Page 99 of Thrown for a Loop
“Anything in a Bauer size five,” I say robotically. I don’t know the protocol for leading a clinic after your skates fall apart, but I’m going to have to wing it. The whole team is staring at me, looking uncomfortable.
Shaking off Tremaine’s grip, I sit down right there on the ice and unlace my broken skate. It’s just sinking in that this was probably sabotage. Someone did this to humiliate me. Or maybe even hurt me.
Fuck you, dude. Whoever you are.
Quickly, I take off both my skates and then rise in stocking feet.“Let’s keep going. Nothing to see here. Our next drill will be a long glide through the slalom course.”
A dozen and a half players just stare back at me, mouths open.
“You’re, um, bleeding,” says Weber as he takes my skates from my hands. “On your chin.”
I press a hand to my chin and then peer at it. Sure enough, there’s a trace of blood from where I abraded myself on the landing. I want to scream, I really do. But I take a gulping breath instead. “It’s just a smear,” I growl. “I thought hockey players didn’t even notice a little blood. Stop staring at me and skate this damn drill. While I’m young.”
Tremaine’s eyes widen, and for a long beat, nobody moves.
“Now!”
Everyone scrambles.
Chapter 34
An hour after the ill-fated clinic, I’m sitting in my cubicle, head in my hands.
No hockey angels wept for the class I just taught.
It was not, in fact, the most insightful ninety minutes of hockey coaching. I spent the balance of the session giving disjointed advice while a huge bruise bloomed on my chin.
The worst part is howexposedI feel. Everyone could tell how rattled I am.
When Darcy’s face suddenly appears over the wall of my cubicle, I startle violently.
“Oh my God! Why are you hiding in here?” she demands. “I’ve looked everywhere.”
“I’m not hiding,” I lie. “This is my desk, and I thought I’d enjoy it while it’s still mine.” I pick up the Legends pencil cup and put it down again. The ugly truth is that I was never really part of this team. It doesn’t matter if I’m wearing a Legends jacket or not. If they don’t accept me, it doesn’t count.
“The boss wants to see you,” Darcy says gently. “He seems pissed off. Although that’s just a normal Monday.”
“Great.”
“Don’t panic. Maybe he just wants to ask how your class went.”
Not well.I rise wearily from my fancy ergonomic chair and follow her. If he asks about the clinic, it’s hard to know what to say.
There’s also the matter of the abrasion and bruising on my face. I look like I lost a fight.
Which, fine, I guess I did. “Bet you ten bucks he’s going to tell me that if I can’t control the team, I won’t make it here. How about you let him know I already get it, and we’ll save everyone the ritual disembowelment ceremony?”
She grins. “Nope, sorry. But Iwillget you drunk later.”
“I can’t even afford that.”
“It will be my treat.”
I follow her to Sharp’s office, because I have no other choice. The man is behind his desk, as usual, an unnaturally large mug of coffee in his grip and a glower on his face. “Carson! Get in here and plant yourself in that chair.”
On shaky knees, I do.
“I just had Bernie sitting there.” He points at my chair. “He’s losing his mind. He says someone sabotaged your skates, but that can’t be true, right?”
