Page 13 of Cloudless
Kam’s eyes stay trained on him as he skates away backwards. A dangerous edge underlies his words as he says, “Wise choice.” His eyes flick to me before he finally turns to leave the ice, his three teammates following him into the dark abyss of the tunnel.
I’m left standing there with my pulse beating wildly in my neck, staring after the captain of the hockey team.
What the hell just happened?
Jasper looks up at me, beaming with his new prize in-hand. “I wonder if he has a swear jar at home, too.”
CHAPTER 7
FUTURE BOSS LADY
KAM
My hands shake as I rip off my helmet. “That son of a bitch is lucky there was glass between us.”
My friends are silent behind me as my locker door rattles on its hinges. I turn, expecting my anger to be reflected in my friends’ eyes, but find grins instead. Even Wyatt has a gleam in his usually stoic eyes.
The creaking of Coach's office door alerts us it’s time for his usual end-of-game speech.
His signature three taps on the nearest locker gets everyone's attention. Silence blankets the room as Coach claims his spot near the whiteboard. “You played well tonight, men. You should be proud of yourselves. I know the score was close, but you worked together as a team. That’s one of the best start-of-the-season scrimmages we’ve had here at Summit State.”
My ears ring from the echoes of fists banging on lockers in the crowded space. “Enjoy a rest day tomorrow. You’ve earned it.” He raises his voice to be heard over the roar brought on by the news of a rest day. “Be here for practice Tuesday at 4:00 pm.”
Coach’s all-knowing gaze shifts to me. “Kam, a word.”
He vanishes into his office as the room erupts in a collectiveohhhh.
With a grin, Mace slaps me on the back on his way to his locker. “Good luck with that.”
I keep my face blank and my chin high as I step into Coach’s office. His sigh speaks louder than any word he could say. A thunk rings through the room as his SSU hat lands in the center of his desk.
The fluorescent overhead lights reflect off his bald head as he takes his seat. My knees touch the front of his desk as I lower myself into the lone chair across from him. Family photos and neat stacks of paper crowd the room, adding to the claustrophobic feeling I get every time I come in here.
He crosses his arms as his sharp eyes bore into me. The chair that’s probably older than I am groans under his weight. “Is there something you need to tell me, Kam?”
My face remains neutral under his scrutiny. “No, sir.”
He raises one eyebrow. “Really? NoaltercationI need to know about with one of our biggest donors, perhaps?”
My eyes stay steady, never straying from his, as my voice remains firm. “No, sir. Nothing to worry about.”
One quick nod is all he gives me before he stands. A clear dismissal for the night. “See that it stays that way.”
I give a nod of acknowledgement as I stand. “Yes, sir.” I feel his eyes boring a hole into the back of my head as I leave the room.
Chatter flowing from the showers nearly swallows the click of his door shutting behind me. The frosted window in the door shows his shadow moving back to his desk.
Tension never leaves my shoulders as I dig my fingers into the rough fabric of a towel. Echoed voices bounce off the tile walls of the damp room as I make my way into the steam-filled showers.
Wyatt's raised brows drip with shampoo as I pass him to claim my usual shower in the far corner. A quick incline of my head lets him know everything is well.
My impatience to get out of the locker room wins over my desire for a hot shower. The cool water sends a wave of chill bumps cascading down my back as I lather the soap in my hand.
My movements turn automatic as the water warms and images of Matt and his dad’s smug smirk flood my mind. I shake the water from my eyes and the images from my mind.
We have a win to celebrate.
Humid air and muffled voices fill the atrium. Faces of friends and strangers alike blur together, along with their offered congratulations and words of encouragement. My eyes stay on a swivel, using my height to my advantage, as I search for a pair of mischievous eyes that remind me so much of my own, and an attitude far too big for her tiny body.
