Page 67 of Dump and Chase

Ethan

Warde came into the Kodiaks locker room like he’d been named captain, which was certainly never going to happen. He strutted in, greeted all the guys, shook hands, and chatted with a few friends. When he got to me, he had a huge smile on his face that I wanted to punch right off.

“Nice to see you again, Ethan.”

“Glad to have you back,” I lied through a forced smile.

I’d heard through the grapevine that he’d made quite the impression with the Ravens … and of course it was a bad one. I was the first to admit that it was stupid that to have sent him down there to recuperate, but Coach Anthony had hoped he’d have some kind of epiphany and start getting along with most of his teammates. Like that was going to happen. No one was going to change a guy like Warde. He came in hot with expectations that were unattainable, and that was why he’d never be captain here or any other team. He’d always be the guy on the team everyone avoided.

While we were having a morning skate before our game with the Renegades, I kept an eye on Warde. He was looking good, but there was no way he was taking the top line from me. I knew that was his end game, so I’d just have to play harder.

Ryan came up to me after the short practice. Warde was still on the ice, getting in some extra practice.

“He looks good,” he said, echoing my own thoughts.

“You think I should be worried?”

“Nah, of course not.”

Then why had he brought it up?

“I am hearing some things,” he added. “According to Lund, he’s come up here with a changed attitude. Something about promising to be a team player.”

That was laughable. “And you think it’s possible?”

Ryan shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”

I went home for my pregame nap and got back to the arena mid-afternoon. Of course, Warde was already there. He was on the exercise bike, earbuds in. I changed into my workout gear and chose a bike as far away from him as possible. When he noticed me, he smiled and nodded. I did the same. No use starting any trouble. I put in my own earbuds and tried to block him out, but not ten minutes later he was standing next to me. I reluctantly took out my earbuds.

“I’m going to start this off by saying that I’m not trying to be an asshole.”

What a way to start a conversation! Of course he couldn’t try because he was an asshole. “Okay,” I said.

“I’ve gotten to know Tangi and we’ve become friends. It’s nothing more, so I wanted to establish that. And I’m not here to try to piss you off. I legit want us all to be a team.”

Friends with Tangi? Yeah right. He had no intentions of being friends with her. A guy like him would do anything it took to get her into bed. And if he did worm his way into her life, he’d be my kid’s stepfather. I’d have to watch him with Tang raise my kid. No damn way. Forget the whole team part of his speech.

“Why do you have to be friends with Tangi?”

That seemed to catch him off guard.

“Why not?”

“She’s pregnant.”

“I know. Jim told everyone.”

I bit the side of my cheek so I wouldn’t punch him in the face. “Look, guys aren’t friends with girls. So maybe stay away from her.”

Warde’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “What? That’s not a thing. Guys and girls can be friends. It happens all the time.”

“No it doesn’t.”

“Grant, she’s pregnant and she’s your ex. You think I want to move in on her?”

“Yeah, I think you do. To get me off my game.”

He gave his head a shake. “You’re nuts. Maybe a little insecure, too.” Then he stopped. “I’m trying to be a better teammate, so that’s why I told you this. She’s the best PT I’ve ever had. She got me back on the ice sooner than anyone thought possible. She’s a nice woman, and I’m trying to do the decent thing by telling you that I may hang out with her. I’m not trying to fuck her.”

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