Page 130 of Triple Play
I stare at him.
“You heard me. Screw them. Any school that judges you for who you love doesn’t deserve you.” He grabs his keys. “Come on. I’m driving.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Yes I do. You’re my little sister. Those idiots are—well, they’re growing on me. And nobody gets to destroy my family without going through me first.”
The arena parking lot busier than I expected for a team meeting.
Teddy parks and I’m out of the car before he’s even turned off the engine.
“Ellie, wait—”
I’m already running.
The arena doors are locked but I know the side entrance code—Jordie gave it to me weeks ago. I punch it in with shaking fingers.
Inside, I can hear voices. Lots of them. Coming from the locker room.
I head that way, Teddy close behind.
“You sure about this?” he asks.
“No. But I’m doing it anyway.”
The locker room door is closed but not locked. I can hear their coach’s voice, then Grant’s, then—
I push the door open.
Twenty-five guys in hockey jerseys turn to stare at me.
Grant’s standing in the middle of the room. Wyatt and Jordie are beside him.
They all look exhausted. Worn down. Like they’ve been fighting a war they’re not sure they can win.
“Elise.” Grant’s voice cracks on my name.
“Bad timing?” I ask the room.
Coach sighs. “We’re in the middle of a team vote, Miss Hart.”
“I know. I saw the article.” I look around at all of them. “So vote. But you should know what you’re actually voting on.”
“We know what we’re voting on,” one of the guys says. I recognize him—Bryce, my old lab partner. The one who dropped the class. “We’re voting on whether our captain can keep his head in the game or if he’s too distracted by his—” He stops. Seems to think better of finishing that sentence.
“His what?” I step further into the room. “His relationship? His personal life? The fact that he’s in love?”
Silence.
“Because if that’s what we’re calling a distraction, then half this team should step down. How many of you have girlfriends? Relationships? Situationships? How many of you are trying to balance school and hockey and a personal life?”
More silence.
“Grant is the best captain you’ve had in years. Jordie’s your best defenseman. Wyatt’s—” I look at him. “Wyatt’s the heart of this team even if you’re all too stupid to see it.”
“This is different,” someone else says.
“How?”
