Page 67 of Penalty Shots

"Jeez, man. Who hurt you?" I ask, dropping my hand.

"Sorry, I just… my step-dad is just such an ass to my mom. She deserves so much better. I can't stand when guys act without thinking of who they hurt."

I sit up. "That's not me. I really like Rina. Which sucks because we're about to leave for training camp this summer, and I won't see her till next semester, but I'm hoping something can come from all this. Maybe I was supposed to meet Jenny, even if just to get to know Rina. You know?"

He shrugs. "Maybe. But how does any relationship fit into your goals come next year? You want to be picked up by a team—that's going to require your full focus."

"It is. I want that more than anything. And I gotta do it. For my dad. For my family."

"Me, too," Ryker says. "Which is why I'm worried about you, man. You know what having a girl can do to a career. It complicates things."

I nod. "But Rina has goals, too. She doesn't want to just settle down and start a family. She's a go-getter. We can just see where things go."

"I guess." He reaches for his wallet on the desk near the entrance. "Just… stay off my bed while you're seeing where things go."

I laugh and give him a salute. "You got it. Bed is off-limits, every other surface is up for the taking."

He mumbles, "So gross," as he opens the door to leave. But as he does, a practice puck falls to the floor and blocks the door from shutting behind him.

I get up to get it just as a group of guys down the hall are heading into one of the rooms.

"That's so cool, man. Sounds like you'll be getting pussy out the ying yang. No condoms needed," someone says.

I stop and open the door wider to see who's out there. It's a group of soccer guys still dressed in their practice uniforms.

"I mean, I'd still use a condom," one says with a thick Australian accent. "But at least I won't have to worry about mini-me's sucking up all my earnings when I go pro."

The group laughs as the first guy gets the door open and they all pour in, shutting the door behind them.

"Gross," I mumble, just like Ryker did. I swear we can be such idiotic assholes.

Just as I'm about to close the door, I hear someone call out my name. I poke my head out to see Jenny coming down the hall.

"Ah, shit."

She's dressed in a mini skirt and some sneakers, her hair in a ponytail swishing back and forth as she storms in my direction.

"Hey, Jenny. Everything ok?"

"Everything, ok? Are you seriously asking me that?"

I'm so confused. What's going on?

"Rina told me about what happened," she snaps.

Oh great. Great! Ryker was right. I'mthatguy. The guy Ryker told me he didn't want to see me become.

"Listen, I—"

She stops me, her little purse pulled tightly onto her shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me JR made a pass on Rina?!"

"He… wait, what?"

"At the party, Keelan. The one you stormed away from. He made a move on my friend and nobody told me. And then you let me date that son of a bitch. Seriously?"

"She… Rina told me not to say anything."

Her eyes widen. "Why? He should be freakin' expelled," she says loudly before pushing the door open to my dorm and making herself at home.

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