
I’ll keep that in mind, I said slowly, tapping my hand against the couch as I realized I hadn’t told him about what was going on with Lia. Which meant that, apparently, I wasn’t just a bad boyfriend from a distance, I also wasn’t that good of a friend. Great. But listen-
So, how are things with your team ? he asked at the same time, and I let him speak. Is it the same kind of somber, after-season lull that happens over here ?
Kind of, I replied, raking my fingers through my hair. It’s definitely the same routine. You know, a couple meetings about facility access during the off-season and preliminary plans for training camp. But I’m feeling better this year knowing the Royals are planning to keep me around. Last year, I spent most of my vacation waiting for the trade call.
I remember. But that’s good ; you can relax and enjoy the time off.
Yeah… wish I was still in the race for the Stanley Cup though.
You guys will come back stronger in October.
Says the guy still skating, I mused, and he chuckled. I am rooting for you guys though.
We definitely have a tough road ahead, but we’ll see where we land. I’m hoping for June, but you never know. Spoken like a true player in the off-season, not wanting to jinx their chance at taking it all the way. Be sure to let me know when you’re back in Boston though. We gotta catch up.
And we were back to the elephant in the room.
I’m actually on the fence about coming back to Boston, I admitted.