Page 98 of Bad Teammate
“I thought I could guide Reavo through it—”
“Well, you fucked that up, didn’t you?” Dane asked, giving Hath a shove.
“Guys. Stop. We don’t need any more fights,” I said. “Anyway, Hath didn’t have a reason to tell you. I lied to him all along, telling him nothing was going on between me and Katerina. But the truth is I made a move on her the very first night she stayed with us. And then the second night. And last night, too. I didn’t come home last night—I stayed with Katerina in her hotel room. And I’m betting that’s why Niko freaked out and attacked me.”
Both guys groaned.
“Reavo,” Hath said, a note of heavy disappointment in his voice. “You hooked up with her every single night she’s been here?”
“Yeah.” I bobbed my head. “Sorry I lied to you.”
“Wait. If that’s true, why did she change her flight to leave early?” Dane asked.
I told them how Niko caught us the other day, and the fallout from that. How he wanted me to lie to her, to break her heart, how she wanted to flee back to Russia after—and how I couldn’t live with myself if I let her go.
“The fuck are you talking about?” Dane asked. “You’re talking like you actually care about this girl.”
“I think he does care about her, D,” Hath said. “That’s what he told me a minute ago.”
“That’s right,” I said. “Look, I get it. Fuck me, I totally get how dumb this looks to you. And the last thing I wanted was to fall for the kid’s sister. But it fuckin’ happened and I’m not gonna apologize over it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever felt in my life. I love her, man.”
“You’reseriouslytrying to tell me that you fell in love with that girl?” Dane repeated, bewildered. “Took you what—three days, was it? Three days to fall in love?”
I nodded.
“Fuck.” Dane laughed. “You reallyareinsane.”
“Laugh all you want, Dane. I don’t care. I’ve never felt this way about a girl before.”
“They’re gonna trade you,” he said matter-of-factly. “You realize that, don’t you? Coach is upstairs in the GM’s office right now. Bet you anything those two are working the phones at this very moment, trying to trade you before the rest of the league finds outwhyyou guys were fighting. Word’s gonna get out, Reavo. You won’t be able to keep this a secret.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You know your next team won’t trust you, right? It doesn’t matter how much of a team guy you’ve been your whole career. Nowyou’re always gonna be known as the guy that fucked Niko’s sister and got his ass traded because of it. Your teammates will always keep you at a distance. They won’t trust you. They’ll be afraid you’re gonna fuck their wives, their girlfriends, their moms and sisters and cousins. Good luck sticking in the NHL when there won’t be asinglelocker room in the league that wants to have you around.”
I nodded. I knew that already; I understood that was the risk the very first time I kissed Katerina.
“So?” Dane asked. “Was it worth it?”
“For a chance with Katerina?” I couldn’t help but shake my head with a grin. “You bet, bud.”
“Holy hell.” Dane snickered. “I’ve never seen you like this in my life, Reavo. You really do love her, don’t you?”
“I do, man.”
“Fuck.” Dane couldn’t help but smile. “You dumb bastard.” He neared, grabbed me by the chin and shook me—not violently, but like a brother would do when he’s frustrated with you. “I’m gonna miss you, man.”
“I’ll miss you, too.”
“We had some good times though, eh?” Dane asked. “The three of us?”
We laughed fondly.
“Sure fuckin’ did,” I said.
“Hell.” Hath stroked his chin. “Maybe you don’t have to get traded. Maybe things can still work out?”
“Oh, I doubt that,” Dane said.
