Page 86 of The Game

“What the fuck, Schaeffer. You’re not even supposed to be here. Back off of Hail. He didn’t do anything to you.”

I ignore my captain for the first time. Laser focused on Hail.

He swallows again. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know it was your ex. I was an idiot. A drunk idiot. She came on to me. Said her name was Char. I never even knew.”

“I don’t believe you. When she first showed up on campus, Beau told everyone to keep her away.”

“Yes, but I didn’t know it was her. You have to believe me, man. I would never. I’ve been screwed over before by a teammate, and I would never do that to anyone else.”

I loosen my hold on his shirt, taking a step back and swiping an arm across my face. Beau’s hand is hovering near my shoulder, but he doesn’t touch me. As if he trusts me to keep my shit under control.

“Well then, explain. What the fuck happened? I know you know abut Jazz and I. That it wasn’t real. At least not at first, but then it was. I really like her. Fuck that. I love her, and now she doesn’t know if she can trust me and my hockey career is fucked and I can’t...” Heat wells behind my eyes, but I clench my jaw and keep it in.

“I did. I heard you and Beau that day, but I swear I would never tell anyone. But I was at a bar. I’d been drinking and this hot chick started coming on to me. She bought me some drinks and took me home. I slept with her.” He flinches back as if he’s expecting me to lay one on him for that. But I don’t give a shit.

“Anyway. She was talking about doing it again. Dating, and I laughed. I told her she could be my fake girlfriend because Idon’t do real relationships. And I may have mentioned that one of my teammates was doing it and it was working for him. She asked who and my head was blurry and I was all sex-high, and I told her.”

“So you admit it.”

“Yes, but I didn’t do it intentionally. I didn’t know who she was. Hell, I figured she’d forget about the entire thing in the morning. If not, I would have told you I swear.”

I turn to Beau, looking for assistance, but he shakes his head at me.

“That was a dumb fuck thing to do, Hail. You don’t spill your teammates’ secrets. I don’t care how drunk you are. Alcohol is no excuse.” He turns back to me. “That being said. It sounds like it was a mistake. He’s an idiot, but not a traitor. And let’s face it, we’ve all been idiots over some girl or another at some point in our lives.”

He’s not wrong. I was an idiot for years.

Hail finally takes a step away from me as the dangerous vibes dissipate. “Is there anything I can do? Want me to talk to Jazz. I can tell her what happened. Let her know it was my fault. You had nothing to do with it. Whatever you need, man.”

“No, it’s fine. It’ll be fine. I’m sorry I went on the attack, but it’s not the first time I’ve been fucked over by a teammate. I didn’t want to let myself be the fool again.”

“You’re not a fool. This is all on her. She’s bad fucking news, and Hail is a grade A moron for sticking his dick in her.

“Come on. Let me give you a ride home.” Beau slaps me on the back as the adrenaline seeps from my body, leaving me with a slight headache and trembling hands.

“I’ve got my car here.” The protest is weak.

“You shouldn’t be driving in that condition. Don’t be a dumb ass. I’ll give you a ride home and we can play some Mario Kart or something.”

“Fine.” I relent. That’s one problem solved, but it doesn’t do anything to get me back on the ice, which is now the most pressing issue.

Chapter 31

Defensive Line

Jazz

I haven’t seen Colesince Sunday. I wanted to get a few things in line before I saw him again. Fill him in on my plan. I figure we’ve got four hours together on our Walk Safe shift, so it’ll be the perfect time to catch up. I really hope he doesn’t think I’ve abandoned him.

The stairs disappear two at a time as I fly up to the office to check in and grab my safety vest. It’s only been three days, but I miss him. I love him. It’s been creeping up on me so slowly that I didn’t until he said it. That warm glow that’s always simmering in my chest now only bubbles up when he’s around. When I see him or talk to him on the phone. When I get a random text from him during the day. That’s love. I’m sure of it, and I want to tell him, but not until the time is right. Not until I’ve sorted things out. Fixed what I broke.

“Cole!” I call out, rushing into the small storage room, but my heart sinks when the guy that turns to face me isn’t him. It’s Kenneth. The coordinator for the team. I’ve seen him around, and he’s usually the one who signs me in and out for my shifts. Grabs the phone out of the locked cabinet for us, but I don’t know him that well. I try to hide my disappointment under a warm smile, but all the radiance has drained away. All the expectation of speaking with Cole again.

“Hey, Jazz. I’m on his shift tonight. He’s not allowed to volunteer here until everything’s resolved with him.”

They heard, and they’ve pulled him from this job too. He’s losing everything, and it’s all my fault. I wish I had never met Darryl. Fallen for his lies. And all for what? I was never in love with him. Not like this. I’ve never felt like this before in my life.

“You don’t think he was in the wrong, though, do you? You know what really happened?”

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