Page 15 of The Penalty Box

“This is a fucking scrimmage, not a boxing ring,” Coach yells as he comes between the two of us. For an old guy, he sure as hell is intimidating and can hold his own on the ice. “I will not have your blood sully my ice. But since it seems today’s practice wasn’t hard enough, and you have too much restless energy, we’ll resolve it the old-fashioned way.”

There are a few low groans coming from some of the guys.

“Drills,” Coach barks. “Ward, Hill, you’re up first.” His dark eyes look between the two of us. There is an almost wicked gleam in them that tells me all I need to know. The guy gets off on seeing the sweat drip off our faces and our knees wobble once he’s done with us. And whatever he has in the stove for us, we won’t like it. Not one bit. “We’ll see if you have all that hostile energy in your body once we’re done tonight.”

* * *

“I’m going tokillyou,” Jack hisses as he lowers his ass on the bench next to me. “What the fuck is wrong with you, man?”

“He was asking for it.” I shrug, but even the small movement hurts like hell.

The locker room is quiet. Most of the guys just packed their things and left without even taking a shower, but my whole body was dripping in sweat, so there was no way around it.

“Youwere asking for it.” This comes from Mike, who’s already dressed and ready to go. His angry gaze staring at me. To say our teammates are holding a grudge against Hill and me is an understatement. “You’ve been out of it since Monday. What the hell?”

“I’m fine,” I grunt, looking away.

“You’re notfine.You’re acting like a girl with her panties in a twist, Ward. Who pissed in your Cheerios?”

I pull my shirt over my head forcefully. “Just let it go.”

The last thing I wanted to talk about is this. I didn’t want tothinkabout it, let alone actually voice the words.

I push my equipment in the locker when Mike’s words stop me in my tracks.

“Does this have anything to do with Evie going out on a date with Noah Russell?”

And here it is, the reason for my piss poor mood.

My fingers tighten against the metal to the point my knuckles turn white. “How the fuck do you know about that?”

The silence stretches behind me, and I don’t have to look at them to know they’re exchanging a look behind my back. Like waiting for the bomb to explode.

Is it a public thing now? Are they serious? Fucking Russell didn’t even take her out on a proper date and…

Pushing away from the locker, I watch as the door closes shut, the sound echoing through the room.

“Fuck!”

“So that’swhat has you all riled up.”

“I’m not riled up about anything,” I protest, shoving my things into a duffle.

I need to get out of here. Now.

“Sure, man. Whatever you say.”

Throwing my bag over my shoulder I start for the door, but something keeps me back. “How the hell do you even know about it?”

I can’t help but ask. I have to know, and it’s not like I can ask Evie about it. Not that I would on a good day, but to be able to ask her, I’d have to talk to her first and so far, she’s still ignoring me.

I’m not even sure when was the last time we haven’t talked for more than a couple of days.

Never. You always talk.

Not anymore.

When there is no answer, I turn around to my two friends. “Well?”

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