Page 96 of In Your Wildest Dreams
The flicker of anger that crosses his face is smoothed out quickly.
“Hey.” Jack walks up, glancing between us and reading the tense situation. Neither Gabe nor I look at him. “Need something, Gabe?”
“Just making sure everyone’s all set for tonight.”
“Appreciate it,” Jack says. “But we’ve got it from here.”
It’s a dismissal that’s polite enough that Gabe obeys but icy enough that I know my captain has my back.
As soon as he’s gone, Jack looks to me. “What was that about?”
“My shitty season stats and a thinly-veiled threat of being traded.”
He curses under his breath. “You can’t let him get under your skin. Especially right before a game.”
“I know,” I say, feeling the annoyance thrum through my blood. Fuck. He’s right. “I know.”
* * *
Nick jumps right in like he’s been with the team all season. Coach mixes up the lines to put him with Leo and Jack and our first line gets most of our shots on goal. They don’t score, but they’re getting looks. The other change is that I’m moved to center on the second line with Maverick and Tyler. I’ve played center before, but it isn’t where I’m most comfortable. I try to push Gabe’s words out of my head but at the end of the second period, I’ve not contributed a damn thing.
In the locker room, I take off my jersey and fling it down hard at the ground in front of my stall. I keep my pads on but take off my skates. We have just a few minutes to rest and cool down before we head back out.
Usually, the coaches don’t come in during intermission until they’ve met to discuss the period, but I’m not that surprised when Coach Miller follows the last guy in.
He stands in the middle of our quiet locker room, hands on his hips.
“That sucked,” he says quietly.
“No shit,” someone murmurs.
Coach Miller lets his arms drop to his sides and he scans the room. I glance down when he holds my gaze too long.
“You’re too talented of a team to be struggling this much. Get out of your heads. Tonight is one of those nights that shots don’t want to go in. That doesn’t mean to back off. The first line looked good. Keep putting it on net and something will get by. Nick, nice job coming in. Leo and Jack, good job communicating. Second line…”
When I look back up, Coach turns his gaze at me again. “Keep at it. We may switch some things up again to see if we can find a better fit than having Ash at center, but I like the three of you together. You’re fast and finding each other out there. Let’s see if we can make something happen. Everyone, give Mikey some help. It’s not over yet.”
Coach claps his hands once in front of him, then turns on his heel to leave. When he’s gone, the chatter of my teammates begins. Leo leans over. “You good?”
I cock my head to the side to look at him. “Is your eyesight failing? Fuck no, I’m not good. That was fucking terrible. I’ve only taken one shot all night, and it missed the net by a mile. Goalie didn’t even flinch.”
I chug down some Gatorade and lean back. I close my eyes and take a few breaths, trying to find some calm. Visions of Bridget flash through my mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way she looks at me when I bring her to orgasm, that goddamn hair. As quickly as they float through, I push them away, but they do the trick, and I feel a little more ready to get back out there and figure out how the fuck to help my team and keep myself from being traded.
27
WE’VE GOT COMPANY
BRIDGET
Everly
Wish you were here!
Me
Me too. Cheer extra loud for me.
Everly
