“It’s simple. You need to move on from it. If you’re going to survive this team, then you need to start from scratch. Have you talked to anyone about the baby? It’s not good to keep all that anger pent up, son. You need a new start,” he says as if it’s that simple, and I wish it was.
I let out a deep sigh, and the seat cracks under my shifting weight.
“Yeah, I’ve talked to Beast. I’m working through it, and no, I don’t want to fucking talk about it. Someone should have told me,” I grind out between clenched teeth, then take deep breaths to cool my anger before Coach really does kick me off the team.
“What were they supposed to do? Write a fucking column in Cosmo? It’s none of their damn business. It was between you and another team player, so fix it,” he demands, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
“What the hell do you want me to do? What would you do? Want me to hold their hands on the ice or make them work for my trust again? I’ll try, Coach, because I want our team to win and have the best shot. That fucker though, he doesn’t deserve shit,” I grunt, crossing my arms as my leg jiggles from feeling cooped up.
“You want a shot at the NHL, kid? The pros aren’t gonna tolerate a defeatist attitude. Keep trying, or you’ll end up at the bottom.” He sighs and waves for me to leave with his hand, as if he can’t even look at me.
Rising, I head to his closed office door, wanting to get the hell out of here and hit the gym. I need to work off this pent-up energy, since practice sure as hell didn’t cut it. As I swing open the door, Coach has one more thing to say to me, and I’m sure the whole locker room hears.
“You’re going places, so don’t let one beautiful, crazy woman stop you from moving forward after your dreams. There are still good people out there who will have your back, Granger. Don’t forget that. Get your head out of your ass! We have games to win,” he grunts out, dismissing me.
I don’t bother turning around, I keep my sights on the one person who was supposed to have my back, to be my brother on this team. Jeff holds my stare before quickly looking away, the coward. I turn my head to the left so only the coach can hear me.
“It wasn’t the secret affair that affected me so much. It’s the lies that followed, Coach. I can’t forget that, but I’ll try to play nice for the sake of the team and myself,” I promise with my heart pounding at the thought.
And with that, I stride back to the door that leads into the rink, where my exit awaits. The sound of the door slamming behind me is very satisfying—freedom at last.
I spoke too soon as I hear heavy footsteps marching right behind me. Only one person can make that much noise while simply walking—Henry, also known as “Beast.” I turn my head towards him as I continue walking, I really just want to get out of this building. Seeing my duffle bag in his hand, which I clearly forgot on the bench in the locker room, I give him a subtle nod of thanks. He only grunts in acknowledgment of my gratitude, the ass. He walks by, dropping my bag on the ground, and his big feet keep stomping away.
Suddenly turning around with amazing speed for his size, he blocks the exit with his hands on his waist and feet apart. I roll my eyes as I mentally chant ‘fuck shit.’ I'm not doing this right now. My blood is still heated from practice.
Beast has been my friend, more like a brother, since freshman year. We made plans to get the hell out of here and go pro together one day, the fucking sooner, the better. Scouts are watching our every move right now, so we need to pick up our game and get this team together. This fucker has had my back from the very beginning, no questions asked, he just stands behind me like a surly giant. I haven’t talked to him since that night I spilled my guts about Victoria cheating, and I can’t even look him in the eye without feeling like a fool.
That night I learned two things—never trust anyone, even those closest to you, and never fucking fall in love. You only get stomped on, and the edges of your heart close off after breaking into a million pieces all over the damn ground. I thought I might have loved her, or at least could’ve seen myself loving her, but I was blind and she sank her claws into me. It was too late to break up with her when she dropped the baby news on me, but fuck, I was going to step up no matter what and be there. It wasn’t even the cheating that crushed my heart, it was her other lies—
I shut that thought down fast. Nope, not going there. I glance away from Beast’s all too knowing sharp brown gaze and peer at the empty rink.
I can still picture her here. That bright cotton candy colored hair swirling freely around her face, obscuring incredibly clear blue eyes with an expression of deep sorrow hidden away past the surface. Speaking of eyes, my own narrow as my thoughts betray me. So what if she was the most beautiful, graceful, and witty woman I’ve ever met? She spells trouble, and I want nothing to do with a woman who will plunge her fist through my chest, rip my beating heart out, and feast upon it as if it’s breakfast. Hard no for me.
Beast grunts under his breath and mumbles something that sounds like, “Get your head out
