Page 27 of Puck You
“I need everyone to shut the hell up!”Coach’s voice cut through the noise like a bullet.
A hush fell over the group in seconds, and the arena grew still.My heart was a thunderous thing inside my chest, gloved hands balled into fists at my sides.I focused my attention on a spot above Coach’s head.It was the only thing I could do to stopmyself from ditching practice in favor of tearing down each and every poster plastered across the school grounds.
“There’s no beating around the bush: this looks bad for us.Right now, the only thing I want you boys to focus on is practice.When you step on this ice, you forget about everything out there.”He gestured dramatically toward the exit, spit flying from his mouth as he spoke.“This matter will be handled by the school administration, not us.If they ask anyone for a comment, the answer is no.Do not engage, and don’t even think aboutretaliating.”
I wanted to argue with Coach Dawson even as he locked eyes with me, his expression saying,Especially you, Sebastian.How did he expect me to remain silent?I was the only one being dragged in the school newspaper.It was my face in that article, and it was Grace who’d put it there.
“Practice starts now.Sebastian, over here.”
The team scattered at once, everyone heading for the perimeter of the rink to complete our usual warm-up laps.
“You’re upset,” he said in a gentle tone, “and I understand that you want to do something about all of this, but you can’t.Can you trust that I’ll take care of things?”
“It’s my reputation on the line,” I snapped.“How am I supposed to just sit back and do nothing?”
“What is it you want to do, Sebastian?Was the recording doctored?I’m happy to file a complaint if you didn’t say those things, but if you did, I can’t have you going after those ladies.That will only make things worse.”
Dawson already knew the truth.I could see it in his eyes.
“I didn’t know it was going to be used against me.I’m worried about losing time in our training schedule.”
Having to share space with another team, with Grace, would only complicate things.Even now, when the thought of her name made my teeth clench in anger, I couldn’t ignore the spark of heat that shot down my spine.Why the hell did she have to be so damn appealing?
“You’re under a lot of pressure, which is why I need you to focus on hockey and leading this team.Leave the rest to me, okay?”
It was a bitter pill to swallow, but I nodded my head.
“Good, now get your ass moving,” he said, clapping me on the back.“We’ve already wasted enough time today.”
Hockey was normally my distraction from the outside noise, but once I was on the ice, I instantly knew I wouldn’t be able to forget the article.For whatever reason, I had a feeling there was more to come.
>> <<
Grace
“I wish I could have seen the look on his face when he read the article,” I said as we trudged out of the locker room after a grueling practice.
I’d half considered camping out by DuLane Arena so I could follow Sebastian around campus yesterday.The entire women’s team had woken up in the early hours of the morning to decorate the grounds.Seeing the school plastered in our posters was such a gratifying moment, especially after I’d spent half the night rereading Maggie’s article, memorizing every word.The only thing that could have made today better was seeing Sebastian’sreaction when he realized he was the star of our campaign.
“Someone told me that a bunch of the guys were pulling down posters near the arena,” Lydia said with a chuckle.
“It’s too little too late.Everyone in my literature class was talking about the article.Even the basketball guys were offended, though I’m sure they’re more than happy to see the hockey team taken down a peg.”Pearson could hardly contain herself as she spoke.The whole team was buzzing.For once, people were starting to pay attention to our plight.
“Who knows, this might have been our last practice in this shithole,” added Liv.
“Don’t get ahead of yourselves,” Caroline warned.“Coach hasn’t heard anything from the administration.What matters right now is that people are talking about us.Eventually, the school will have to address the issue.We need to be patient until they do.”
Despite Caroline’s reality check, everyone was on cloud nine as we headed off to class.The moment I stepped outside, my eyes were drawn to a tall wall of muscle.Sebastian Evans, the campaign star himself, was leaning against a birch tree looking particularly prickly.Even from several yards away, I could feel tension in the air between us.A gust of chilly wind blew past, loosening a few strands of hair from my braid.I tucked them behind my ears as he pushed off the tree and sauntered over.
“Ladies,” he offered in greeting.“I need to speak with Grace.”
Neither of my roommates moved an inch from my side.
“It’s fine,” I said.“I’ll see you guys later.”
After searching my face for any sign of distress, they agreed.Before leaving, Caroline sent Sebastian a look of warning as if to say,Don’t you dare fuck with her.
“I can’t imagine you have anything worthwhile to say,” I said, turning my attention to Sebastian.“Unless you’re here to apologize, that is.”
