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Tears that I’ve been holding at bay for weeks spill over Tucker cups my cheek with one warm hand and stares firmly into my eyes

"You’re not alone," he says, fierce and low "And you’re not dragging anyone down I’m here with you, Sabrina Every step of the way"

That’s what I’m afraid of

Tucker

In hockey, nearly everyone plays with a partner The offense forward line isThe defense skates in pairs Only the goalie is alone and he’s aleird Always

Kenny Sioalies at Briar and probably the reason on three Frozen Fours in a row, but that guy had the strangest fucking habits He talked to himself more than he talked to anyone else, sat in the back of the bus, preferred to eat alone On the rare occasion that he caot into it with hiy available to children We argued about that topic for the entire three hours ere knocking back beers at the bar

Sabrina reminds me of Simms She’s not weird, but she’s closed off like he is She thinks she’s alone Basically, she’s never had anyone skate with her--not even her friends, Carin and Hope I kind of understand it The guys outside of my hockey team that I’ve been friendly with are decent, but I haven’t bled with them, cried with them, ith them I don’t know if they’ll have my back, because we’ve never been in a position where that loyalty has been tested

Sabrina doesn’t knohat it’s like to have someone stand beside her, let alone behind her And it’s for that reason that I don’t give in to the urge to shake her like a piñata for saying shit like I’m free to see other women The fear in her eyes is palpable, and I remind myself that patience is the key here

"Want me to follow you home?" I offer as I pull into the ca out a bit, irl hasn’t been able to look atin front of eneral To Sabrina, tears are a sign of weakness, and she can’t stand being viewed as anything less than Ah and cli her stiff body against o to the next doctor’s visit with you," I tell her

"Okay"

"Don’t get too excited about all of this You’ll wake up the baby," I say dryly

She flashes a pained s a baby?"

"There are weirder things Sia a baby seeory"