Chapter 12
TWELVE
HENDRIX
“Good work, boys. I think we’ll be ready for our game this weekend.” Coach Huff pauses. “Maybe.”
“Head on out, fellas,” Coach Talmage calls out. “Also, there’s been some talk that a few of our players are skipping classes. I don’t want to hear that shit, so cut it out.” He waves his hand. “Now get on out of here.”
We all head off the ice and make our way into the locker rooms. There are only a few of the guys still joking around and acting like idiots because this practice was brutal and focused a lot on conditioning, which means we got our asses kicked.
I think the only one who didn’t break a sweat was Cash.
Even in full goalie gear, he looks like he could have gone another hour.
“Dude, how the fuck do you still look fresh as a daisy?” Jameson asks, looking him up and down. “I’ve got sweat literally dripping down my ass crack right now. And I think I probably lost five pounds.”
Cash grins, and I know he’ll downplay it like he isn’t some insane, supernatural hockey god because that’s just how he is. I may tease him that he’s a kiss-ass, but I know no one will ever be as hard on the kid as he is on himself.
“Maybe my drills weren’t as tough as yours were today—that’s all.” He shrugs, sitting down on the bench to start peeling off his gear. “Trust me, I was sweating. My gear smells like ass.”
“You can just say it, Hale.” I grin, pulling the rest of my gear off, along with my shirt. “We all let ourselves get out of shape during the off season, and you didn’t.”
“Hey, you guys are getting better every day,” he says. “The first week, a lot of you were puking.”
“That is true.” I chuckle and head toward the shower.
Turning it on as hot as possible, I pull the curtain closed before stepping inside.
It’s been less than a month since I got here, but for some reason, I feel more like I’m part of an actual team than I did on the last one at my old college. And I haven’t gotten in any more fights since I kicked Clark’s ass, so Coach has been happy with me too.
It’s been three days since I saw Isla at homecoming when she almost kissed me, but then Jameson’s big mouth fucking ruined it. I was sure to let him know how pissed off I was at him, telling him that if he ever cockblocked me like that again, I’d break his hands off and beat him with them.
He said sorry.
I hadn’t lied when I told Isla I wanted her and wouldn’t stop till she was mine.
But the thing is, I’ve never cared about any girl enough to chase her down like she was a goal or some shit.
But with her, she consumes me. What started off with a need to taunt her and watch her get angry turned into something else.
And now, she’s all I fucking think about, to be honest.
So, I decided something last night. I decided I’m going all in for Isla Hardy. I’ve never done this shit before, so I may fuck it up, but in the end … she’s going to know exactly where I stand.
Come hell or high water, I’m getting the goalie. Even if she doesn’t know it yet.
Rinsing the soap out of my hair, I wash my body before turning the water off and grabbing my towel. I checked the women’s hockey team schedule, and tonight, Isla has a game.
And I am most definitely going to be there to cheer her on.