Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
CALLUM
- Present Day -
“ S tay the fuck away from her.”
The voice sounds from my side, and I rack the weights, sitting up and wiping my forehead with a nearby towel before I turn to face him.
“Newbie.” My tone is clipped. I don’t have time for this bullshit.
“You hear me, Robinsky? Stay the hell away from Sutton.”
His eyes are hard as he glares at me. I stand, meeting him head on as I cross my arms over my chest. Who does this fucker think he is? What gives him the right to tell me to back off?
I narrow my eyes, my tone hard as stone. “No.”
“No. What do you mean, ‘no’?” His incredulous response has me raising an eyebrow.
“You heard me. I’m telling you to leave her alone.
Haven’t you done enough already?” His words spew venom in my direction, and I feel a stab of pain as they register.
Me? What the hell did I do? She was the one who left.
“Sutton and I have unfinished business, and it doesn’t concern you.” I sneer. “Be a good little Newbie now and run along.” I know my tone is condescending, but I don’t give a shit. This asshole needs to back the hell off.
“Fuck you.”
My head jerks back as his sucker punch hits me in the square in the side of my jaw, and then I see red. Fists are flying as I tackle the asshole to the ground. I punch him, pinning him to the ground with my other fist, but I see stars as a wild blow hits me in the side of the head.
Using the opening, he rolls, trying to get me on my back as he throws another punch in my direction, and I jerk my head to the side, narrowly missing his fist before I jerk my elbow towards his nose.
“Hey! What the hell is going on?”
“Break it up!”
Several voices are shouting as we’re ripped apart from one another, and are both bodily lifted off the floor. Arms wrap around my chest, restraining me.
“What the fuck is wrong with you two?”
Breathing hard, I swipe angrily at my fat lip which is bleeding once again. My already black eye is throbbing and the cut from last night’s fight has reopened. But I gave as good as I got. A sick sense of satisfaction courses through me as I look to see the blood pouring from Jonah’s nose.
“I’m fine.” Angrily, I try to jerk out of Theo’s hold, but he won’t budge. “I said I’m fucking fine.”
His grasp loosens just enough to let me go, with a muttered, “Yeah, sure as hell seems like it.”
I don’t miss the sarcastic tone but I don’t really give a fuck right now, either. Following Giovanni’s lead, Helmsy and O’Connor loosen their hold on Newbie as we continue to glare at one another.
“Now, wanna tell me what the fuck is going on?” Theo steps forward, glaring at each of us in turn .
Jonah’s mouth flattens into a hard line, and my own is grim as I mirror him.
“I don’t know what the fuck has been going on between the two of you this past week, but it stops now .
You hear me? The two of you almost cost us our last three fucking games because of whatever pissing match you both have going on.
Go get yourselves cleaned up and then hit the ice. You’re skating suicides.”
I stare at him blankly. Newbie doesn’t move either.
“You think I’m fucking kidding? Move it. Now!”
Begrudgingly, Newbie gives a slow nod. “Yes, Cap.” And then he walks away. Without a word, I move to follow but a hand stops me.
“What the hell is going on between you two?” I turn to look at my friend, but still don’t say anything.
“You’ve been a fucking mess since last week’s game. Does this have anything to do with that Sutton girl?”
I glare at him now. She’s not just “that Sutton girl”.
“What’s the deal with you two, anyway?”
With a shake of my head, I quietly respond. “She’s not just a girl. She’s my girl.”
There is no anger in my tone, only regret.
Because she was my girl. Before I fucking knew what I had, and then I lost her.
She may think we’re done, that there’s nothing left between the two of us, but I will show her just how wrong she is.
Because she is my girl, my fucking world.
And she has been since she was seven years old. We both just didn’t know it yet.
“Oh really? Well, Jonah seems to have a different opinion on the matter, seeing as how he and Sutton are dating. You don’t get to force yourself into the middle of their relationship, Robinsky.
I know you have feelings for her, and a complicated history, but if Sutton wants to be with him you need to back off. ”
Ha! I can’t help the scoff as I look at him skeptically. “You’re one to fucking talk. ”
His brows narrow, eyeing me. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what the fuck I mean. Didn’t you do the same damn thing with Danica and her friend, Jay?
” Oh yeah, I know all about that. Jonathan has been over to hang out at their place numerous times when we’ve had barbecues and shit, much to Theo’s obvious displeasure. And Jay and I have talked.
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” Giovanni’s hands ball into fists, jaw clenched as he bites out the words.
“I”m just saying, Captain . Don’t make fucking assumptions about my situation. For all you know, my situation is no different than the one you inserted yourself into the middle of between Jonathan and your girl.”
He snorts, and I swear I hear “Not likely,” muttered under his breath.
I just glare.
“All I’m saying is there is more to our relationship than you know, and it’s between myself and Sutton to work through. Jonah needs to stay the hell out of it. And if he can’t, well . . .” my words trail off.
Honestly, I don’t know what the hell I can make him do. He wants to insert himself into the middle of shit that has nothing to do with him. But it’s not going to work. Sutton and I, we have a lot of history, and we aren’t finished yet, whether that fucker likes it or not.
Giovanni pinches the bridge of his nose, an exasperated look on his face as he looks at me once more.
“Look, man. I can’t tell you what you should or shouldn’t do with Sutton.
That’s between the two of you to work out.
But you can’t let your complicated history with her get in the way of the game.
You need to find a way to figure out your shit and work together with Jonah before it costs you your career.
Don’t think Coach hasn’t noticed the shit going on between you guys .
Trust me when I say, you need to find a way to bury that shit when you’re on the ice. I don’t give a fuck what you do in your personal time, but when we’re here, we’re a family, whether you like it or not. Get your shit together.”
Without another word, he walks away, and I turn to grab my things, so I can clean up before hitting the ice.