Page 37 of The Flirty Forward

Zac throws his towel across the room. “What was that? We played terrible out there. Hart, what’s the deal, Dude?”

Gunner stands up. “Hart’s not the only player out there,” he says with a scowl at Zac. “You didn’t play well either, and I didn’t either.” I absently wonder what’s bothering our stoic captain. Nothing ever bothers him, but something was off with him tonight. He didn’t play great either. He turns to me. “Anything you want to share, Hart?”

I stand to my feet and take off my shirt, ready to head to the showers. “Nope.”

“Tonight’s performance couldn't have had anything to do with a certain teacher, right?” Rico asks.

I level a look at Rico. “Let it go.”

He puts his hands up. “I’m just saying maybe we should talk about it.”

“Are you still having problems with that teacher?” Gunner asks. Something about the way he asks gets under my skin, and I turn towards him. I know that taking on my captain, especially this guy who’s built like an ox, is a dumb idea. But dumb ideas are about all I’m capable of right now.

“Her name isStephanie,” I tell him in a low voice. I hear a few ooo’s from my teammates, and I feel like boxing their ears in.

“The dark-haired teacher? She’s a hot piece of—”

I’m turning on the rookie before he even gets the words out. Surprisingly, Rico beats me to it. “If you want to keep your head attached to your body, don’t finish that sentence, Rook.”

Dylan looks around confused. “What?”

“You don’t mess with one of our own’s women. Not in here, not anywhere,” Gunner says with complete authority.

Dylan blanches slightly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean any offense.”

I should tell him it’s fine, but I don’t. “If you have woman problems, I can help you out,” Zac says, sticking out his chest like an idiot. “You may not know this about me, but I’m pretty good with the ladies.” Travis smacks him with a towel, even as some of my teammates laugh.

“Sebastian is the most popular guy on the team,” Travis says, shaking his head. “He doesn’t need any help when it comes to women. He’s with a different one every night.” The guys laugh and jeer, but I don’t. I want to rip him a new one, but he’s not exactly wrong. I’m not really with a new woman every night, but I allow people to think that about me. I play up to it by never taking the same date to an event, but it’s all for show.

“If Sebastian needs our help, he’ll tell us,” Rico says, meeting my eyes. “Isn’t that right, Hart?”

“I don’t need any help,” I manage to grunt out.

“So, things went well with Stephanie last night?” Aiden asks.

It goes absolutely silent, and I want to punch my friend. “No, it didn’t. Thanks for bringing that up.” I grab my towel to head to the showers, but Gunner steps in front of me.

“Sit.”

“I’m going to the showers.”

“Sit,” he says again. I take a breath; I’m not going to be an idiot and go against my captain in front of my teammates. He deserves respect, and I’ll give that to him.Now. Later? Not so much. I sit and cross my arms across my chest. “What’s going on with your girl?” Even though he’s trying to help, his words are like a gut punch.

“She’s not my girl. Not yet anyway.”

“You need help getting the girl?” Zac asks standing.

Rico shoves him back down. “Not your help.”

Gunner shakes his head and turns back to me. “What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Your game or lack thereof on the ice begs to differ,” Aiden says dryly.

I scowl at him. “Come on; let us help,” Rico says. “If it helps you focus, then it’s a win for all of us.” I want to tell our goalie to just focus on keeping pucks out of the net, but I keep my mouth shut.

I look around the room and realize I’m not getting out of here until I say something. “Fine. I had a run-in with my niece’s teacher. I was interested; she was not.” Zac stands up and starts playing an imaginary violin. Dylan and Scott shove him back down.

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