Huck
FRIDAY, WE WALKED out of the doctor’s office, our mood a little grimr than when we’d walked in. It was looking as though I was going to have to have a full knee replacent.
"That’s sothing like six months for a full recovery, right?" I deduced.
"Yes," Dr. Patel confird.
"Does that an his hockey career is over?" Daisy asked.
Dr. Patel shook his head. "Not necessarily. A high percentage of my patients return to their normal activities once post-surgery physical therapy has been completed. Of course, most of my patients are not professional hockey players, but given your age and physical fitness, Huck, I think you have a great chance at getting back onto the ice."
"And you have and the club to help you out with whatever you need," Daisy added.
I gave her hand a squeeze. "I know. I think I just need a little ti to wrap my head around the whole thing. Is it okay if I think about it before giving you my final answer?"
Dr. Patel smiled wide. "Of course. Surgery of any kind is a big decision. Feel free to contact my office at any ti once you’ve made your decision and we’ll book your pre-op appointnt and surgery date should you decide to move forward."
We thanked Dr. Patel, left his office, and made our way downtown. Daisy had set up a happy hour date with Gina and Clutch at McCartan’s, a family-owned chain of brew pubs that were scattered throughout the greater Portland area. Apparently, great grandpappy McCartan invented the little tal part that goes between the eraser and the pencil, which made him a gazillion dollars back in the day. These days it’s beer and wings that keep the McCartan family vault filled with gold coins.
"You doin’ okay?" Daisy asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"You haven’t said a word in the past ten minutes," she replied with a smile. "I know you’re a bit on the quiet side, but c’mon."
"I’m sorry, baby. I promise I’ll be good company at dinner—"
"It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize, and you can always be yourself around . Gina and Clutch as well for that matter."
"Thank you," I said, taking her hand and giving it a kiss.
"You’ve got a lot on your mind, and I don’t want you to feel alone."
I shook my head. "It’s the opposite. I’ve never felt more connected to a person than I do to you, and I think that’s what’s ssing with my head."
"What do you an?" she asked, as we pulled up to the restaurant.
I parked the car, shut off the engine, and turned to face Daisy. "Whether or not I ever get to play pro hockey again has been a hypothetical question up until this point. A giant ’what if’ in the life of a young single guy. But now, there’s a chance that I could play again, and I’m scared."
"Why are you scared? What’s changed?"
"You," I replied. "You walked into my life, and everything changed. And now when I picture my possible future in the league, you’re with ."
"And that scares you?"
"No. What scares is the thought of not being able to play like I did before, or sothing going wrong and not being able to play at all. Now that the possibility of returning to the ga is on the table, I’m afraid of losing it. And if I do, how would I support our family?"
Daisy smiled. "Our family?"
"If you’d like to have one with so day," I replied.
"Are you proposing to ?"
I shook my head. "When I propose to you, you’ll know it. But I told you from the start that I don’t play gas off the ice. You asked what was on my mind and that’s it. I’m afraid of any kind of future that doesn’t have you in it. I want to play again, and I want us to start a new Chapter of life together."
"Then let’s do it. Let’s get you back on the ice and take on everything else as it cos. I love you and I don’t want to be apart any more than you do, so let’s do this together."
"I love you, Daisy. And I will ask you to marry soday."
She gave a sassy grin. "Just know that my heart will take more than six months of rest and rehab if you break it."
"I’d rather break my other knee."
We leaned in together for a long kiss. A kiss that felt like the sealing of a promise, then we made our way inside to find Clutch and Gina already seated at a table near the window. They waved us over and stood to greet us. The ladies hugged and Clutch and I shook hands while we made our introductions.
"Should I still call you Doc or...?" I asked Gina.
"God, no. Please. It’ll make feel like I’m at work," she replied. "Gina’s fine, although most of the guys in the club call Eldie."
"Eldie? That’s a pretty na. I’ve never heard it before."
"It’s L.D.", Clutch clarified as we took our seats. "Stands for Lady Doctor."
"A guy could get cancelled for a thing like that, these days," I joked.
"Can’t get any more cancelled than dead," Clutch said.
My eyes shot to Gina.
"What? I didn’t kill him," she said to laughter around the table.
"Cutter was the Burning Saints founder and president, and he loved Gina almost as much as I do."
"That’s why he got away with calling Eldie, and why I never mind when others do. It reminds of Cutter. So, feel free to call Eldie."
"Then Eldie it is," I said.
A server arrived at our table with a large tray loaded up with pint glasses and shots.
"I took the liberty of ordering a few rounds in advance before y’all got here," Clutch said. "I hope you don’t mind."
"How could we?" I replied, taking a pint of what looked like stout.
"I had them bring a little of everything," Clutch said.
"Is this tequila?" Daisy asked the server.
"Patrón," she replied with a nod.
"Perfect. Bad tequila gives a horrible headache, but good tequila makes happy and horny."
"I’m going to stock you up with so much fine tequila your liquor cabinet will look like Sammy Hagar’s," I avowed.
Daisy shook her head. "Sorry, I’m a ride or die Diamond Dave gal."
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