Page 57 of The Import Slot
Danny scowls at me, and I let out a breath.
“I’ve seen that face before,” Scottsy adds. “The face of a man who’s got it bad.” Sadly, I think he’s right, but I can’t go admitting it. “When I first saw Lauren, I knew she was the one. It’s how Bettsy feels about his left hand.” Everyone laughs, and it takes the heat away from me.
The ball gets kicked off to the side, and Johnny goes to get it, so I jog after him, wanting to talk to him, alone. He gets the hint, throws the ball back to Bettsy, and hangs back.
“What’s going on, man?” he asks. “Speak to Liam?”
“I did, yeah. He called me last night, but he completely avoided any question I threw at him. Then he had to go. Look, it’s not that,” I say. “I’m fucked.”
“What’s going on?”
“This whole thing with Jen. I know she’s not a casual sort of girl, despite your shit advice that she was. We said we’d be friends, but one thing led to another.”
“Are you sleeping with her?” he asks.
“Not quite.” Fuck, not quite, but almost, and I want to.
“But you like her?”
“Like I’ve liked no one else. I can’t stop thinking about her, man. I’m like a horny teenager,” I say.
“Christ. And you’re worried because you’ll be returning to Canada next season?”
“I can’t guarantee it, but that’s my plan,” I say.
“What if she’ll go with you?” Johnny says, as if it’s the most obvious solution in the world.
“We haven’t even talked about it. I don’t want to scare her and start planning the rest of our lives,” I say.
“Yeah, I get it, but I think you need to talk to her about what you both want. If she’s interested, give it a shot. If she doesn’t, then you can decide if you’re both okay with just fooling around, or you can call it now and live out the rest of the season in misery. Because I’ve never seen you smile so much,” he adds, with humour in his tone.
The back door of the rink swings open and Coach shouts out. “We’ve been given the public skate pad for some impromptu not-quite-morning skate. Ice in twenty boys.”
Everyone hustles inside, where I find my gear and settle into my cubby, Danny sitting beside me.
“Becca’s just messaged me. She and Jenna are here already,” he says.
My phone has been on silent in my pocket, and I grab it, but I’ve got no new messages from Jen, only a bunch from some guys back home, but nothing I care about right now.
“What exactly did you say to Jen yesterday?” I ask Danny, wondering if he’s the reason she hasn’t texted me back.
He doesn’t answer me. He carries on undressing, so I ask again. Pausing for a moment, he gives me a remorseful look.
“I just told her she needs to be careful she doesn’t get hurt, that’s all,” he says.
“Right, and that’s it?” I ask.
“Well, that, and I reminded her that being in the NHL brings a reputation,” he says with a shrug.
“You don’t even know me,” I say, my blood boiling.
“I know enough,” he says, and I see red, shoving him into Jani, who’s just standing in his underwear, minding his own business.
Danny and I are in various states of undress, but that doesn’t stop us. He shoves me back, and I wind up to throw a punch, but Johnny grabs my arm, pulling me back.
“Enough!” he yells. “You’re on the same goddamn team. Thank fuck Coach isn’t here to have seen that, or he would hand your asses to you. Sort your shit out.”
I take a deep breath and nod at him. The last thing I want to do is start a fight with Danny, but I don’t appreciate the slander. I can see the rage bubbling in his eyes, so I get myself to the other side of the room, Johnny helping to bring my stuff over.
