Page 94 of Zero Pucks Given
“I still don’t think we should give up on the team just yet,” the other radio guy insisted. “But one thing Iknowwe agree on is who to blame for this.”
“Grayson Steele?”
“Grayson friggin’ Steele,” he agreed. “When a team is losing, they rely on the captain to pick everyone up. But he’s been dead weight out on the ice.”
The first guy muttered his agreement. “Honestly, after watching his performance in these two home games, it’s embarrassing that he gave that statement. Blaming some random fan who won a contest.”
“That’s not leadership behavior.”
“Not even close.”
I should have been glad that the attention was deflected from me, but all I felt was sadness for how everything was panning out.
46
Josie
Over the next two days, I put it all behind me and focused on my TikTok channel. I got into a groove. The whole situation with Grayson felt like a breakup, even though we were never reallytogether. And just like an actual breakup, the pain began to fade with time.
I could feel myself moving on.
On the night that game five was being played, I was at Sharon’s apartment helping her taste test pastries. “Thanks again for coming over,” she told me at one point while we were in the kitchen, covered in flour. “This is easier with a second opinion.”
“You can’t rely on Kyle?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes. “He has terrible taste. No matter what I bake, he tells me it tastes amazing.”
“Because everything you makedoestaste amazing!” he called from the couch across the room. “When you make something awful, I’ll let you know.”
“I’ve been handing you ingredients and eating dessert all night,” I told Sharon. “Trust me: it’s not a problem. I should be thanking you.”
“Good. Because I want to try making lemon tarts next, and I’mgoing to make you taste seven different types of lemon zest frosting.”
I sighed loudly. “Fine, if you insist.”
While she began zesting the outside of a lemon, I glanced toward Kyle in the living room. He had the hockey game on, though the volume was too low for me to hear anything.
“Can you turn that off, please?” Sharon called to him. “Some of us don’t want to watch the game.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“Maybe I wasn’t talking about you,” Sharon answered. “I just saidsome of us.”
I rolled my eyes. “You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me. I’ve gotten over my anger at Grayson.”
Sharon quietly measured sugar in a cup. “You have seemed suspiciously okay with everything.”
“Because I am.”
“I’d be inconsolable if I got dumped by Grayson Steele,” Kyle said. “I’m already insanely jealous that you slept with him.”
Sharon and I both raised an eyebrow at him.
“What?” he replied defensively. “He’s hot and rich. I’m straight, but notthatstraight.”
The camera was focused on Grayson as he skated over to the bench. The game was tied 2-2 at the beginning of the third period.
“Go ahead and turn the volume up,” I said. “It’s been a long season, and I’m kind of invested in the team at this point.”
