Page 4 of Penalty Shots

"You're with me. You're good."

I blush at the words.

The moment I walk into the class, I spot my roommate, Jennyfer Cobbs, in the back of the room. She's chatting with one of her girls from her cheer squad.

Her eyes flick up to me with a familiar smile on her face, but it instantly drops as I approach. The gum she's chewing practically falls out of her mouth.

"Rina… why are you wearing my boyfriend's jersey?"

Chapter 1

Rina

“Where is he?”

I push past the sea of black and orange jerseys now blocking my way.

A big one stands guard in front of the entrance to the showers, arms crossed over his broad chest and looking every bit like the team bouncer.

“Get out of my way, Ryker!” I say through gritted teeth.

“Now, Ri," he says calmly. "Maybe you should take a minute to breathe,” he suggests. What is he a monk? A bouncer monk? That’s what the team goalie reminds me of in this moment.

“Move!” I order with the stomp of my stiletto. I don't have the kind of patience he's suggesting.

Ryker shakes his head but reluctantly steps aside. He knows better than anyone that you don’t get in my way when I’m on one. And right now—thanks to the Heatwave team captain—I am on one.

The steam from the shower coils at the entrance, and I can feel the eyes of the entire team boring into the back of my head, just waiting for what’s about to go down.

“Landry!” I call out.

The shower faucet squeaks as it shuts off, and a few seconds later, a naked, toned, and adrenaline-filled Keelan Landry presents himself before me.

I pretend to be unaffected by the fact that he’s completely nude. Though, I have to push down a gulp before I speak.

“What thehelldid you do?”

Ryker tosses a towel that goes over my head, and Keelan catches it with ease. There’s still blood pouring down from the cut on his cheek.

The only hit my now soon-to-be ex-husband was able to land on Keelan.

He ties the towel around his waist, and I watch as the droplets of blood travel down his chest and abs and onto the floor. He pauses to give me a knowing look before he brushes past me and into the locker room of gawking teammates.

The second he enters, they all resume taking off their gear. Every one of them pretending like I didn’t just storm into their locker room to confront their team captain. Everyone except Ryker, who is still watching Keelan and me closely like he’ll need to step in and pull us apart at any moment.

Keelan reaches for a second towel in his stall and uses it to dry his dark brown hair. I’m still waiting for him to acknowledge me as he sets it down and reaches for the one around his waist. He finally turns to me.

“Are you here for a show, Rina? Or do you mind giving me some space?” he says, all too cooly.

I point a finger at him. “My office. Ten minutes. Don’t talk to anyone.”

He looks around at the faces of his teammates. "Little late for that, don't you think?"

"Anyone," I repeat.

He gives me a two-finger salute and drops his towel, and I turn away before I see anything else.

I'm now face to face with Ryker, and he huffs out a laugh at the sight of us. "This isn’t funny, Balinger. And if I find out you egged him on in any way–”

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