Fuck. It didn’t go in.

Pain shot down his shoulder, his neck throbbing as he got up slowly, and Karson came to make sure he was okay. He could hear Coach screaming, even Erik, and when he realized the whistle was blown for a penalty against him for high-sticking the dick that tripped him, he was screaming too.

“Are you serious?”

“High stick,” the ref yelled as he went for center ice, but Jordie followed.

“My stick went up because the douche tripped me!”

“Fucking pussy,” the guy called, but Jordie ignored him.

“No, you high-sticked him before you fell.”

“No! Fucking horseshit fucking call!” Jordie screamed, throwing his hands up. “Man, if I’d known you needed your dick sucked before the game for a decent call, I would have hired someone!”

The ref glared as he called the penalty, and Jordie headed into the box. Sitting down, Jordie glowered, watching as his team fought to keep the Stars from scoring. Tate was doing ninja goalie moves, smacking everything away, the boys clearing the zone every chance they got. They killed off the penalty, and when the time ran down, Jordie broke out of the box just as Erik sent it along the boards. Getting control of the puck, Jordie rushed the goal, the goalie coming out to stop him. But, taking a page out of Kacey’s book, Jordie deked to the left, then the right, confusing the hell out of the goalie, and then shot top shelf, getting the goal.

Hell. YES.

It was his first goal of the year.

And it felt damn good.

“Baby, you see my goal? That was for you,” Jordie boasted as Kacey grinned back at him.

“You mean, you stole my move and knew you had to dedicate the goal to me?” she teased and he nodded.

“Exactly.”

“Great goal, nonetheless. I’m proud of you,” she said with a bright grin, her eyes locked on his. He hated that this was the only way he could see her. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, but thankfully, only two more days.

“Thanks, sugar thighs.”

She sent him a grin. “How’s your shoulder?”

He pulled his shirt down, showing her that he had one hell of a nasty bruise along his neck and shoulder. It hurt, but the scans said nothing was broken, and when they offered him pain meds, he declined. He actually felt sort of badass and extremely proud of himself.

Looking at the screen, she grimaced and said, “Ouch.”

“Yeah, wish you were here to kiss it better.”

“Me too,” she agreed, moving her hand through her hair. He loved how long it was getting. It’d be to the middle of her back in no time.

“I said no to the pain meds,” he said and her face lit up.

“’Cause you’re badass.”

“Very true,” he agreed, the pride bursting inside of him. Meeting her gaze, he asked, “Hey, you still miss me?”

She nodded as she looked down. “A lot.”

“Good.” She grinned up at him and he shot her one back. “You look tired. You all right?”

She laughed. “Is that the way you tell me I look like shit?”

“No, brat, you just look beat. Wanna call me back?”

She shook her head. “No, I miss you and haven’t spoken to you much today.”

“Yeah, sorry. I had AA and then Elli found me a therapist to go talk to today.”

That sparked her interest as she sat up, taking the phone with her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he said confidently. “Few nights ago, Benji told me to make a list of three reasons why I needed my mom in my life. I could only come up with one, and it’s been weighing heavy on my heart. So Elli called this morning, asking how I was doing, and I told her about it and she found me someone to go talk to.”

She nodded slowly, her eyes looking down as she picked at her sweatpants. “And it went well?”

“Yeah, I think I’m ready to face her.”

“Awesome,” she said, but Jordie felt like there was more she wanted to say.

“And?”

She shrugged, looking up at him. “You could have talked to me… No, wait, never mind. That makes me an asshole to say that, and I don’t mean it. I’m glad you went. I just miss you, and I feel like we aren’t that close when you are gone.”

When her eyes filled with tears and she looked away, his heart lurched in his chest. “Baby,” he said softly and she shook her head.

“Ignore me. I’m on a whole other level right now.”

“Sugar thighs, we are still very close and I miss you so much,” he said to reassure her. “I know I could have talked to you, but you are one-sided, y’know? You hate my mom with good reason, and I know what you would say. I wanted the opinion of someone who doesn’t know her.”

“Yeah, I know,” she said slowly, wiping her face. She waved him off. “I’m just tired, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he said quickly, his eyes searching hers. He wanted nothing more than to reach through the phone and pull her into his arms. He could tell she was struggling, which he was too. For the last couple of months, it had been just the two of them, and now it was only her. In a huge house, by herself, when she never had lived alone before.

“So the therapist did help?” she asked, wiping her face, and he nodded.

“Yeah, baby, she did. She was nice,” he said and she smiled.

“I’m glad.”

“Are you okay?” he asked and she shrugged.