Page 20 of Halftime

“What?” I had no idea what she was talking about.

“You play hockey. There’s a reason there are more girls at these parties than guys. They want to brag about being with a hockey player. And if you played professionally, there would be even more women who would want to sleep with you, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“I’m just saying I understand that. I’m not like her, your ex. I know you’ll be under pressure, and I’m not going to freak out. You can be honest with me, and I’m not going to cut you off that way. We can always talk and work things out.”

I stared at Holly, trying to make sense of what she was saying.

Did she not believe me when I said I hadn’t cheated? Or was she saying she didn’t care? I felt a little dizzy, like I’d had too much cheap beer. I took a look at my cup, half full. Was there something in it?

“You wouldn’t care if I cheated on you?” My voice sounded off to me, but this whole conversation was off.

“Obviously, I’d care, Sebastien. I’m just saying that your case is a little different than regular guys, and we’d work with that.”

Right. My case was different. I played hockey. Ice slithered down my spine.

This was exactly the shit that made Faith the way she was. Her dad thought his case was different because he used to play hockey, and his clients, the ones who got in trouble when they were caught with hookers or sports groupies, they thought they were special because of the sports they played.

I hated that. I hated that some people thought they had permission to hurt others because of their job, or fame, or wealth. I didn’t understand someone like Holly who was willing to accept that. Did she really believe she didn’t deserve the same kind of commitment from me because I play a sport?

Or did she think it was an option for her, too? I looked at her like I was seeing her for the first time. Like she was a stranger. She didn’t know me, not if she thought I’d be like that. Maybe she didn’t need to know me. Maybe she just needed to know I wore a jersey, that she was a hockey player’s girlfriend.

I didn’t feel dizzy anymore. I was hot with embarrassment and anger. I didn’t want to be with someone who saw only me as a hockey player. For so much of my life, the only value people had found in me had been in my ability to play hockey. They didn’t care about who else I was.

I’d hoped someday I’d find someone who was interested in the guy under the jersey. I’d had that with Faith. The last thing she’d wanted was to be with a hockey player, so I knew she had seen me, the real me, not the player. She’d wanted me in spite of me being a hockey player. That’s what I wanted in a relationship. But it seemed it wasn’t what I had with Holly.

I did need to talk to Faith. But I also needed to talk to my girlfriend.

Not here, not at a party. Because to break up with Holly in the middle of a party would be an asshole move, and I didn’t want to be an asshole. But neither could I stand here and pretend what she’d said hadn’t affected me.

“I’m going to get a drink.” I turned, headed for the kitchen, and went on out through the doors.

Things were blowing up with my girlfriend. I wanted to know if the same thing was happening with my teammate and my ex.

I wasn’t thrilled to see Coop still talking to Faith. Even less thrilled when he volunteered to be her rebound. My hands had curled into fists before I’d realized what I was doing. But she didn’t take him up on it, not Faith. Instead, she told him she’d already rebounded.

Of course, she had. She believed I’d cheated.

I had no right to be upset. I’d rebounded, too, but I still hated the thought of Faith with someone else. Which was another kind of asshole behavior, but apparently, I had more of that in me than I liked.

I moved closer, and Coop looked over at me.

“You mind going away, Coop? Faith and I need to talk.”

I couldn’t read Coop’s face in the dark, but he moved aside.

“Play nice, kids.”

Then it was just Faith and me.

She turned to face me, but I couldn’t read her expression in the dark, either. I didn’t know what Coop had been up to. I had a good idea what it was though.

“What did Cooper tell you?”

I suspected he’d decided Faith needed to hear the truth. He was probably right, but I should have been the one to tell her. Except she wouldn’t have listened.

“He gave me a story about what happened last year.”

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