Page 35 of Puck You
“Now,” Mr.Castillo said, looking back and forth between us, “I don’t want to hear about any further pranks.I don’t care how essential you are as players on the team.I will not hesitate to suspend you both if these issues persist.”
I tensed at his threat, fists clenching in my lap.This moment should have felt better.Our efforts had finally forced the administration to make a change.If anything, we were owed an apology from Sebastianandthe university, not a scolding.But I was willing to swallow my pride to ensure the the athletic director kept his word.
“Are there going to be any more problems?”he asked.
I shook my head immediately.“No, sir, no problems here.”
We turned our attention to Sebastian.He was still slouched in his chair, lips pressed into a thin line of irritation.Coach Dawson gave him a gentle elbow to the side, and he nodded begrudgingly.
“I’m glad this is settled.Moreover, I hope that this will be our last time discussing the issue,” Mr.Castillo said.“You may go.”
I tried to process the news as I followed Coach Riley out of the room.As soon as the door closed behind us, she and Coach Dawson stopped.I felt Sebastian at my back, heat radiating from his body.
“You two need to, oh, what’s the saying?‘Kiss and make up’?”Coach Dawson said this with a serious face, as if the suggestion wasn’t completely absurd.
From behind me, Sebastian let out a choking sound.
Coach Riley registered the look of incredulity on my face and smothered her smile.“Maybe a better phrase is to ‘bury thehatchet,’” she suggested.“Moving forward, you’ll be seeing a lot of each other.We’d like to avoid any further conflict.”
I would have liked to bury a hatchet right into Sebastian’s smug face, but Riley was right.Endeavoring to be the bigger person between the two of us, I turned around and held out my hand in an offering of peace.
Sebastian looked down at me like I was offering him my dirty socks after a grueling practice on the ice, clear refusal to touch me written across his face.“The hatchet is buried.Scout’s honor.”
The words had barely left his lips before he pushed past us and retreated down the hallway.We watched him disappear through the exit, the door slamming shut behind him.The hatchet didn’t seem all that buried to me ...
“I’ll have a talk with him,” Dawson assured Riley.Before he left, he looked at me.“He might be a cocky bastard, and he’s done some questionable things, but Sebastian’s had a difficult year.Try to give him a little grace.He’ll come around, I promise.”
Chapter 10
Sebastian
The month of October was cursed, and in more than just a spooky, All Hallows’ Eve way.In just a few weeks, my blueprint for the hockey season had been shredded to pieces, my two-year relationship was dead and in the ground, and the press was eating me alive.Despite Dallard’s statement declaring a mutually agreeable solution had been reached, one that involved the men’s and women’s hockey teams working together, people around campus were still sending me dirty looks or whispering to one another when I passed by.Worst of all was knowing that most of it was due to my own stupid, reckless actions.
Be that as it may, I was still happy to cast blame on Grace for her part in it all.I might have lit the spark that started the fire, but she was the one who’d poured gasoline atop the entire thing.And the most frustrating part?The undeniable, all-consuming attraction I felt for her that existed in contradiction to my frustration.I’d never actually hated Grace, at least not in the beginning.All that manufactured loathing had been an excuse to keep her far away.I didn’t want to be friendly because I’d desired more from her the very moment I’d laid eyes on her.Even after the article was published, I couldn’t deny that I wanted her.But now, that need was more complex.I was angry that she’d tricked me and frustrated that it hadn't changed how much I craved her attention.
All things considered, I was more than ready for the month of October to be a thing of the past.And after suffering our first loss, against Ohio State, I wasn’t going to risk stepping outside until midnight hit and we were officially into November.Unfortunately, that didn't stop my roommates from hosting theHalloween pre-game in our kitchen.Even in the privacy of my bedroom, I could hear the chorus of muffled voices and shitty party music.It was so loud that I barely noticed Bryce as he poked his head into my room.He was dressed in a giant pickle costume that looked a little too tight for his bulging muscles.
“Hey, man,” he said, one brow arched as he took in the mess of clothes strewn across my floor.It was unusual for my room to be anything other than spotless, and usually I wouldn’t be lying around in my bed unless I was having sex or going to sleep.I’m sure the sight of me reclining in front of my computer screen was slightly concerning.“You going to sulk up here all night?”
My only response was a curt nod.
“Come on, it’s Halloween.You can drink yourself into forgetting yesterday’s game,” he suggested.
When I remained silent, Bryce stepped further into the room and studied me from head to toe as if just realizing something strange.“Where’s Kate?You guys always do a couple's costume.”
“We broke up.She dumped me, actually.And no, I don’t want to talk about it.”
His eyes went wide.In all honesty, I still needed to process the breakup myself.So much had happened following the incident in the study room that I’d barely had a moment to think about it.Some days, it didn’t feel real.
“Maybe going out would be a good distraction,” he suggested.
“I don’t want to be around a bunch of drunk idiots.”
“You could be one of those drunk idiots.”He held his drink up to emphasize his point, taking a long sip of whatever concoction he’d mixed up in his Solo cup.If I had to guess, it waswhiskey and Coke.
“You know I don’t drink anymore.”
“Okay, sorry for suggesting it.I thought it might help ...”
