Gunner
I’m in a foul mood, and I’m not doing anything to hide it. I was supposed to be cleared by now, so I could play in tonight’s game. Instead, that idiotTrenttold me I’ve got at least another week before I can even think about using my arm. I’ve got anger and aggression coursing through my system and no way to burn it off. I’ve done as many leg workouts as my body can take, but it’s still not enough. I need to be on the ice; I need to be out there with my team.
“Coftman!” Coach barks out from behind me. I turn back to face him, not bothering to hide my irritation. I don’t say anything but rather wait for him to speak. He takes his good old time getting to me, and I clench my jaw. Coach can’t be rushed. When he wants to say something, he will; until then, you just wait. I’ve learned that the hard way. “I want you out on the ice tonight.” He puts a hand up before I can say anything. “Not to play, but I want you out there for warm-ups.” My hope rises and plummets in a matter of five seconds. “The guys need your leadership out there.”
I nod, unsurprised at his words. It makes sense. I’m not going to fight a chance at getting out there on the ice tonight, even if it’s not to play. “I’ll be ready.” He leaves without another word, and I head to the locker room with a little bit more energy than I did a few minutes ago. At least, I can get back out on the ice with my team.
I’m one of the last ones to the locker room, since I didn’t think I was going out on the ice tonight. I start the process ofgetting dressed for the game. It’s a slower process than usual because of my shoulder, but each day is better. I’m in the process of pulling up my pants when I hear her. “I’m coming in! Cover up!”
With that, the door bangs open. I quickly pull up my pants, so I can intercept Chloe. She only does this when she’s angry, and I have no idea who did something to cause her anger this time. I only know that I always try to intercept her and give my teammates a chance to cover up before she unleashes her fury on someone. “Coftman!” She barks. I hear several of my teammates speak at the same time.
“Chloe! What the—”
“What happened to you!”
I finish with my pants and spin around and lock her in my gaze. The breath in my chest stalls, and I go from zero to sixty in less than a second. The locker room goes utterly quiet as I stalk over to her. “Who did this to you?” I demand as anger courses through my veins. I reach out to touch her chin, but she jerks it away. I drop my hand but not before taking in the details of her very black and very bruised eye and cheekbone. My eyes meet hers. “I’m not going to ask again. Give me a name.” My voice is very low, and I fight the rage roaring through my veins. I feel like I am barely in control. Chloe lifts her head and throws her shoulders back and shakes her head, wincing slightly at the movement. She quickly covers it up, but I notice. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Why are you on the roster for tonight’s game?” she asks with her hands on her hips.
“Who?” I demand.
She smiles at me, but it’s not her genuine smile that lights up her entire face, the one I rarely get to see. “I met your girlfriend last night.”
I stare at her. “What are you talking about? You’re my fiancé.” I am very aware of all of my teammates watching.
“Jenny Prenderson.” She says the name slowly, and I feel the blood drain from my face.
“What happened?” I manage to get out.
She waves a hand like it’s no big deal. “That’s not why I came in here.” She puts her hands on her hips. “Back to you. What are you doing? Trent told you no for tonight’s game.”
His name on her lips always makes me want to smash something, but I manage to maintain an outward calm. I need to get to the bottom of what happened to her. “Coach told me to go out on the ice for warm up.” I keep my voice low and even. “That’s all.”
“So, you’re not playing?” I shake my head. Her entire body seems to deflate. “Good. She drops her arms to her sides.
I can’t stop staring at her face. “Have you taken anything?”
She waves off my concern. “I’ve been taking stuff all day.”
I don’t know how I missed this; she must have holed up in her office all day because I didn’t hear a word about this from anybody. I missed having lunch with her because we had a team meeting during lunch and too many things after that. I bend over slightly, so I’m eye to eye with her. “I’m sorry.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don't be. It accomplished exactly what I wanted it to.”
"I’m not following.”
She smirks, and my blood heats. “I took a picture of my face and posted it on social media with an exact account of what happened last night.”
“You wanted to get hit?” I can’t keep the shock and anger form my voice.
She shrugs. “I mean I didn’t think she would legitimately hit me; I was going more for a statement I could use against her. But this works too.” I wrap my hand around hers and give her a smalltug as I pull her through the locker room and out the door. She narrows those gorgeous chocolate brown eyes at me. “Did you forget how to use your words, Coftman? Or do you usually haul women somewhere when you want to say something.”
I step closer, and she steps back until her back is pressed against the wall. “I didn’t haul you anywhere. I simplybroughtyou out here so we could have a conversation without my entire team listening and watching.”
She huffs at me. “Well, next time just ask.”
“Because you would have listened?” I retort.
She doesn’t skip a beat. “Probably not.”