Page 18 of The Tape Job
“Matt Rodgers? Are you serious?” Danny says from his spot opposite Johnny. “Does Bettsy know?”
“Johnny! What did you say to Lee on Christmas Eve?” I step between him and Danny, blocking off their discussion just as Liam strides over. It’s rude, I know, but I need answers.
“What?” Johnny narrows his eyes.
“What did you say to Lee on Christmas Eve?” I say again.
“Nothing!”
“Vic—it’s got nothing to do with Johnny,” Liam says, moving towards me, but I’m scanning the area for Ryan now, since if it wasn’t Johnny…
“Where’s Ryan?” I say. But I don’t wait for a response. I march towards the secondary dressing room with no thought of what I’m doing. The juniors stare in awe at me as I burst through the door. Ryan’s standing at a marker board, drawing circles and lines and shit, but his attention flicks to me.
“Are you—”
“What did you say to Liam on Christmas Eve?”
Ryan glares at me, and then his eyes flick past me through the open door.
“Vicky, come here,” Johnny tries, but I’m still fixed on Ryan.
“What did you say?” I try again, but then there’s a familiar hand on my shoulder, creating a warmth that spreads down through my body, an unwanted warmth. I wriggle away, not to let myself get distracted and step back out into the tunnels.
I can hear Jen saying my name, but Bettsy comes thundering past as if someone has taped the blades of his skates and he’s seeking revenge.
“Matt Rodgers?” Bettsy’s shouts. His face matches the colour of his hair, a deep red that spreads across his cheeks. “What the fuck, Johnny? Why didn’t you mention that Matt Rodgers is joining the team?”
All the guys, except Liam, crowd Johnny just outside the door to the dressing room. Liam is standing behind me, tugging at my arm.
“Vic, we need to talk,” he says, my name slipping through his lips in such a way that I know I don’t want to hear whathe has to say. I’m afraid to listen to him. Then it hits me. This must be how he was feeling, and my heart feels like it’s going to burst open. But I’m not ready.
I shake him away and step aside.
“Vicky—” Jen this time. My saving grace because I need to get out of here. She reaches for my hand. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter 5
Vicky
I poise my finger on the shutter-release button, and my eye tracks his every move like I’ve done thousands of times. Following Liam as he skates around on the ice is simple work for me. I’ve seen him skate so many times I can time his every move.
He slows his pace and taps his stick on the ice, calling his brother for a pass. “Don’t be a fucking show-off,” he shouts, and Ryan eventually sails the puck across the neutral zone towards him.
“Do better, then!” Ryan retorts.
Liam sends it back and again, Ryan uses the opportunity to have a little fun and keep the puck to himself.
“Just saucer it across!” Liam yells at Ryan, and I can tell by his voice that he’s getting irritated.
Liam receives the puck from Ryan and picks it up on the toe of his stick, the same stick I taped a few nights ago—I couldn’t help myself. I snap a shot of him battling the pucklike it’s a fly he’s been chasing just as he gives me a sideways glance. My heart leaps.
“If you want to play, bro, we can play.” Liam bats the puck through the air and Ryan skates towards it, hitting it back, just like they’re playing tennis or something.
“Will you guys stop fucking around and do your drills?” my brother shouts from the blue line where he’s come to a stop. But Liam shouts something back, and Johnny’s head snaps in my direction.
“Vic, you remember there’s an entire roster to capture, and you’ll have to get some shots of Matt Rodgers. Make it look like we’re glad to have him here.” He comes to a stop at the boards where I’m standing.
“I am,” I say, peering back into the viewfinder.
