Page 33 of Slap Shot at a Second Chance

We aren’t in a relationship, after all.

Chapter 14

Nate

Just what had gone wrong now?I wondered as I blankly stared at my teammates as they changed back into their casual wear right after practice.

I was distracted today again, and I could see that I was starting to tick Brian off. I had tried, I really had tried to put my all into it, but right now I was confused and my heart felt heavy because I had convinced myself that I was going through abreak-up.

I mean, we weren’t even dating but the way she said that I didn’t have to concern myself with her well-being and then just left my car before I could ask her why she was acting this way left me so confused.

“What’s wrong with Nate lately?” someone asked as he closed his locker and I couldn’t stop my knees from bobbing as I tried to figure out just exactly what set Avery off.

“I don’t know. He does seem really distracted these days, doesn’t he?”

“Maybe the captain knows something?” They whispered amongst each other and I couldn’t be bothered to correct themor answer them, but perhaps I would be able to get advice from them—themarried onesmust have some experience with the confusing nature of women.

“What does it mean when a woman suddenly tells you to not concern yourself with her well-being?” I asked as I stood up and placed my hands on my waist and they all looked at me surprised.

“What?” they asked surprised and I tapped the pad of my foot on the ground, hoping someone would give me a sensible answer.

After all, more brains than one were capable of greater things.

The boys burst out into laughter and it was almost as if someone had just said the funniest joke of all time to them. I tilted my head to the side as I stared at them confused, just what was amusing about my question.

“A woman?” Jake, the one who had been married for a long time, asked as he clutched his stomach and I frowned.

“Nate, you’re interested in a woman?” Andy asked shocked and I shrugged, wondering what was so foreign about me liking a woman.

I take it back, these brains were all the same.

“Am I not allowed to be interested in a woman?” I asked and he raised his hands as if he were surrendering.

“Woah, woah! I’m just surprised that the star defender is interested in a woman and she seems to be driving him crazy.”

The others agreed and I crossed my arms over my chest, rolling my eyes.

“I am not going crazy,” I mumbled and they chuckled, shaking their heads.

“Perhaps not, but you have been very distracted lately. Not performing atstarlevel,” Jake commented.

“That is not true!” I opposed and Brian closed his locker, somehow silencing the entire room just from that action. “I suppose a tiny bit of it is,” I whispered as I settled down back on the bench, noticing Brian’s hard expression.

The captain in him is not happy with me at all.

“Your performance has been alarming lately, Nate. Is this woman the reason why you haven’t been coming to practice on time and leaving early?” he asked and I swallowed hard, looking around the room as I noticed my teammates’ eager expressions.

“No,” I murmured, looking away to face the wall and I knew I was giving myself away, but I had pride damnit!I had pride!

“Is she why you were so opposed to going to the camp with us, Nate?” he asked and I sucked my bottom lip, mentally cursing as I realized that I wouldn’t be able to get out of this just by looking at the wall while they all watched me.

“Maybe,” I whispered and looked at him from the corner of my eye, assessing his reaction and he stared at me silently and stoically. I could not read his expression at all.

Shit, that was terrifying.

Does he know that woman is his sister? Fuck, I’m dead. It’s all over for me!

“So, what’s the problem?” he asked softly and I widened my eyes as I saw his softened gaze. “Did you do something wrong?”

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