Page 94 of A Scoring Chance

I flinch as if he slapped me right in the face. I may not have socked Bower in the jaw like I wanted to, but I got my message across loud and clear.Keep Ramona’s name out of your mouth.I’m one of the team captains and just got the okay to play again. I can’t go getting into a fight and risking my entire career because some guy can’t stop running his mouth.

“You can’t solve all your problems with your fist, Beau. You could get fucking suspended for this. You didn’t think about that, did you? The team needs you to lead them to the playoffs.”

“The team. The playoffs. Is that all you can think about right now? Are you so desperate to get back on the ice that you’re willing to smile and say thank you to anyone who wants to talk shit?”

“No. I never said you had to take it, but there are better ways to handle it than beating the shit out of your teammate at practice. Crosby is on the way to the trainer, by the way. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t have a few bruised ribs.”

“I don’t give a fuck, Cooper. I wasn’t about to let him talk about Alise like that. Not on my watch. I can guarantee that he and everyone else on the team will think twice before running their mouths again.” Beau pushes me away from him, turning to head into the locker room, but I grab his arm.

“Alise, huh? Is that what this is about?”

“No, it's about protecting the people I care about. Period. End of story.” Beau wrenches free from my grasp, crossing his arms over his chest. “No one talks shit about my family and gets away with it.”

“You’re the team captain. What kind of example are you setting by starting fights at practice? Come on, Beau. You fucking know better.”

“Know better? Know better than what? Keeping all your emotions bottled up and hidden from the world has been working out really well, hasn’t it, Cooper?” Beau shoves me hard, and I stumble into the wall behind me. Beau comes charging toward me as I shrink back, his words hitting their intended target.

“That’s not fucking fair.”

“Life isn’t fucking fair, asshole. You demand perfection in everyone and everything at all times. That’s why Cole left. Wearen’t all a spitting image of control like you. We’re messy hotheads who don’t know our heads from our assholes. That’s fucking life. It’s messy and full of twists and turns. We’ll never be a family again until you can get that shit through your thick skull.”

“Beau, I-I…” I stammer, trying to find the right words to make him understand I don’t expect perfection from anyone, let alone my brothers. I’ve spent my life trying to make sure they have the space to make all the mistakes they want. Giving them a safe place to land when they fall, but it seems I’ve failed more than one brother when trying to get this point across.

“Fucking save it, Cooper. Just leave me the fuck alone for a little while.” Beau spins around and storms into the locker room. Both doors swing back and forth before closing. I don’t move to follow him because deep down, I know he’s right. Instead, I turn on my heels and head toward the training room to check on Crosby.

Chapter Thirty

Cooper

“Stop worrying, Coop. I’m fucking fine.” Crosby groans as he swings his legs over the side of the training bench. “Murphy says I’ll be good to play on Saturday.”

“I said no such thing. I said to take it easy until Saturday, and we’ll discuss it before the game,” Murphy grumbles as he types something into his tablet.

“Whatever. You need to keep your baby brother on a leash, or he’ll cost us the next game.”

I reach out to help Crosby stand, gripping his arms tightly to make sure I have his attention. His eyes swing toward me, ready to give me hell for gripping him up like that, but he doesn’t say a word. Good on him. The last thing I want to do is give him a matching black eye to the one Beau gave him earlier.

“You need to keep my family’s name out of your mouth, Crosby. The ass beating Beau just gave you will be nothing compared to what I do to you. You’ll be lucky if you can even play hockey again.”

“All this for a couple of puck bunnies?” Crosby eyes me warily as I help him toward a bench tucked into the corner of the training room, far enough away that no one will overhear our conversation.

“Stop fucking talking. Ramona is my girlfriend and will soon be my wife, if I have anything to say about it.” I release his arm, shoving him down onto the bench. I tower over him, leaning down slightly so we are at eye level, needing him to know I mean every word coming out of my mouth. “Alise is off-limits to you and everyone else on the team. She’s like a little sister to both of us, and none of you assholes deserve to breathe the same air as her.”

Crosby nods his head, his eyes wide with what looks like a combination of shock and a little fear. I’m known around the locker room for keeping my cool, but now they all know if they push hard enough, I will lay a smackdown if need be, whatever it takes to get my point across.

“Got it?” I ask, needing to hear his response.

“Got it, Cap.”

“Glad we had this talk.” I smile brightly, patting him hard on the back before heading toward Coach’s office. One problem solved; one more to go.

Thankfully, Coach is already in his office, his eyes glued to the computer screen. I knock softly on the door to get his attention. “Got a minute?”

“Sure, but if you’re here to plead Beau’s case, save it. He was out of control at practice today. I have no choice but to suspend him for three games.”

“Three games? Don’t you think that’s a little excessive, Coach?” I stroll into the office, the picture of calm, but I’m a panicking mess on the inside. We are coming up on three of our toughest games all season. The last thing we need is to add an unnecessary loss to our record.

“And you think he should get off scot-free?”

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