Page 53 of Puck with Karma
It seems as if Noah is more worried about my status with the team than I am.
“I’ll go when I’m good and ready.”
I shrug and walk away like I have no worries in the world. I enter the showers and pick a stall, then turn the water on. My hand twinges just a bit, reminding me why I am in trouble tobegin with. I don’t give a fuck though. The asshole deserved it, and more.
Or maybe I’m just angry at the world in general, I don’t know.
The past few days have been good but weird. Despite the fact that I told Abby I’d just move in with her, I ended up being sort of in and out. The water in the bathroom got cleaned up that evening. There was really nothing keeping me from staying at my place other than Noah now using the master bedroom.
They already started working on the ceiling in his bedroom below mine, and he is also getting a new mattress out of the deal. He is really excited about that more than anything. There’s a part that needs to be replaced in my bathroom. Since it’s on backorder, I can’t use the tub for a while, but everything else is fine, and the floor is dry except for the carpet in the bedroom, which needs to be replaced.
I never told Abby any of that. I just said they’re working on it, and she took my word for it. Despite the fact that she doesn’t know all the details, she’s never asked me where I am going, and she is always happy to see me when I come to her place.
Something’s nagging me though.
It happened more than once that I’d glance at Abby’s computer or phone, and I’d notice a picture of Brandon Karlsberg on the screen. I wasn’t snooping, she just had it up. The one time she noticed me looking, she closed the page right away. Something is up with that, and I can’t put my finger on what it is.
“Yo, man,” a deep voice calls from behind me. “Hurry up. Coach wants to see you, stat.”
I don’t acknowledge my teammate. Instead, I continue with my shower, taking my time with it. It’s a dick move, but everyone sort of expects it from me anyway.
Satisfied with my cleanliness, I turn the water off and step out of the stall, grabbing a towel from the stocked shelf that’s tothe side of it. I rub it against my skin, then my hair, and wrap it around my waist so that I can go back to the lockers where my street clothes are.
“I don’t know, man,” Noah’s voice travels as soon as I open the door. “It’s like he’s lost his fucking mind. I worry that it’ll kill the team mojo.”
I walk to where he is talking to another teammate, but his back is at me. The other guy sees me, and he tries to signal to Noah that he should shut up, but he is not getting the hint.
“We’ve been doing so well,” Noah continues. “And stuff like this brings bad luck, you know? My grandma always said that you attract what you are. And if we’re idiots, we’ll lose the next game, and…”
I lean forward to where he’s sitting. “Are you scared, little boy?” I whisper in his ear.
He jumps off the bench, a high pitched scream filling the locker room.
“What thefuck!” He yells at me when he turns around. “Don’t sneak up on people like that!”
“Why?” I smirk. “Is it bad luck?”
Noah finally catches on to the fact that I was listening to his very animated speech.
“See, this is why you get into these fights!” He spreads his arms out in defeat. “You just can’t keep your mouth shut. That temper of yours is gonna land you in all this trouble. And then, what am I going to do?”
I have no idea what he’s trying to tell me.
“What business of yours is the trouble that I get into? Not like they’ll get rid of me,” I say with confidence. Although, deep down, I pray they’ll get rid of me. My father being on my ass all the damn time about how I play and who I should sign sponsorship contracts with has killed all the love I used to have for hockey. Now I just play so that I don’t end up in debt.Because I have no doubt he would sue me for breach of contract and take me to the cleaners.
“You’re a dumbass,” Noah informs me with a finger in my face. He looks like an angry puppy. I wanna laugh, but I don’t have time for him to lecture me more.
I wave him off and head toward my locker where I keep my bag that contains all my street clothes. Dropping the towel, I make quick work of getting dressed. At this point, I feel like I’ve pushed Coach as far as he would go.
I pack up all my gear and throw the bag over my shoulder.
“Peace out,” I yell at Noah over the noise of the other players talking. He just shakes his head in disappointment but doesn’t say anything, making me feel a pang of regret at the way I treat him.
When I step out of the locker room, the silence is sudden. I’m leaving all the noise and chatter behind me as I finally head toward Coach Harris’ office. The closer I get, I start feeling just a bit of anxiety in my stomach. By the time I am in front of his door, I’m not sure I want to step inside.
The decision is taken out of my hands when the door is being yanked open. Coach Harris is standing in front of me, pure fury lining up his face. He’s had it with me, that much is clear.
Without a word, he steps to the side to allow me entry. That is when I freeze in the doorway. He is not alone.
