Page 53 of The Alternate Captain
“Not particularly, but if she makes him happy, whatever. It’ll keep him out of my business.” I always know when my dad isn’t seeing anyone, because he becomes fully invested in my hockey career again. Safe to say, I prefer it when he butts the hell out.
“I’m sure she’s a lovely lady. Maybe she’s hot. Have you seen a picture?” And there it is.
“No, and nor am I going to ask for one.”
I park my car in the players’ parking lot and cut the engine. We both climb out, and I head to the trunk, pulling out our gear and handing Bettsy his bag.
It’s the season opener, and the first game of the Challenge Cup. I’m bursting with anticipation. And since Prez’s twin brother, Liam, is here, I think we have a high chance of pushing all the way. But I can’t get too excited about that now. My stomach sinks when I spot my sister making her way in through the double doors at the back of the rink. This is another problem I’m having to deal with.
“Have you two made up yet?” Bettsy says as the door closes behind her.
“Well, she’s still pissed at me, if that’s what you mean.”
“I’m still pissed at you, too, but I’ll get over it.” Bettsy pauses for a moment. “Did you honestly not know about Matt? Because if you did and you didn’t give me theheads-up—”
Everyone is pissed at me for sure. The team for thinking that I had some prior knowledge that Matt Rodgers, an ex-forward from another league team, had signed with us. Something that I had no idea about until I saw his name plate last week. And my sister, for thinking I had something to do with her ex-boyfriend, Liam, calling it a day once and for all—and that’s on top of her general pissed-off mood at the moment.
“I honestly found out like half an hour before you guys did. And Coach told me he would brief everyone. I’m sorry, bud. I really am.”
He blows out a breath and nods at me, but I know he’s not fully convinced.
“And Matt has said nothing to you?” I ask.
“You think we’re on speaking terms? Hell no. I still hate that fucker and the team he came from.” I’ll give him that—he’s passionate. “And before you ask, Rochelle is still out of the picture.”
Rochelle also happens to be Matt’s ex. She’s the one thing Bettsy and he have in common, well, two now, if you include the fact that they’re wearing the same team jersey this season.
We swipe our access cards on the double doors and head through to the dressing room. We’re amongst the first to arrive, and Vicky gives us some crap about being too early for her to catch the ‘arriving in suits’ shot for social media. But of course, Bettsy loves to appease her, so he heads back out and pretends to do his walk in again.
I refuse because I’ve got shit to do.
And it’s the right decision, because as soon as I’m left alone, Coach pulls me into his office briefly for a chat about the lines, then I’m readying up and trying to keep myself in the right headspace by consulting my notebook. I remind myself of the reason I’m here. To lead this team into a victory.
And that’s what I do—well, it’s not all me but we come away from the ice later that evening with a W and I’m absolutelybuzzing. Even my worry about the state of Liam Preston’s knee turned out to be nothing.
Once we’re done showering, I give the guys an overview on the plans for the evening.
“We’ll start at a bar before going to my place. Nothing heavy guys, because we’re on the road tomorrow.” I have this tradition of throwing a little house gathering when it comes to the season opener, and tonight is no different.
I wait for Bettsy to be ready to leave before we say our goodbyes to the guys, heading out towards the players’ parking lot.
“Have you bumped into Kelly yet?” he says, causing me to choke on the air I just inhaled.
“What?”
“Well, Ffordey mentioned you guys have to use the library more, now. So, I figured you may see her.”
“Oh, yeah. Just the once. I said ‘hi’,” I say.
And to my complete relief, Bettsy says no more about it. Once we’re on the road, he plays on his phone and casually hums along to the music from my car stereo.
But the mention of her name again has my brain ticking over. My mind has been on the game all day, but now it’s over, it’s gravitating back to that kiss and how she left things.
Once we get to the bar, I check in for our reservation and order a round of drinks as the team starts trickling in. I stick to water, a tactical plan so I don’t feel like shit tomorrow, and once I’m sure everyone is paying me zero attention, I take my phone out and scroll back through the text messages from the last few days, wondering what the hell to do next.
Kelly
Can I ask youa question?
