Page 3 of The Comeback

A weak chuckle is all I can muster as we exit the building to leave campus for the day.

Chapter 2

Sebastian

IsnowJacksonwithan icy waterfall as I skid to a halt at the side of the familiar rink. It’s hard to storm off on blades, but I do my best, hurling my gloves to the ground in frustration, and dropping to the bench. Sweat soaked strands of my dark hair flop forward as I let my head fall into my hands.

At first, it felt so good to be back on the ice. The crisp, clean smell and chilly air had my heart racing as I walked into the team rink after the unwelcome break. But I was holding back the entire time. I’m being too cautious after my injury, and I can’t afford that. Not after missing half of my junior season.

This is my last chance to prove myself and earn a contract. I can’t afford to waste even one minute of game play. I need to step it up to get out of here and take my sister with me. Maybe I’m an idiot for not having a back up plan, but hockey is my life. It always has been. There’s nothing else in this world I want.

Jax hops out after me, his slap rocking me forward, but it’s accompanied by a breezy white grin. “It was your first time out there, man. You’ll get back in the groove. The official season doesn’t’ start for a couple months.” That may be so, but training never stops. Not if we want to make it to the top.

“I know.” He’s got my back, but he can’t possibly understand how terrified I am. I can feel my dream slipping through my fingers. He played like a rockstar last year, while I was benched with my injury. He’s assured himself a spot in the pros. I’ve got a hell of a job ahead to prove I’m not a risk.

“C’mon. Let’s get home. Clean up a bit before the party. That’ll take your mind off things.”

I groan. “I’m not feeling up for a rager tonight.”

“It’s our welcome back shindig. You can’t skip it. Team building and all. You need to relax anyway. Get with a bunny, ease that tension.” He bobs his eyebrows a couple times as if I wouldn’t pick up on his innuendo without the hint.

Maybe he’s right. Maybe that’ll help. The thought of getting with some random hot chick isn’t that thrilling. One-night stands are all I am capable of right now, but after the dark hole I spiraled down last year, I don’t think I’m even interested in those. Wallowing in booze and bunnies to avoid dwelling on my dreams slipping away did nothing for me.

“Fine.” I try not to growl the word at him.

“Ah, broody bastard Bastian is back. I don’t like it. Tell him to fuck off.”

The name is like a gut punch. “Don’t call me that.” There’s only one person who called me Bastian, and it’s been a long time since I forced her out of my life.

***

The guys are in full on prep mode. Devlin, Beau, Jackson, and I live here, but the entire team is out tonight except for the new transfer. We haven’t met him yet, but it sounds like he’s a wild card. Word is he got kicked off his last team for fighting with a teammate. We don’t need that kind of energy this year, so I’m gonna keep a close eye on him. That’s why we’re letting him move in here to the team house.

I intend to win the championship to nab myself a contract, and I’m not going to let some punk ass with a shitty attitude get in the way of that.

The rookies are cleaning the place for us. They’ll be back tomorrow to clean after the party as well. There are definite perks as a senior member of the team. I remember the days when Jax and Aspen and I were doing all the grunt work. Now we sit back and put our feet up while the freshies do it for us.

Beau gives me a double slap along with his polished grin. Everything about Beau is smooth and polished, just like his life. He’s a good guy, though. “How’d it go?”

I shrink back at the innocent question. Do I even know how to be honest anymore, after shutting them out for so long? “It was fine. I’m gonna head upstairs to do a little reading for class before I get ready.”

There are questions in their eyes that I’m too tired to deal with right now, so I escape up the stairs two at a time. The stretch intensifies the ache in my knee that kicked in during my ice time, but I’ve gotten used to it. I’m sure Jackson will tell them how shitty I was skating out there. He doesn’t need me around for that.

The business law textbook on my desk is as unappealing as morning practice with a hangover, but I try. When I realize I’ve read the same paragraph three times without absorbing a single word, I give up. I fall onto my bed with an arm draped over my face, trying not to obsess over every detail of the skate.

***

Pounding on my door has me jerking up, heart pounding, searching for the threat. I blink in the dimly lit room. Music is vibrating the walls. I have no idea how I slept through that chaos.

Jackson’s standing outside my door with a huge smile and glassy eyes. He’s well into it already, judging by the sour smell of cheap beer blowing in my face.

“Get up, asshole.”

“Sorry. I fell asleep. I’m just gonna have a shower and then I’ll come down.”

“You better man. There is a bounty of hotness waiting for you. Although come to think of it. If you don’t make it down, that’s more T&A for me.”

My punch lands on his shoulder, and he sways a little in his intoxicated state. “Don’t be such an asshole. I’ll be down in a few.”

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