Page 41 of Puck You
“Let’s keep it simple,” Caroline said.“We can look at overall numbers for assists, goals, and face-offs won at the end of the season.”
That would be a piece of cake.“I accept.”
“And if I lose?”Grace asked.
“Whenyou lose,” I said, “you’ll publicly apologize for the comments you made about me in the school newspaper and admit that I’m the better hockey player.”
Chapter 11
Grace
News of the bet travelled fast.By the end of the school day, I was besieged by messages from my teammates who’d missed the action, all of them asking if the rumors about Sebastian and me were true.Admittedly, I was slightly embarrassed by the whole thing, but it would have been stupid to say no.If there was any chance that I could secure more funding for the women’sprogram, I’d take it.Our move from McKinley Rink to DuLane Arena had only solved the issue of our lackluster training facility.There were other problems to address.The team could use new uniforms, for one, and the away-game travel bus had seen (and smelled) better days.But all thoughts of hockey vanished as my phone lit up with a text from Gabby.My pulse leapt.Despite my drunken messages over the weekend, she’d been radio silent.Fallen leaves crunched underfoot as I stopped along the tree-lined path in front of Nelson Library, heart hammering with nervous anticipation.
Gabs
I can’t believe you drunk called me 4 times
So cringe
And don’t call me gremlin.I’m not a kid anymore
And then something even crazier happened.Gabby’s name flashed across the screen as my phone received an incoming call.I’d never answered so quickly.
“Hello?”I held my breath, half-convinced that this was some sort of prank call.
“Don’t you have any friends at your new school, or boys to keep you busy?”
Despite the snark in her tone, I let out a breath of relief.It really was Gabs.
“Hello?”
“You’ve been ignoring me for weeks.I don’t even get the courtesy of a thumbs-up anymore, what did you expect?”I tried my best impression of her snarky attitude.
“I’ve been busy,” she said.
That was her excuse?If it were possible, I would have reached through the phone and shaken her by the shoulders.“Sam mentioned that you had a fight with Dad.”
“That’s why I called,” she admitted.“I can’t deal with him lately.He’s so up in my business all the time, and I thought you could talk to him for me.He listens to you better.”
My mouth fell open at her words.Gabby was asking for help?After avoiding me all summer, acting as if she wanted nothing to do with me, she was actually asking for my help?Maybe this was a step in the right direction.
“What’s going on?”I asked.There was a long pause on her end, and for a brief moment, I thought she’d hung up.
“I quit dance without talking to Dad, and he’s making a huge deal about it.Apparently, Ineedto pick up another hobby outside of school now that I’m not dancing, but there’s nothing else I’m interested in.”
“Why did you quit?”Something wasn’t adding up.Gabby loved to dance, and she was damn good at it.Just last year she was placing at regional competitions.
“Does it matter?”
I bit down my frustration and took a long breath, willing myself to remain calm.“Please just tell me.I’m willing to talk to him if you have a good reason.”
“I just don’t want to do it anymore,” Gabby said.
“That’s not a good reason,” I argued.“Did something happen?Are your instructors pushing you too hard?”
The front doors to Nelson Library flew open, and a group of laughing students spilled outside.I covered one ear and took a few steps away from the building, worried that I’d miss Gabby’s reply.
“You sound just like Dad.I should have known better than to think you’d be on my side.”
