Chapter 3
Thomas leaves the hospital room and she steps out to wave in Petrov.
He's standing in a corner, trying to look invisible despite his large frame.
He still looks like a scared child.
But when she gestures for him, he perks up.
She watches him straighten his back and square his shoulders, lift his chin up.
He walks past her into the room, looking fully the vision of Ironport Rovers' star captain.
"Ilyaaaa!" she hears in Connor's high-pitched voice full of medication-induced joy.
Mei closes the door and stays outside.
She allows herself to collapse onto a plastic chair.
It's not that her son is, most likely, gay.
She's considered and came to terms with that possibility already, long before Iris.
Her son, however, is having a secret... well, definitely something with the worst possible man.
They have so much to lose, both of them.
Their lives, their entire careers are centered around their rivalry.
If this came out—
There's a part of her that wants to storm into the hospital room, tell them to say their goodbyes and to never see each other off the ice again.
For both their good.
That wouldn't solve anything.
Instead, she takes out her phone.
Her conversation with Iris – Alexei – is still open.
She closes out of it and Googles yesterday's game.
Ironport won, of course.
She can't bring herself to care about the score.
Not when her screen is flooded with news articles and videos of her son's injury.
In one thumbnail, she sees Petrov hovering in the frame even as the focus is on Connor on the stretcher.
Almost involuntarily, she taps on the video.
She can't watch for long.
Yet she sees what she's missed while rushing down from the stands.
Alexei Petrov, hovering on the ice, shellshocked.
There's a knot in her throat as she closes the window.
She tries watching a few minutes of the resumed game.
Petrov on the screen plays like she's never seen him play before.
Without his usual flare, just sharp, vicious precision.
Like a man possessed.
Or—
A man not in possession of his soul.
Before Thomas can return with the food, a nurse comes for a scheduled checkup and Petrov walks out of the hospital room.
He leans against the wall and lets his head fall backwards with an audible thump.
"He's on many drugs," he says.
Mei forces a smile.
"They gave him the good stuff."
Petrov nods.
His hands are in his pockets again, but there's nothing nonchalant about his posture.
"Can I ask something?" Mei tries.
Petrov turns his head towards her.
"This... thing between you two, is it just a fling?"
She knows it's vain hope, but she still hopes he'll say yes.
Instead, he says nothing at all.
"Is it serious?"
"It's not nothing."
Which is not a yes.
It's definitely not a no.
How has Mei missed this?
Where was she in her son's life?
What has she done that let Connor believe he had to hide this from her?
How many horrible things has she said about this man in front of Connor, to Connor?
How many of them were true?
The boy standing against the wall is an enigma.
Thomas returns just then, a bag of sandwiches in one hand, and Petrov jumps to attention.
Instantly, his entire demeanor changes.
He is ready to present an award or greet a minister.
Or face a father.
"Hi," Thomas says, gentle surprise written across his features.
"Mr.
Vance," Petrov nods his head.
His voice seems deeper than just moments ago.
Mei gets up and takes the bag from Thomas.
"This is Mr. Petrov of the Ironport Rovers," she says, because she's not certain Thomas recognizes him at all, although he knows the man's name, of course.
"Alexei Petrov," Petrov reintroduces himself as he accepts the hand Thomas is already holding out.
His given name has fewer syllables and a somehow softer sound than how the press pronounces it.
"I am here to visit Connor.
To see he is okay.
I'm very sorry what happened.
We are very sorry."
"That's very kind of you," Thomas says.
"Sportsmanship," Petrov replies, but his voice wavers, betraying him.
He adds, with more honesty:
"Not just.
I was worried."
Mei places her hand on Petrov's arm.
"We're very glad you came, Alexei," she says, as gently as she is able, and she hopes she got it right.
His name.
So much more suitable for the scared young man she sees now, looking at him up close.
He looks at her and his eyes are suddenly watery.
She wants to hug him, like she's hugged Garrett, but she fears that if she does, they'll both crumble.
"Should I have brought more food?" Thomas asks.
No, I'm not staying.
I have a flight, the team is leaving."
Thomas frowns.
"I could have gotten you a sandwich for the road."
That startles a sound almost like a laugh from Alexei.
"Thank you, Mr. Vance." He relaxes a little.
Then he turns to Mei.
"Thank you, Mrs. Vance.
Thank you," he repeats, softer still.
"I'm confused," Thomas says when Alexei has left and they sit down to quickly eat their sandwiches, before they return to Connor's hospital room.
"Don't we hate Petrov?"
"No, at the moment we don't, not really."
Her husband sighs.
"I can't keep up."
Soon, she promises herself.
Soon, she'll have Connor bring him to the same page.
"We've met Petrov," Thomas says.
"He was just here," Connor is trying to sound neutral and keep a smile off his face, but it's a lost battle.
"He came to see me," he says the last two words as if they had about three times as many vowels.
"You scared him," Mei says, looking at her boy and seeing him in a new light.
Seeing everything in a new light.
"I'm sorry," Connor says, but he sounds like he would be kicking his feet and giggling into his pillow, if he could.
Connor's IrisI didn't tell him you knowI should haveI'll talk to him.Before I give him his phone.So he can yell at meNot yellScold me?
Is the word?
Connor doesn't yellHe yelled at Derek Walsh once.