Page 64 of Bad Teammate
I looked up, startled.
Everyone was staring at me, waiting.
What if I tell them the truth? What if I get ahead of the controversy right fuckin’ now?
I cleared my throat. “I … uh …”
But before I could say another word, the locker room door swung open, and their heads turned to greet our last arrival. Niko walked in at the absolute last minute possible.
With Katerina in tow.
She followed her asshole brother into the room, her hands buried in the pockets of her tiny denim jacket. I could tell right away that she had no idea that we’d been caught. She was glowing. She walked with a bounce in her step. She looked so goddamn beautiful and exuberant, it killed me inside.
“Hi, boys,” she said. She wore a pair of leggings, and when she walked past, the head of every single guy turned to stare at her plump rear.
Twenty voices boomed back. “Hi, Katerina.”
She looked so cute, but I could barely look at her. I felt so goddamn rotten and ashamed. Even worse, every time I glanced in any direction slightly near her, she eagerly tried to catch my eyes. If we hadn’t been caught already? There was no way we would’ve kept this hidden for long.
Niko, on the other hand, walked right past me as if I didn’t exist. He threw his bag down on the floor and started dressing.
“Wow,” Katerina muttered, her head turning on a swivel as she soaked in the locker room sights. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail that poked out the back of her Dallas Devils hat. “I always wanted to see the inside of a pro locker room. It’s so big.”
She stopped in front of my stall. “Hey, Derek. How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Good. Just wanted to tell you that I’m making some traditional Russian cuisine for dinner tonight, so you’ll have some food to come home to after the game.” She lowered her voice. “It’s your turn to have a taste of Russia.”
Over her shoulder, I saw Niko’s angry mug watching us like a hawk, his hockey stick squeezed between his hands.
Fuck.
I didn’t know what to say to her.
“Sounds good,” I grumbled, turning my back to her.
“Good.” She laughed and walked to the center of the room. “Well, I should leave you boys be. Have fun out there! And good luck tonight!”
Again, she tried to exchange glances with me as she made her way to the door. It killed me inside, but I stared at my skates instead.
The second the door shut, Katerina became the topic of conversation:
“She’s cute, eh?” someone asked.
“Yeah, but are we sure that’s really Niko’s biological sister? I mean, how come he looks like such a farm animal—butshelooks likethat?”
I rolled my eyes as the bullshit turned sexual:
“Can you imagine being Reavo right now? Trying to mind your own business withthatwalking around the house?”
“Yeah, it’s no wonder he’s so quiet today. His balls are so big and blue he can barely speak!”
“I’m glad you-know-who can’t understand a word I’m about to say, becauseoh God,what I’d give to have a few minutes with a certain somebody’s sister.”
My fists balled, and I jumped to my feet and began to pace the room. “Enough!” I roared. “Can’t believe I even have to say this to a room full of NHLers. But we don’t disrespect a guy’s family right under his nose just because he can’t understand us. What are we? A bunch of goddamn children?” I stared the guilty parties down. “Knock it off.Now.”
Dane spoke as our captain. “Reavo’s absolutely right, boys.”
