Page 193 of Undressed In The Crease

Greg stops me from getting up. “Hold on. What happened?”

“She swore not to tell anyone.” I shake my head, not able to get the full story out.

I don’t want to talk about it.

I still can’t believe it’s true. Why would she betray me like that?

I thought she loved me.

Every interaction is playing back in my mind, but I still can’t find any hint of a lie.

She looked just as shocked as I did when the guy Jeremy started throwing questions at me.

Jeremy.

I’ll never forget his name now.

I can’t think about it. I’m the captain. I’m a leader and I have to finish out this game like nothing's bothering me.

We finish out with a shutout. Miraculously.

I can’t even recall any bit of the third period. I played on auto pilot, letting my training and my muscle memory take over.

I didn’t look for Lenny in the crowd.

I can’t face her.

I don’t even want to know the truth.

How else could he have known about my knee injury or the surgery if she didn’t tell him or at least let it slip?

If it was an accident, I could forgive her. I think. I don’t know.

Greg keeps asking me to talk. We haven’t even left the locker room and he’s been up my ass the entire time. Most of the team is already gone, but I stayed behind to avoid the cameras and reporters asking questions.

I don’t know if any of them know by now. Coach said it was handled, but who knows what got out.

“Are you ready?” Greg asks, getting his stuff together. He’s supposed to be meeting Layla, just like I’m supposed to be meeting Lenny but he hasn’t been rushing me and he refuses to leave my side.

“The hall’s been cleared out.” Luca comes back in to get his bag and collects me like I’m part of his baggage to keep safe.

I’m supposed to be the leader. This is what happens when you're in love and let your guard down.

It’s a fucking distraction.

I got distracted and forgot everything I’ve always done to protect myself. I missed all the signs.

Slowly I get up, but stop when I hear shouting from the hall. Greg and Luca hear it too. The three of us go rushing to see what’s happening. Luca gets out first followed by Greg who holds me back behind him, protecting me the same way they do during a game.

But I know that voice.

“You’re going to get expelled!” Lenny shrieks, but I can’t see who she’s talking to.

“I got my information the same way you have. Fucking the tech, the same way you’ve been fucking Nick Miller, just to get a good story.”

I push against Greg to see just as we hear a loudslap.Flesh on flesh. There’s no mistaking that sound.

“Ooh!” Luca whispers, getting a good look at the scene.

---