Page 3 of Shot Through the Heart

I slam down on the bench in front of my locker, grateful that this game was a home one, and start removing my gear as the team slowly follows after me.

“First round’s on me!” Landon calls out, patting my shoulder as he slips by me. I resist the urge to shrug him off and pass on celebrating. My team has some decent guys on it with the ones on my line being the most tolerable. None of them push me to let them in or try to get me to cheer up. No one ever tries to force me to go out with them. They simply let me know the offer is always there.

At this point, all of them know that my presence is a sign that I appreciate them.

Dominik, one of our newer players who transferred here last season, drops onto the bench beside me.

“Nice final shot,” he says simply, thankfully keeping his hands to himself and unstrapping his skates.

I grunt in acknowledgment, not worried in the slightest that he’ll get offended.

Dom fit into this team quicker than anyone had in a while. He has a calmness to him that helps him fit into any situation. Somehow the guy manages to go from matching the high, eccentric energy of our goalie, Dean, to simply existing beside me without missing a beat.

Guilt churns in my stomach and I spare a quick peek at our captain. I know Landon has been trying to get me to open up to him for years, yet somehow the newbie came along and did so without me noticing.

Not that I’ve poured my heart and soul out to the guy, but he does manage to get me to contribute to conversations before I can think it through.

“You coming to the bar?” Dom asks while we pack up our bags after showering. Just as I’m about to answer, my name is called from across the locker room.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find our media manager, Lucy, waiting by the doorway.

“Can I borrow you for a moment?”

I nod, hoisting my bag over my shoulder.

“Just meet me in my office once you’re finished,” Lucy says before hastily leaving. When she started, she said she would do everything she can to respect our individual preferences on social media. That means only coming into the locker room when needed or after giving everyone a heads-up that she’ll be making content in here. I might actually be the only one on the team who appreciates that, but still.

I spare a quick glance over my shoulder at Dominik. “I’ll meet you guys there for a drink but probably won’t stay long.”

“Sounds good.”

I cross the locker room and head toward Lucy’s office, trying to rack my brain for what she could need from me. She’s new to the team this season, but outside of introductions on her first day, I haven’t spoken to her since. I’m not on social media and our previous media manager had made sure my close-up shots were all up to date before she transferred teams. Plus, it’s well known by everyone in management that I want no part in making any of those trendy videos Dean and Landon always do.

Knocking on her door, I maintain a blank expression when she calls out for me to come in. My eyebrows rise in surprise when I see Kathy from human resources already sitting in one of the two chairs across from Lucy’s desk. The shocking difference between the two of them isalmostcomical, even to me.

Where Kathy is the definition of professional, with her gray suits and perfectly slicked back bun, Lucy is all eccentric colors and explosion of light.

I stand in the doorway, waiting for one of them to speak.

Lucy straightens her bright, patterned glasses while glancing awkwardly between me and Kathy before motioning to the free chair.

“Why don’t you have a seat?”

Dropping my bag behind the chair, I do as she suggested. Once seated, I simply sit back and look between the two of them. If they’re hoping I’ll know what this is about and start the conversation, they’ve got another thing coming for them. They called me in here, so they can tell me the reason for that without me making small talk or trying to guess.

“Right,” Lucy mumbles and clears her throat before putting her full attention on me. “There have been a couple articles circling about you lately.”

She pauses, looking at me as if she expects me to say something. When I don’t, her appeasing smile falls slightly. She spares a quick glance at Kathy before focusing back on me.

“Can I be frank with you?” Lucy asks.

From the corner of my eye, I see Kathy open her mouth and decide to finally speak up.

“I’d prefer it if you were.”

Lucy nods, closing the manila folder that I didn’t notice in front of her before she leans back in her chair and stares at me.

“The internet is basically calling you an asshole.”

---