Page 52 of The Import Slot
Becca has been in a lousy mood all evening, but after watching that, she’s silent and solemn. I wonder if she has it bad for Danny and she’s worried about him.
“I need a drink,” she says, standing up and making her way to the stairs; not even a backward glance, but my eyes flick back to Ryan. I caught the look on his face when he went to take his penalty, and he appeared pretty pissed.
He removes his helmet and wipes a towel through his hair, wiping the sweat off before replacing it. I can only see the back of him, but I know he’s likely chewing on his mouthguard, eager to get back out there.
The clock winds down slowly, and Ryan takes another shift before the final buzzer goes, ending the game five-one for us.
The rink is full of people, so I wait for the crowd to thin out before descending the stairs.
Nathan is waiting for his new girlfriend outside the toilets, and I try to avoid him this time. He couldn’t wait to bring her over and introduce her to me earlier, as if he had to make a point of showing her off. Ryan didn’t help the situation when he told me to call him. Nathan started rattling off that guys like him want someone easy because why would they put the effort in if they’re going back home at some point? He knows how to get under my skin.
My phone pings with a message from Ryan as I try to push through the crowd to the exit.
Ryan:Meet me outside the dressing room? Hal will let you through.
I head over to the security gate, and as planned, Hal swings open the barrier to let me through without a word. I feel awkward hovering around, even though most of the guys know me. Luckily for me, Ryan is one of the first out, dressing in a suit, making my legs wobble.
He beams when he sees me, reaching out and pulling me into a hug. My heart is pounding, and my stomach is full of butterflies. I’ve been on a high since he kissed me for the first time, and my body is buzzing with need. I want more. But I don’t know what the hell we are doing and how I can cope with temporary?
I look up at him, his mouth crashing down on mine, and I melt, opening my mouth to welcome more, completely forgetting where we are and who may, or may not, be around. It’s not until Danny clears his throat loudly that we break away.
“What’s all this?” he asks curiously. I look between him and Ryan, and Danny grabs my arm and pulls me toward him. “Can I have a quick word?” he says.
I shrug at Ryan and follow Danny to the equipment manager’s office.
“Please tell me you’re not?” he demands.
“What’s it got to do with you?” I ask, pulling the jersey I’m wearing over my head, very aware that it’s got Danny’s name on the back.
“Look at what happened with Nathan,” he says.
“How can you compare Nathan to Ryan?” I say, confused. “Nathan is a narcissistic prick who made me feel like I was never enough.”
“Yes, but he broke your heart. Are you sleeping with Ryan?” he asks, ignoring my remark.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no,” I say. “Where has this come from?” Danny looks like they just lost the Playoff Finals on shootouts. “What’s going on?” I ask.
“Nothing. Stop changing the subject!” he rages at me. “Do you know why Matt fucking Rodgers was gunning for Prez tonight? He fucked his girlfriend.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask.
“Matt said someone fucked his girlfriend, or ex-girlfriend now, I guess, and fingers point at Preston. He was raging during the third period! Why else would someone be that pissed unless something was going on?”
“And you believe him?” I seethe. “I’m not having this conversation,” I say, turning to leave, heading back to Ryan, who’s talking with Johnny.
“What did Danny want?” he asks as we climb into his car.
“Oh, he kicked off about us. But I think it’s got something to do with him and Becca; he’s just channelling his anger toward me.” I explain my theory. Both Becca and Danny are in terrible moods, Danny acting all pissed off at the sight of someone remotely happy. His awful performance on the ice—the list goes on.
“He wasn’t himself in the dressing room, either,” Ryan says.
“Oh, and he also mentioned that trash talk from that Matt Rodgers guy,” I add.
“Yeah, Bettsy fucked his girlfriend,” he says.
“Danny seems to think that you fucked her, too. He reckons that’s what pissed you off in the third,” I say.
“Fuck, no. That was something else I don’t want to go into right now, but it involves my dad. I took my anger out on the ice.”
