Page 25 of Twisted Minds

I turn around to find Derrick up in the stands, his shaggy auburn hair out of its usual tie. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“You kicked me off the team, but you can’t ban me from the arena.”

Bullshit. “I can kick you in the fucking teeth if you’d like.”

“Assault.” He clutches his metaphorical pearls. “Hunter. That’s beneath you.”

“Not beneath you, though.”

All mock playfulness drains from his face. “Careful. Spreading rumors isn’t very nice.”

“Neither is taking advantage of girls, but here we are.”

“What are you talking about?” Jake whispers, looking at me.

“It’s nothing,” Derrick cuts in. “Hunter here just believes a random bitch over his teammate. Rumors, man, they’re a killer.” Calm. Keep calm. He wants to bait me, and I know it. If I get kicked off the team that will only hurt my teammates. I have zero expectations on making it pro, even if I’ve worked my ass off for it, but these guys have dreams. They have a shot. I’m a beast on the ice, but I refuse to hide my identity, and the world of sports has a long way to go to being tolerant. Even though coach came out, and even if there are out players now, I know it would be an issue.

My other teammates are grinding for their opportunity, though, and I’m not going to let them down. We need a win this weekend. We’re playing a rival college. I have to be on my best behavior, and Coach has a zero-tolerance policy for violence of any kind off the ice.

Derrick makes it look so good, though.

“What is he talking about?” Jake whispers to me.

“Jane Liu. They dated last year, and he attempted to assault her,” I whisper back, not taking my eyes off Derrick up in the stands. “Over the summer she pressed charges against him, but of course they were dropped.”

“Oh, shit.” He looks uneasy. “You believe he did it?”

Why is it so hard to believe women? “Yes, I fucking believe it,” I snap.

“Whoa, sorry. Not what I mean. It’s just crazy to think about.”

I try to give him the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard. Being raised by and around mostly women, and then being in locker rooms . . . it’s a shock to the senses. I do my best to combat toxic masculinity and being on this team is like a breath of fresh air. Still, there are moments and offhand comments. “That’s why Coach kicked him off.” I just want to go home now. Maybe Mark wants to hang out.

“Good fucking riddance. I’m surprised Sawyer left him breathing,” Jake says.

I smile, thinking about my best friend. “Oh, it came close a couple of weeks ago.”

“Shaw!” we hear Coach bark, and we all turn to him. “You have no place here!” Coach’s hard eyes bore into him, and Derrick glares at me a moment before turning away and walking out of the arena.

It feels like none of us breathe until he’s gone.

“Benson.” We turn to Coach. “Great job. Not one puck in that net, you hear me?”

“Yes, Coach.”

“Great job, you two.” He hesitates a minute. “If he steps a goddamn toenail into this arena, I want to know about it.”

“Of course.”

“You both go home for the day. Get some rest.”

“Thanks, Coach.”

Hot water pelts my face. I sit under the spray, soaking in the water and feeling the tension leave my body. This shit with Derrick is insane. He shouldn’t be allowed to breathe fresh air let alone taunt me. I’m pretty levelheaded, but there’s only so much I can take.

Shutting off the water, I wrap a towel around my waist and step out of the showers, freezing when I see Mark sitting on one of the locker-room benches. “You know, I always wondered whether it was the same as in the movies. Dicks everywhere.”

I laugh. “It’s not the buffet you think it is.”

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