I’d never missed a game. Not to sickness or major injuries, minus the other two concussions. Sure, I’d had minor issues, like a tweaked hamstring, before, but I still suited up and sat with the team. Even played a few minutes. But to not be involved at all…
I was in a waking nightmare.
A huge brick building came into sight. The Windom Ice Den.
Siri’s voice faded away as Wind navigated the narrow, snow-packed road past the building I’d spent most of my life in.
My stomach dropped, and bile stung the back of my throat. It felt like a river raged inside my head as the blood pumped through me. Pounding. Relentlessly pounding.
I would get back there. Absolutely would.
“It’s warming up.” Brodie’s voice broke through the fog settling over my brain. “I hear we might even see the sun today for a few minutes.”
Captain’s practice for track would probably start soon if it really was warming up. Which meant the first track meet was right around the corner. Normally I was happy about that, because it meant I got to play town league hockeyandrun track. Our relay team this year was going to be solid with Mateo, Oliver, and James returning, but now…nothing made me happy.
“What’s your dad saying about Alabama?”
I huffed.
“Dude.” His eyebrow quirked. “I love ya, man. Like a brother, you know that. But if I get one more huff out of you, I might have to punch you.”
Like he hadn’t huffed before as I sat by and listened. I’d been there for him when his mother died. All the crap with his dad. Now that I thought about it, I was always there foreveryone.
My friends.
Helping Hands.
I was super dependable, responsible… PerfectPreach.
And look where it’d gotten me.
Fucking nowhere.
“Preach?”
“He’s not saying anything about Alabama yet. Not until we get a second opinion. Mom’s working on getting me an appointment at a place in Twin River. She knows someone there who specializes in this stuff.”
“And the community service?”
“Sounds like we have to meet with the principal either today or tomorrow.”
“Guess it’s better than getting an official ticket, huh? That wouldn’t look good on the record.”
“But having to servewithGrace? I mean, that’s just stupid.”
“Your dad said that they worked it out that way since she’s got a busted-up wrist and will need extra help to do anything.”
A ping of guilt punched me in the gut. Her dominant hand, casted or braced or whatever Dad had said. My Jeep had crushed her hand against her car. She didn’t deserve that. She was trying to help that dog.
“Arrived atDream Crusher’s,” Siri said.
Wind looked at me with wide eyes. “Dream Crusher?”
“If the name fits…”
“Um…I don’t think—”
“Donotfinish that sentence, Wind,” I said, the anger that had been bubbling to life since the accident nearly spilling over. “Don’t even go there!”