Page 6 of Off The Rush
“Uh, just needed to talk to someone,” I mumble, trying to keep my gaze away from Alec. “How about you?”
“Supporting my brother Miles– he’s on the team too,” she replies cheerfully.
I nod, only half-listening, as my thoughts race with possible ways to approach Alec.
“Are you here to talk to Alec? I heard what happened at your audition.” She grimaces in sympathy.
“Ugh. Yes and now I need his help with something.”
“Well, practice is about to end and after they shower, they come out of that tunnel right there.” She points to a door right by us.
“Thank you!”
The players leave the ice and Audrey leaves with a wave.
“Emma,” I say under my breath, channeling Tessa’s encouragement. “You’ve got this.”
With determination, I descended the stairs towards the rink, ready to face Alec and whatever attitude he’s going to give me.
Chapter 3
The sound of my breath fills the silence as I stand outside Coach’s office, my fingers tapping against the cool metal of the door handle. I know that whatever he wants to talk about can’t be good. I take a deep breath and let myself in.
“Sit down, Alec,” Coach says the moment I step into his office. His voice is stern and his eyes bore into mine with an intensity that makes my stomach churn.
“Is everything alright, Coach?” I ask as I take a seat across from him, trying to maintain a confident facade despite the growing sense of unease in my chest.
“Depends on how you look at it.” He sighs and pulls out his phone, swiping through a few screens before setting it down in front of me. My heart sinks as I look at the series of photos displayed on the screen – pictures of me drinking, partying, and surrounded by women.
What the hell?
“Where did you get these?” I demand, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.
“Does it matter?” he shoots back, his brow furrowing in disappointment. “What matters is that this kind of behavior is unacceptable for someone in your position. You are co-captain of this team. A leader.”
I can’t help but feel a surge of anger as I recognize the exact night those photos were taken – a private party at my house that I let my ex-girlfriend attend out of the kindness of my heart. She is the only one who would have taken these pictures, and I know she did it just to spite me.
“Coach, I can explain. These pictures were taken during a private event, and I never would have shared them myself. My ex must have posted them to cause trouble.” The words spill out of me in a desperate rush to salvage my reputation. Coach cares about the image of his team, he has always made that clear.
“Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change the fact that you were acting irresponsibly,” Coach replies, his expression still hard and unyielding. “You’re not only representing yourself, Alec, but the entire Eastwood Knights team. This kind of behavior reflects poorly on all of us.”
I swallow hard, feeling the weight of his disappointment like a physical blow. “You’re right, Coach. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t,” he warned, his eyes never leaving mine. “You have a lot of potential, but you’re never going to reach it if you keep getting caught up in distractions like this. Show me that you’re taking this warning seriously and settle down.”
I nod, the full gravity of the situation finally sinking in. I messed up, and now it is up to me to make it right – not just for my own sake, but for the sake of my team.
I nod once more and stand up from the chair, my legs feeling like jelly beneath me. As I leave his office, I can’t help but wonder how I am going to fix this mess I’ve made. I need to show Coach that I am serious about turning things around, but it isn’t going to be easy with my ex still trying to cause trouble at every turn.
As I walk down the hallway, my thoughts race. My ex-girlfriend has really done a number on me this time. Ever since our breakup, she’s been causing me nothing but trouble – but this is the first time her actions have put my place on the team at risk. I have to find a way to fix my tarnished image, and fast. She made me out to be a drunk womanizer. Her rumors of my sleeping around don’t help anything either.
My anger toward my ex still bubbles beneath the surface, but I have to focus on finding a solution. I need something that will show everyone that I am getting my life together and taking things seriously. But what? I rack my brain as I walk down the hallway, trying to come up with a plan.
“Hey, are you looking for someone?” I hear Luka Eriksson ask in his typical flirtatious tone with his Swedish accent that makes girls melt for him. I glance over to see him leaning against the wall, talking to a girl I haven’t seen before. She looks slightly flustered, her cheeks flushed pink.
“Uh, yeah,” she hesitates, tucking a strand of her long, wavy hair behind her ear. “I’m looking for Alec Campbell. Do you know where I can find him?”
My ears perk up at the mention of my name, and curiosity piques my interest. Who is this girl, and why is she looking for me? I stop in my tracks and observe from a distance, trying not to make my presence known just yet.
