Page 26 of Bad Teammate
“What?” I stammered. “Why?”
“Because the last thing we need at this party is one of the single guys trying to hit on our star player’s sister while she’s visiting.” He paused and stared at me. “Get what I’m saying, Reavo?”
“Yeah.” I laughed and nervously tugged at my collar. “Yeah, wouldn’t that be dumb. Jesus. Can’t even imagine.”
We sat silently in our cart, listening to the whistling breeze.
Hath turned to me again. “Isshe a rocket?”
I lowered my voice. “Yeah, bud. She’s a rocket, alright. A Russian rocket.”
“Oh boy. I don’t like the sound of that.” He sighed. “Promise me that you haven’t, andwon’t, do anything dumb.”
He stared deep into my eyes, probing for the truth.
I broke eye contact first.
“C’mon, Hath.” I waved my hand, as if I could sweep away all his ridiculous concerns. “You really think I’d do something like that, after all this team has been through?”
Because I did.
“Stranger shit has happened.” With a shake of his head, Hath gazed into the distance. “You know. This is the best roster we’ve had since the year we lost in the Final. I really think we have a shot at the Cup, as long we have Niko. And he’s only eighteen. He’s only going to get better. Can you imagine how good that kid is going to be when he hits his prime a few years down the road?”
“I know it, man. He’s unreal.”
“He sure is. But you know how those Russian players can be—one small slight and they want out of town. What if we did something to piss him off? What if he demands a trade? What if he goes back home to play in Russia? Fuck, Reavo. It’d set this franchise back years. After two years of being a dumpster fire, we’re winning again. Our home games are selling out. We’ve finally got the city back on our side again, and Niko is a huge part of that. Losing him would be a kick in the balls for the team and the city. I don’t know if we’d ever recover. They might have to move the team to another city.”
“Yeah.” I nodded soberly as the gravity of his words sunk in. “You’re absolutely right.”
Hath jumped out of the cart. Our serious talk was over.
“Anyway. You’re up, Reavo,” he said. He pointed into the tree line, where my ball was hiding. “I’m curious to see how you get yourself out of the woods here.”
Me too, bud. Me too.
10
Katerina
Freshly showered and made up, I emerged from Derek’s bedroom and made my way down the hall. My heart beat anxiously as I walked towards the sound of the TV in the living room.
Part of me hoped Derek was gone, so I’d be spared the awkward act that everything between us was normal.
A different part of me hoped he was still around, so we could see each other and exchange knowing glances in secret.Maybe it wouldn’t be awkward between us at all. Did he have plans today? Maybe he would join me and Sasha?
But my heart sank when I walked into the living room. Sasha sat by himself on the couch, his feet up on the coffee table as he flipped through TV channels.
“There you are. Took you long enough,” he said, glancing at me. He did a double take. “Whoa. No wonder it took you so long. You’re all dressed up.”
“I’m not ‘all’ dressed up.”
“Yeah, you are.”
I rolled my eyes. “So what if I want to feel pretty? I’m on vacation. Leave me alone.”
“Who do you want to feel pretty for, Katya?” he teased. “It’s not like you’re going to see anyone you know in Texas.”
“You’re such aguy,” I grumbled. “I want to feel pretty for myself. Got a problem with that?”
