Page 61 of Cross Check My Heart
Glancing over at Landon, I can’t help but think about how drastically different from Josh he is.
Landon is the kind of person that walks into a room and will do what he can to make sure he leaves everyone better than he found them. He’s always smiling, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t contagious. He knows what to say or do to make sure everyone is having a good time and very rarely complains about anything. But when shit hits the fan or things get serious, he manages to be the rock needed for everyone around.
With teams of this size, Josh used to tell everyone that it was unrealistic to expect any team captain to know everyone individually. Yet Landon manages to remember the mostminiscule details about this entire team. I have no idea how he keeps up with everyone, but he does it all with a smile.
I make a mental note to spend more time with him. People like him have the tendency to shoulder a lot for others because they want to help, but that weight has to become too much at some point.
Sighing, I brace myself against the half wall as Dean, Greyson and Reid make their way onto the ice. Landon claps a hand on my shoulder as he turns to greet the guys, giving me an extra moment to gather my thoughts.
“Ha! You owe me five bucks, Grey. Told you Landon was the first one here.”
I chuckle lightly, turning my head to smirk over my shoulder at Dean.
“Actually, I was here for a good forty-five minutes before Landon showed up.” Dean groans at my response, and Greyson gives a short and quiet laugh.
“Looks like you owe me, Squirrel.” Grey skates up next to me, not missing a thing as his gaze bounces between Landon and me. “What’s up?”
They’re all watching Landon, probably expecting him to admit he’s nervous for the game or something. He says nothing though as he glances at me. I fidget with my stick on the ice, unable to face any of them.
“Tonight’s game has me on edge and I don’t know if I’m ready for it.” After a long moment of silence, I finally lift my head to face them. Landon nods his head in encouragement while Dean and Reid stand in front of us, clearly confused as hell, but giving me the time to say what I need to. Greyson’s brows are furrowed slightly but other than that he remains passive. I stare past them toward the goal while I finally let them in.
“The day I told my old Coach that I was done with the Cougars was the day I punched the team captain in the face.”
Dean’s gaze darts between me and Landon, clearly trying to decipher what’s going on. Probably wondering if I would ever punch this team’s captain. From the corner of my eye, I don’t miss Grey’s jaw clenching, which I force myself to ignore as I push on.
“Right before the start of last season, my little sister started dating my team captain. That wasn’t what bugged me. I mean, yeah, the guy is a total douchebag, but once I said my piece about her seeing him, we were all good. The three of us were going out to parties and all that shit.” This time I close my eyes. “Long story short, Josh and my sister went to a party without me after a shitty game. He told both me and Sarah before we parted ways that he would be the sober one.” I force myself to breathe, hoping these guys don’t walk on eggshells around me after this.
“He didn’t stay sober, and that night he caused the car accident that killed my sister.”
All four of them are silent. I can’t bring myself to open my eyes just yet, until Greyson speaks up first.
“This will be the first time you’ve seen him since leaving?” Holding his gaze, I give a single nod before bracing myself for the sympathy from Dean and Reid. My breath catches when I find that they’re both glaring, visibly pissed. Words escape me as I nod, unsure of what I should actually say. Should I have just stuck to thereallyshort version that I told Landon and Coach on my first day? Would saying “my sister died last year because of my Captain” have been better than giving them that much detail?
“Do you think he’ll cause any problems?”
Landon had asked me the same thing and even after telling them everything, I don’t have a definitive answer.
Grey nods, as if my silence was the answer he needed. Dean studies Landon and I before finally saying anything.
“What’s his number?” My brows furrow at the question as I hesitantly answer. He nods and glances back at Landon, who’s watching him with curiosity. Dean shrugs nonchalantly as he explains himself to everyone.
“Realistically, that guy has no reason to talk to Dom. It would be one thing if in the heat of the moment on the ice they collide once or get in close contact, but he has no reason to linger. So, if any of us see him hanging around Dom for longer than necessary in the game, then one of the four of us knows something is up.” He glances at me. “You’re okay to keep it strictly about the game, right?”
I nod. When I last saw Josh, the only reason I punched him in the face was because he had to go and open his mouth.
“Yeah,” I choke out. “I can manage that.” Dean nods and turns to face the others. I’m not used to seeing him and Landon so serious. They’re the type of people who can always find some way to lighten a mood. Once you get to know them though, when they’re being one hundred percent serious in a conversation, you know it’s important.
When I catch Reid’s eye, he nods in agreement. I rub at my padded chest as a tightness forms there. For the longest time, I’ve gotten used to only having Garrett, who can read me like an open book. The only reason I was even “close” to anyone on my last team, was because the prick had to start dating my sister.
Unease flows through me as I can’t stop myself from wondering if I’m just as bad as Josh for continuing to see Lilly. I shake the thought away just as quickly as it came. Whatever this is between me and Lilly, is nothing like what Sarah had with Josh.
“Thanks guys.” I murmur, thinking for the first time since yesterday that maybe I can handle this game with these guys at my back.
Over the next ten minutes, we’re joined by more and more of the team. Everyone falls into warm-up drills, and the guys don’t give me another second to think about seeing Josh in a few hours. It was the distraction I had come here for by myself, but it turns out all I needed was them.
With an hour until the team meets with the coaches for pregame meetings, the five of us are hanging out in the locker room. The lighthearted jokes and banter has me feeling better about the game. Greyson and Landon are sitting on each side of me, listening and laughing at some joke Dean is telling. My phone vibrates with a message on the bench between Greyson and me. Before I can snatch it up, Grey glances down. He’s about to turn away when his gaze flies back to my phone before glancing up at me. He blinks once, his brow furrowing slightly, before glancing around.
“You seeing someone?” I nod stiffly. When I had made the picture of Lilly’s silhouette my background weeks ago, I hadn’t thought it through this far. Her face is hidden thanks to the lighting, yet I still can’t stop my heart from skipping in nervousness.
