Page 49 of Summer Shot
“Before you leave the locker room today, submit two or three players as alternate captains.” Trilled murmurs and excited whispers goaround the rink. “Don’t fucking forget. And make sure you can read your handwriting,” I order.
“Can we just write their number?”
“Silas, if you can’t write clear enough for someone to read your damn handwriting, then, sure, write the jersey number.” I pinch the bridge of my noise and let out a sigh. “As long as it’s easy to tell who it is—that’s what matters.
The murmurs around the bench grow louder.
“When will they be announced?”
“Next week,” I clarify, my voice echoing authoritatively above the loud mutters of anticipation. “Make sure you all do it before you leave. The box is right next to the door.”
Signaling for everyone to head to the locker room, the noise grows louder. For being a group of men, they sure like to gossip.
“And Harlan,” I shout. “Don’t fucking fold your paper thirty times like a nitwit. Just fold it in half.”
Harlan chuckles, muttering, “Hope you make the right decisions on your alternates, Captain.” He salutes me and heads into the locker room.
No fucking pressure.
Chapter twenty-three
Blaine
“Hey, Mitch,” Ryder utters quietly next to me. “Think you’ll make alternate captain?”
My shoulders rise in a silent answer.
“Before I met you,” Ryder’s voice grows louder, “I heard rumors.”
Ryder gulps down half a water bottle before continuing. “Rumors that you were rowdy, ruthless,” he pauses, taking another sip, “had a bad reputation.”
My eyes narrow and meet his. ”What are you getting at, Ryder?”
“Nothing, dude, just haven’t seen any of that.” Ryder slaps me on the bare back playfully. “I think you’ve got a good shot at making alternate captain is all.”
“Really?” My voice nearly cracks as I struggle to conceal the tremor in my words, my heart pounding wildly.
“Yeah, Mitch,” Ryder confirms loudly. “Give yourself more credit. You’re a real playmaker out there.”
With a hint of a smile, I ask, “Who do you think the other will be? You or Keith?”
Ryder chuckles, putting a hand to his heart jokingly. “You flatter me, Mitch.”
Guess that’s a no.
“Let's hit the town tonight," Ryder pauses, pulling his shirt over his head, “blow off some steam, meet some girls. Unless . . .”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you’re still with that girl from the beach.” Ryder waggles his eyebrows suggestively.
Am I still faking being with Libby? Lord knows I want to be fake dating her to keep myself from making stupid decisions and tarnishing my new reputation I’m trying to build. But every time I’ve seen her lately, she’s ignored me.
“I've got plans with her tonight actually.” I lie through my teeth. “But Silas will go out with you, won’t you, Silas?”
Turning away from Silas and Ryder chatting about their new plans for tonight, I glance down at my phone and text Libby.
Me:Busy tonight?
