Page 8 of Sin Bin Bully

Natasha claps. “Okay! I think you’ve all got the hang of it. Now let’s try it with music a couple times, and then I’ll leave you guys to keep practicing on your own.”

A song starts up, and we all get into position. Our new routine starts with all of us in one big circle. We start skating around in a circle, a few of us doing little spins and leaps.

Then, we all close in to form a straight line. This is when we start actually dancing. I flip my braids around and move my hips in time with the beat, until it’s time for us to branch off into groups of three.

I’m lifted into the air by Alexi and Chrissy, making sure to hold my own weight, keeping all of my muscles tight. They spin us around as I hold my arms out to the side, my left foot lifted up into the air.

We complete the rest of the routine before starting up again. Just as we form our circle, my eyes catch on the door across the rink.

I swallow, recognizing that figure. The tall, muscular body. He’s not in his uniform anymore, wearing only a white T-shirt and some grey sweatpants. His long black hair is a bit messy, with a few pieces falling into his face.

Sam Warwick.

I know who he is- of course I do. I think everyone in America does at this point. He’s one of the highest paid hockey players in the country. He’s by far the best on the team.

Sam is probably the richest person I’ve ever been in the same room with. He’s wealthier and more successful than I could ever dream to be.

He distracts me for a moment, and I’m a second late to start. Once he’s out of my eyeline, I catch up, skating around in a circle like the rest of the girls. But when I get back to that side, I find his gaze again.

It’s kind of like a car crash- I just can’t seem to look away from him. I don’t even know what it is about him that I find so appealing, I just know that my body is responding to it.

My mind slips back to the last game, when I saw him fucking up one of the other players. He didn’t see me there at first. I watched as he punched the other guy in the face repeatedly. I heard the things he said to him.

And then he looked over at me. In the moment, I thought he would stop what he was doing once he realized there was a witness. But he didn’t. He just stared at me as he sent another blow right into Matthew’s jaw.

I didn’t want to stop watching. With each hit, he put just a little more force into it. Blood covered his fist and Matthew’s face.

Matthew didn’t stand a chance. He’s a big guy, and still, he couldn’t do anything except take it.

The violence didn’t scare me, or really even phase me. Growing up in Capitol Heights, I’m used to that shit. But I’ve never really hadthatreaction to violence before. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

The hairs on my arms raise as I picture those dark, almost grey eyes. The next time I make my way around the circle, I look back at the door. He’s still there, watching.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen him observing us. No one else seems to notice he’s there, but then again, no one else has a reason to look for him.

When we get to the dancing part of the routine, I stick my ass out just a little bit more. Flip my hair a little sexier.

By the time we reach the end of the song again, Sam is gone. His absence clears my mind, and I feel slightly embarrassed for giving so much attention to this man that I haven’t even spoken to. He’s taking up way too much of my thoughts.

An hour later, practice is over. I find myself looking for him in the hallways when we leave, but the hockey players practice right before us, so there’s no way he’s still here.

“Kim, we’re getting dinner later, did you want to join?” Alexi asks as we walk out of the locker room.

“Oh sure! What time?”

“Probably around six. We’re going to Georgie’s pizzeria.”

“Okay, see ya there!”

I smile to myself as I walk outside, a soft breeze running through my hair. It’s been so nice building up new friendships with these girls. They’re all so nice and it’s been a while since I’ve had that.

I walk through the parking lot, waving to a few of the girls as they get into their cars. My eyes land on a black car that I’ve seen parked out here almost every time I’m here. The windows are tinted so dark that you can’t see anything through them.

I turn away from it and start walking down the street. My apartment building is only a few blocks from here, thankfully.

Once I’m a block away from the Capital One arena, I start to get an odd feeling. Looking behind me, I see the black car inching its way down the street.

My first thought is Nathan, but the car is way too nice. There’s no way it’s him. Even the people he hangs around, they’re far from the rich ass drug dealers that you read about or see on TV.

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