I send Declan a text:
Me: Are you okay?
I wait but no response comes. I don’t bother to remove my makeup; I just change into pajamas and cover my head with my blankets. It’s only then that I allow myself to cry.
THIRTY
Declan
The next morning we have a practice, which fucking sucks, because I can’t look my best friend in the eyes without feeling like a fraud. I can’t even explain what I’m feeling but I also can’t get the look Ryse had on his face when he caught me practically humping his sister out of my mind. I don’t even know why I went back there, other than she looked so beautiful and the way she was dancing and moving her body made me feel crazy with need. All I wanted was a little taste of her lips. Something to hold me over until we could be together again.
When I got back to the hockey house last night, the guys weren’t here since they were all at the party. I stayed in my room and didn’t leave until this morning.
Bozeman saw me first and gave me a dirty look. So did Wyatt, Leo, Rowan, and Liam. I screwed up. I created a rift on the team. A rift that can cost us because if we aren’t getting along off the ice, we sure aren’t going to be playing smoothly. The guys are moving around quickly getting ready to leave for the arena. Someone has the blender going with protein shakes. I get my stuff together and get ready to head out with them. Rowan and Leo both have cars and usually give us rides to the rink.
Ryse throws on his jacket and walks to the door. “Hell, no, I’m not riding with him.”
Fuck, this is really bad.
“Ryse, just let me explain,” I plead.
“Explain? Explain what? How you took advantage of my sister?” he growls.
“It’s not like that,” I say.
“It’s too early in the morning for this shit,” Ryse spits.
“Maybe you should walk today,” Rowan says.
Great, even my teammates feel like I stabbed them in the back. I zip up my jacket and make my way over to the arena by foot. I haven’t reached out to Poppy because I don’t even know what to say to her. She is so important to me, but if I can’t fix this situation with my team, I won’t be able to draft and my life will be totally fucked.
When I get to the arena, the guys are already on the ice.
Coach Cooper looks at his watch and waits. “Sorry, Coach. I walked this morning.”
“No excuse, McAvoy. Hurry up and get yourself out there,” he says. He doesn’t sound too pleased with me either.
“Yes, sir,” I say and head to my locker and gear up.
When I head onto the ice, I feel the tension in the air.
Coach Ramirez asks us to skate suicides across the ice.
After, he divides us into two groups and we have to play each other. He points out some plays Havenshire is known for and asks us to set it up. That puts me on opposing teams with Ryse.
Evan and Liam are the centers on each team and they head up to face off. I’m on Liam’s team. Liam hits the puck away from our side of the net and we need to skate off. We move fast but then Ryse gets hold of the puck, and it’s my job to stickhandle my way and make him lose the puck. I move in on him, knowing he’s a wild fuse right now but I don’t have a choice. Not with both our coaches watching.
Suddenly, Ryse swivels around and lifts his elbow. My face connects with it and my head snaps back and I almost lose my balance, but somehow, I don’t go down. It takes me a moment to even register what just happened, but then Ryse drops his stick and is on me punching my ribs like I’m a punching bag. I block him but I don’t fight back. I deserve this for going behind his back.
Coach Cooper blows the whistle repeatedly, but Ryse isn’t getting the memo until Evan and Wyatt do their best to pull him off of me.
“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?” Coach roars.
Ryse is out of breath but he doesn’t say a word.
Coach looks at me and I keep quiet.
Coach Cooper then gives Coach Ramirez instructions to continue practice.
“McAvoy and McGuire, come with me,” he says.
We follow him off the ice. He asks Ryse to come into his office first and closes the door so I can’t hear a word. I’m going to get thrown off the team. After all my hard work. All my dedication, I’m going to lose everything I worked for.
The door finally opens and Ryse walks out. He looks pissed and maybe upset too. He gives me a dirty look before stalking off.
“McAvoy, get in here,” Coach hollers.
With my helmet in hand and my gear and skates still on, I walk into his office.
“Have a seat,” he says, twiddling a pen between his fingers. He watches me carefully and waits and then. . . “What were you thinking?”
“Ryse has it all wrong, Coach. I didn’t set out to go after his sister. You are the one who told me I needed to hang out with her and make sure she has a story for the Spotlight.”
Coach mutters something so I pause. “Go on.”
“We got along and she’s really nice. She’s an amazing person and she got me to see things about myself I didn’t like. Things I needed to fix and we kept spending more and more time together,” I mutter, unsure where I’m going with all this.
“What are you saying, McAvoy?” he asks.
“I don’t know, Coach. My life has been one big clusterfu… mess. This girl, she got me to see things differently. I really like her no. . .” I take a deep breath. “I’ve fallen in love with her.”
“McGuire insinuated that you were using her. I know you boys got a whole group of girls that fan over you. His sister is young and impressionable. He wanted to keep her away from that scene,” he explains.
“His sister is far away from that scene. Like nowhere near it. She’s sweet and beautiful. . .”
“Shit,” Coach says. “You do have it bad, don’t you?”
I nod. “What should I do? I didn’t mean to go behind Ryse’s back. It just happened and now the team is pissed at me.”
“Because he caught you mauling his sister at Wolfe’s engagement party,” he says clarifying.
“I know what happened and it was a stupid move. I had a few drinks last night but I’ve hardly had a drink all season. I was just celebrating with one of my best friends,” I explain.
“You’ve had a stellar season this far, but you going after Ryse’s sister has caused a rift in the team. If they aren’t meshing well with you, then you know what happens. We aren’t going to do well.”
My stomach turns violently and I think I’m going to vomit. He can’t kick me off the team. I’m almost there. . .
“I’m really sorry, Coach,” I say, and something in his demeanor shifts. It’s like his anger melts away.
“You’ve put us in a real pickle. The only solution I see is that you stay away from Ryse’s sister until the end of the season. A Frozen Four will serve you well when you enter the draft. I know you thought I’d kick you off the team, but you’re my player, son. I scouted you. We’ve been together now for three years going on our forth. There is no way you aren’t going to make it from the Dragons to the NHL, but I need your word. Stay away from the girl. Tell Ryse you promise not to go near her. We need to fix this rift and focus on the season. Christmas is around the corner and then things will ramp up as we near the Frozen Four. You need to keep your eye on the prize. Are you in, McAvoy?” he asks.