Page 10 of Playing to Win

Well, I’d played my first ever NHL game last night. Despite the fact I’d been pulled before the third, people had noticed. I was tempted to look at whatever was on the phone. There wereso manynotifications.

First things first. The team wanted to see me. If I could just make myself presentable and get to them before they started to question my work ethic, I could do this.

“Shit, I gotta get to the Blaze arena. Could you drive me? Wait, you have practice.”

I’d left my truck at whatever bar I’d been at and Ubered home. Where had I gone? I had to have paid, right? It would be on my credit card record. If I mainlined some coffee and got a ride now, hopefully I’d be ready to face whatever the Blaze wanted. Then I’d find my truck.

“I told Coach I’d make sure you got there.” Luke paused. “But that video went viral.”

Video?“The goal?” I’d only let in one.

He grimaced. “Thought you might not know. No, later. In the bar. When you complained about Faith Devereaux.”

My stomach clenched and I scrambled to make it back to the bathroom. While my guts returned any contents still remaining, tendrils of memory poked at my brain.

I’d been pissed, because of Frank Devereaux. And because of him, Faith. I knew it was stupid and childish but resenting her wasn’t something I could talk myself out of. My mom had kept the secret for twenty-five years, and as far as I was concerned she could keep it for another twenty-five. But enough alcohol and I’d spilled something. What?

I pulled myself upright and returned to the doorway of the bathroom. Luke was wearing a worried expression.

“I’m gonna shower and try to clear my head. Then you can tell me how much I fucked up.”

He nodded. “Sure. It was a lot.”

* * *

Showered,dressed, and with coffee in front of me, I was finally ready to face whatever I’d done last night. My phone was charging in my room but Luke suggested I wait to read whatever was on it. Instead, he pulled up a video on his and passed it over.

It was me, of course. Drunk. Stupid drunk. Slurring words, eyes unfocused, clothing rumpled and hair a mess. Just the image the Blaze wanted of one of their players. After years of never stepping out of line I’d blown everything I’d worked for in one night.

“Shuuur. They jusht put her in, fer a shtunt, after I do all the work. How come shee gets everthin’ handed to her, while I have to work for it? It washt my night. You know? It’sh not fair. It’s never fair.”

I was tense for an additional thirty seconds while past me whined, but then it ended. I didn’t tell the secret. That was the only upside. I did go viral, drunk off my face. Complaining about something my team did, and about a teammate. Saying it wasn’t fair, like I was a toddler and someone didn’t share a toy with me. Unprofessional, entitled, unaware of my surroundings.Fuck. I’d just sabotaged my career. My dream.

If I played really well, kept rigidly to my routines like I had, I might still make it to the NHL. But not with the Blaze. It would take time to come back from what I’d done. Who would want me after this? Not the people I wanted to work with.

Luke took his phone back and was kind enough not to replay it or tell me how viral it had gone. It didn’t really matter. It had gone far enough to bring the team in.

I held my head in my hands. “I’m fucked.”

Luke nodded. “But you played a good game. That has to count for something.”

Not that much. The Blaze already had two goalies. Those guys would be back in net soon. With no game tonight, they had lots of time to find someone to fill in if they were out longer than a couple of days. Maybe they’d put Faith in. Not me. I’d just thrown away this opportunity to impress them. At least in a good way. The trade deadline had just passed for this season, but come summer they’d ship me off before I saw any more NHL time. I’d still play on the Inferno till then.Right?

I rubbed my forehead. I’d rebound. I would. But damn it, how could the Devereaux family manage to screw with me like this?

Luke passed me another cup of coffee. “People will forget. Eventually. Drink that up and I’ll get you downtown. But still, you might not want to look at anything on your phone.”

I slumped in my seat. The Devereaux family might be the catalyst, but this wasmymess. I’d done this to myself. Time to face the music.

* * *

Jayna

What an asshole.

This was supposed to be a great morning, one of the best days of my temporary career. Boosting Faith’s start would be the most meaningful thing I’d ever done in this job. Ignore the trolls and milk this moment for the groundbreaking event that it was.

But no, I couldn’t enjoy that. I limped into my office, tired from my late night, and sore and worried after my rehab session. My therapist had suggested additional sessions, but they weren’t covered by our medical plan, and they weren’t cheap. That, I could have shoved down to worry about later, to focus on what Faith had done last night. But no. Because Braydon fucking Mitchell had his nose out of joint that he’d lost all the attention on his first NHL start, and he’d been recorded, drunk, complaining about Faith. No wonder he hadn’t showed at the party.

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