Page 29 of Stick It
“Yeah, but?—”
“Iam the captain.” The lockers literally shake with the force of Ethan’s voice as it echoes off the walls. “Youwillobey me, or you can walk out that door, but if you do, don’t bother coming back.”
The locker room is dead silent now. Even Griffin, who’d gone back to peeling the tape from his stick, has gone still, his sharp gaze flicking between Ethan and Kyle.
Kyle’s glare hardens, his lips pressed into a tight line. For a moment, I think he’s going to storm out. I’m hoping he does. But then his jaw works as though chewing on something particularly bitter before he nods, not quite meeting Ethan’s eye. Turning on his heel, he throws open the door and stomps toward the ice.
A heavy silence settles over the room in Kyle’s wake. Ethan exhales slowly, his shoulders still tense as he turns back to the team. “Anyone else got a problem they want to work out?” His voice is calm now, but there’s an edge to it that makes it clear he’s done taking anyone’s crap.
No one says a word.
Ethan nods once, sharp and decisive. “Good. Hit the showers then get the fuck out of here.”
My gaze slides back to Griffin, finding him already staring at me. He holds my gaze for a moment, something passingbetween us that I can’t grasp, before that charming grin slips back into place like a well-worn mask.
I look away, shaking my head as I grab my towel and head for the showers. But I can’t help glancing back at him one last time, that icy look still burning in my mind.
My phone pings as I step out the stadium doors, the fresh air blowing away some of the exhaustion from a grueling practice, followed by a self-inflicted skate around the ice to blow off steam. Rolling out the ache in my shoulders that tells me I’ve pushed myself too hard today, I fish my phone from my bag, finding a message from Wren. For the first time all day, a smile graces my lips.
Despite her fangirling, I returned to the library the next day, finding Wren in the same spot behind the reception desk. We ate lunch together, and it has become a near-daily routine, when our schedules align. I’ve opened up to her somewhat regarding the conflict between myself and my new team members, so I’m not surprised when I see her question.
Wren
How was practice?
I immediately type out a response, as I slowly make my way down the stadium steps, leg muscles straining.Ugh, I’m going to have to soak in the bath when I get home if I want to avoid being stiff as hell tomorrow.
Me
Went about as well as a root canal with no anesthetic.
Wren
Ouch. Did someone swap your stick out again?
My lips press together, recalling that practice several days ago when some asshole swapped my stick out during a water break for one that had a different curve. It took me long enough to realize it wasn’t mine and adapt to the different handling that I let enough pucks skate by to make me look like a first-degree idiot. Not to mention the hour I spent after practice hunting down myactualstick in a storage closet on an admin floor of the stadium.
Of course, that’s not the only prank that has been pulled. I’ve had trash dumped in my locker, gear wrapped in tape so thoroughly that I’ve been late to practice, plus a dozen other little things that only serve to drive me crazy.
Not to mention the whispers and shoves in the hallway between classes, the side-eyes knowingly telling me I don’t belong. The team is playing at psychological warfare. What they don’t realize is that I’ve been surviving this game for years already. It’s going to take a hell of a lot more than stolen gear and dirty looks to get me to back down.
Shaking off the hazing I’ve endured so far, I respond to Wren.
Me
Nah. Just Kyle being his typical asshole self.
Wren
Kyle’s a grade A douche.
Have you tried talking to your Captain about any of it?
I snort to myself at that, casting a surreptitious glance around the parking lot as I cross it, before walking out the gates of BSU and heading down the sidewalk to Athletes Row.
Me
Not sure Ethan is any better. He stopped me on the ice after practice and basically tried to demand respect without earning it. Like being made Captain means respect is automatic. Not impressed!
