Page 69 of Cheap Shot
“That’s not what happened, Cole. Cooper?—”
“I don’t want to fucking hear it, Beau. Let the past stay in the past.”
The wave of calm from my pills rushes through my veins as I let my foot off the gas pedal, the need to run from my emotions and painful past no longer pushing me to go faster. My eyes droop slightly. The idea of pulling over and going to sleep filters through my mind, but I fight against it.
“You’re going to have to speak to him, eventually.”
I shake my head as if he can see me before speaking. “No, he is the captain of the team I am playing on. I follow his lead on the ice. Besides that, I have no need for him.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“I do. I’ve spent the last ten years with no family. I have no problem doing it for another ten.”
“We’ve always been your family, Cole. We can be there for you if you give us the chance.”
“A chance to what? Continue to meddle in my life?” I scoff, putting my blinker on and easing into the exit lane.
“He only wanted to—” Beau begins, but I cut him off. I’m so done with this conversation.
“Help. I know. But no one asked me what I wanted. Not you. Not Remy. Not Cooper. You all made decisions about my life without even consulting me.”
“When we found out what happened, what the coaches at Boise were doing to you with the pay cuts and playing time. How could you expect us, your big brothers, to stand by and watch you be treated like shit? You’re an amazing hockey player, one of the best in the league.”
“I didn’t expect anything from either of you. I never have,” I respond without missing a beat before hitting the button on the steering wheel to end the call.
ChapterEighteen
Cole
Today is the day. The day I’m finally officially cleared to get back on the ice, not that I haven’t already been sneaking out and running drills, much to Michele’s and Parker’s dismay, but nothing too strenuous. Coach Mercer let it slide, limiting me to doing speed drills without my stick, but it was something. Risking his ire was worth it because it all led here: my chance to finally come home.
“Are you waiting for a personal invitation?” Beau smacks me hard on my helmet before stepping onto the ice and heading toward the rest of the team.
It’s been a few days since our argument over the phone, but he’s acting as if nothing happened. He hasn’t even mentioned the conversation, which is odd, especially for him, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“I’m just taking it all in,” I mumble to no one in particular.
I’ve missed this more than I knew. The sound of blades slicing across ice echoes in the arena, mingling with the thud of pucks against the boards and the occasional bark from Coach Mercer. The only thing missing is the roar of the crowd as I score the winning goal. To imagine that I could’ve lost all of this…
“It’s a little surreal, isn’t it?” Every muscle in my body tightens at the sound of my oldest brother’s voice.
I knew I was going to run into him, with today being the first day the entire team is back, but he still caught me by surprise. I figured Beau would’ve warned him to keep his distance, but Cooper isn’t one to respect anyone’s wishes. I don’t know why I thought he’d start now.
“What?” I respond, my jaw clenched tightly shut.
Right now, Cooper is my team captain, not my older brother. He is the leader of this team and one of the two people I have to convince that I’m a team player and will always put the team above myself. To me, that’s more than obvious with the fact that I’m even here on the ice in the first place, but something tells me Cooper won’t let it be that easy. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Being back here after a potential career-ending injury.” He reaches out to grab my right shoulder, but I take a step back.
I’m barely holding on by a thread. The desire to sock him in the jaw is almost unbearable. Almost. I count backward from ten, hoping that will help me remain calm as I try to figure out a way out of this conversation and away from my big brother.
When I don’t say anything, he sighs, running his hand through his hair. “When I was cleared to skate, I was in the locker room at 5:00 a.m. and just sat here, watching the Zamboni clear the ice.”
“I’m glad I’m not the only one, but at least I did some stretches and my routine for my physio instead of creepily watching the Zamboni.”
Cooper chuckles softly. “Touché.”
We stand there in silence, watching the rest of the team stretch and getting ready for practice to start. I notice Cooper opening and closing his mouth a few times, probably trying to think of something else to say.
