Page 2 of Overtime
“No one made a bet. Get that paw away from my face so I can watch the show.”
I run a hand over my buzz cut and down the back of my head, trying to massage the tension in my neck. There’s some pleading in her eyes, as if she expects that by doing this, she’ll convince me to change my mind.
“I responded to you last night,” I say, leaving out the part where last night was thethirdtime I said we should part ways.
She takes a deep breath and blurts out, “Breaking up with me by text is such a dick move!”
“Really, Rodriguez?”
“I’m disappointed, Cap.”
“That’s too harsh, even for me.”
“Dude, shut up. You can’t even get one date.” A round of snickers.
I breathe even deeper. I could tell them that the first time I tried to break up with her was definitely in person, but what does it matter? The people want a show, and I’m not happy to oblige.
Back to rummaging through my duffel bag I go. I find my socks and drop them onto the bench. Next is the performance shirt. I pull it on first. Then I make the mistake of checking to see if she’s still there. She is. Guess I should be thankful she didn’t show up a few minutes earlier, or she’d have found me buck naked.
Still, I ask, “Why are you still here?”
My tone must’ve come out harsher than I meant, because even Archie hisses and looks away. I’ll get a scolding at home tonight, no doubt.
“Because I’m trying to make an effort here.” She stomps her foot. “We have great chemistry, and I can’t be the only one who thinks it’s a waste to end things here.”
“Yeah, you are. Chemistry isn’t enough for a relationship, and I don’t want one of those anyway.” I sigh and jerk my chin at the door. “Do you mind? This is a men’s changing room.”
“Bro…” someone whispers. I’m not sure if it’s a warning or a reprimand. I’m not in the mood for either.
“Then change, because I’m not leaving! We’re having this conversation right here, right now.”
“Fine.”
So I say, but this conversation is over for me. I don’t acknowledge Kelsey anymore, even as she starts tossing out lies about how bad I supposedly am in bed. Which contradicts her argument that we have chemistry, anyway. Besides, we didn’t even sleep together. I’d look pathetic if I start trying to defend myself, though, or if I attack her instead. I don’t care if Edwards and his buddies want to use this to give me crap. I’d rather wait until she runs out of fumes than engage and make it all worse.
I finally sit down to put on compression socks, and she screeches. “Are you really not going to say anything?”
I wince a little but move on to lacing up my skates.
“Word of advice,” Archie whispers in averyloud voice. “They don’t call him Aran ‘the Iceberg’ Rodriguez for no reason. And you don’t want to end up like the Titanic, do you?”
“Why don’t you date me instead, babe? I promise you I’m much hotter,” one of the younger guys says while flexing his arms like a peacock.
“Shove thatbabeup your ass.” Kelsey turns to me. “And you?—”
I know exactly what she’s going to do before a single one of her muscles moves. It’s in the fury in her eyes, how her nostrilsflare. But I let her, because I know this is the closure she needs to move on and leave me the hell alone.
I let her slap me.
The room hisses. Every Bolt felt the blow as if they’d gotten it instead.
Turning my head back around, I test my jaw with my hand. It doesn’t hurt too much, like this was just a show for her too.
“You done?” I ask in a gruff tone.
“Now I am. Don’t come crawling back to me when you regret this.” She turns around, and I notice her heeled boots don’t click-clack against the thick carpet. No wonder I didn’t hear her come in.
But just as I start feeling some relief, Kelsey walks by Coach Green. He’s leaning against the door, chewing gum and glaring daggers at me. It probably means he witnessed most of this little episode.
