Page 92 of Fair Play
“Do you think this is some kind of joke?” He walks closer until we’re chest to chest. “I fuckingtold youmy sister was off-limits. Then I see a picture of the two of you kissing in San Diego?”
I don’t respond since there’s nothing to say and we’re starting to draw attention from the rest of the team.
“Are you fucking my sister?” he demands when I still don’t respond.
“You really want to do this here? With the press right outside?”
“I don’t give a damn—answer the motherfucking question.”
“I’ve beendatingyour sister, yes.”
He moves fast and even though I could have ducked, I figure I owe him one shot. He catches me in the jaw, and I let the pain ricochet through my system before I turn back to him.
“You done?”
“No, I’m not fucking done!” He swings again, but this time I move out of the way. That seems to piss him off and he lunges,catching me around the middle and slamming me back against the lockers.
“Knock it off, Bodi!” I hiss under my breath, grabbing his arms.
“Fuck you! I told you not to touch her!” He swings again, catching me in the ribs and I’ve had about enough.
I don’t want to kick his ass, but I can.
And I will. He’s a decent enough hockey player, but he has no idea what a real tough guy can do. I won’t hurt him, but I’m not going to sit here and take it either.
“Knock it off.” I shove him back but he lunges again, this time hard enough to take us both to the ground.
“Jesus fuck—Big Bang, get in here!” I don’t know who called for Jensen, the biggest guy on the team, but I’ve got Bodi in a choke hold.
“Settle down—we can take this?—”
“Fuck all the way off!” Bodi twists and squirms free, swinging wildly.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?” I recognize Coach Vanek’s voice but can’t see him because Bodi has lost his ever-loving mind, swinging and kicking like he’s on something.
Jensen steps in, lifts him off me while Blake and Connor block him from coming at me again.
“I fucking told you she wasn’t available—she’s still a kid! What the fuck is wrong with you?!” There’s blood dripping from Bodi’s nose and one eye is starting to swell, but his face is twisted in fury.
“She’s not a kid, God dammit!” I snap.
“This is about a woman?” The vein throbbing in Coach’s forehead tells me we’re about to be in a world of hurt, but Bodi just won’t stop.
“I told him to stay away from her—he assaulted my sister!”
“Jesus Christ, Bodi. Shut the fuck up,” Marty interjects. “They’redating. No one assaulted anyone.”
“How the fuck would you know?” He glares at Marty.
“Because she confided in Stevie!”
The room is deadly quiet, teammates and support staff almost rooted in place as they watch the scene play out. Bodi continues to yell accusations and insults while I keep my mouth shut.
I want to defend myself but Bodi is embarrassing himself, and there’s a part of me that feels bad for him. Whatever it is that’s got Bodi all twisted up inside when it comes to his sister goes deeper than anything we’re going to deal with tonight, and there’s no point in adding insult to injury. Plus, I know Billie wouldn’t want me to fire back, not like this.
“Get him out of here—see if you can get him on the plane without anyone else hearing him.” Coach is looking at Jensen. Then he turns to me. “And you—I want to see you in my office first thing tomorrow unless you hear otherwise. Understand?”
“Yeah, Coach.” I grab my bag.
