Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NIP SLIP
NASH
Ideke the second I’m in front of Tucker and smile when he lunges to the left. I shoot the puck to the right.
Goal.
“Well done, Belkin.” Coach Harrison yells from the bench. “Team, you’re dismissed.”
My new teammates file out of the rink, but I don’t rush off the ice when I see Coach coming toward the goal where my group was practicing a few plays.
“Prescott,” Coach barks. “What is wrong with you today? I’ve never seen you let so many pucks through you.”
Tucker takes his helmet off. His eyes dance all over the place in a clear attempt to avoid meeting Coach Harrison’s probing gaze.
“Nothing wrong, Coach.” He mutters. “Just tired.”
It took me exactly one practice to realize that our coach’s reputation as a hardass is well deserved.
“I thought we talked about getting your partying under control, Prescott. If you think you’ll be able to get away with showing up hungover on NHL ice, your career will be a very short one.”
Tucker hangs his head. “Yes, sir.”
Even though Coach is just yelling at Tucker, none of us dare move a muscle while he’s speaking.
Coach Harrison’s hard gaze moves from Tucker to me, then to Thomas and Shayba. I realize that the only players left on the ice with me are my roommates.
“Since you had a terrible practice today,” Coach bites out with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “You can make it up to me by doing me a favor. And your roommates have you to thank for being chosen too for this particular job.”
Oh, fuck. I brace myself for whatever Coach Harrison is planning to throw at us.
He’s known for his epic punishments. But I don’t think he would bag skate just four of us, right?
My old coach would make us work with the sports equipment team if he wanted to make us pay for some real or perceived infraction. Nothing like a whole season washing jerseys and jock cups that makes you reflect on your own actions.
“Coach,” Tucker pleads. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do. But please don’t punish my teammates too.”
Shut the fuck up, dude.
I don’t say it out loud, but I’ve been here less than a week and even I can tell that arguing with Coach Harrison will only make whatever trouble you’re in a million times worse.
“Too late, Prescott.” The glee in our coach’s tone makes my worry skyrocket. “If you ladies had any plans for the rest of the day, cancel them. Meet me at the main building in thirty minutes and you better not even think about being late.”
A collective groan echoes in the half empty ice rink. Today was the only day of the week with just one practice. Our teammates get the rest of the day off, but we just lost it to whatever Coach has in store for us.
“Can you tell us what we’ll be doing, Coach?” Shayba asks.
One corner of Coach Harrison’s mouth quirks up in a lopsided smile.
“The Star Cove Shooting Stars director has found herself in a bit of a pickle. The mayor and the sheriff were supposed to serve as judges for the final day of the cheerleading team’s auditions.
Unfortunately, they are unable to make it, and so are three other judges who are stuck in Atlanta, where the airport was closed this morning due to an air traffic control strike.
They are in dire need of five judges, and they asked me and four of my best players to come to the rescue.
I didn’t have the heart to refuse, since we’re supposed to become one big family and all. ”
The words tumble out of my mouth before I can think better of it. “I don’t know anything about judging a dance competition.”
Coach Harrison’s smile turns into a frown.
“Fuck knows if I do, Belkin. But we’ve been asked to help, and the dean was clear that we need to please our new sponsors and help with the effort of bringing an NHL team to our town.
Since I don’t have any best players, I decided to wait until one of you heathens pissed me off today and see who else was around. ”
Great. I guess it could be worse, though. Judging a dance audition doesn’t sound as bad as laundry duty or bag skating.
“See you all in twenty-five minutes, and you better look presentable. The event is being filmed.”
Once Coach walks away, we all file into the now empty locker room to drop off our gear.
“I’m gonna go shower in my room.” Tucker says. “I think Coach wanted us to wear a button down or something. I only have sweatpants and a t-shirt here.”
“Actually,” Mack Shayba says. “We should probably wear our new suits. I bet the producers will dig that.”
Colsen agrees, and I guess it isn’t a terrible idea. At least it takes away the guesswork about what Coach meant by “presentable.”
Tucker and Colsen are whispering between each other as I fall into step with them.
“You sound very upbeat for someone who couldn’t concentrate during practice.” I say to Tucker as we reach our apartment building. “I didn’t see you drinking last night, so I assume the painkillers you got at the hospital are messing with you?”
Rather than picking up on the resentment in my tone, Tucker smiles.
“No, my mom just gave me regular, non prescription stuff after the sedative she used when she stitched me up. She knows I have to stay sharp for practice.”
I don’t get it. “Then why were you so unfocused today? Coach was right, you were more holey than a sieve.”
Our goalie sighs after closing the apartment door behind us. “You’re right, I sucked today. But I wasn’t hungover or tired. I was just a little distracted.”
Mack intervenes. “Something on your mind, Tuck?”
“I met someone. The girl who shot me by accident. And I can’t take my mind off her.
She texted me last night to check how I was doing, and we ended up talking for two hours.
She was nervous about today. She’s auditioning for the cheer team and she made the finals.
So I’m kinda happy that we’ve been asked to judge. ”
I’m a little confused. “You like the girl who shot you?”
Tucker nods. “Dude, you went home early on Saturday night. But seriously, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and she’s so funny, and she doesn’t take any of my shit.”
“Yeah, but didn’t Colsen hook up with the girl you’re crushing on that same night?”
It’s none of my business, but I woke up to some very interesting noises last night. It sounded like Tucker’s dream girl and Colsen were having a good time.
“It’s complicated.” Tucker says.
Sleeping with the wrong woman almost cost me my career last year.
Nothing good can come from two of my teammates being into the same girl.
“Un-complicate it for me then.” I insist. “If Coach punished us all because you were distracted today, can you imagine what will happen if you two began fighting over a woman?”
“There won’t be any fighting.” Colsen chimes in. “We both like her and we agreed that we should both pursue her. She’s into both of us, too. So I’m fine with Tucker shooting his shot and I’ve already told her that I want to see her again.”
I don’t know if these two are delusional or really na?ve. “But what happens when one of you inevitably gets jealous?”
“Col is my best friend. I’m closer to him than some of my little brothers—they’re little shits. I’m confident that we can see where this goes without ruining our friendship.”
“What he just said. As long as we’re honest with each other, we’ll be fine. I want to see you happy, bro.”
Tucker smiles. “And me, Col.”
Right. This has the potential of turning into a real shit show. “Just as long as you keep whatever happens off the ice.” I grind out.
Mack wraps one sweaty arm around my shoulders. “Don’t worry, Nash. They’re grown ups. And if you knew them as well as I do, you’d know that they would never let a woman, or anyone else, come between them.”
“I’m glad their bromance is solid. All I’m saying is that I came here to play great hockey.
Being benched for most of last season has my agent nervous that the San Francisco Paladins might decide to drop me or send me off to their farm team.
I need a great season this year with a strong team behind me. ”
If that sounds selfish, then so be it. Hockey is my entire life and my teammates can fuck whoever they want as long as they don’t fuck with my game.
Surprisingly, Mack smiles. “Oh, don’t worry about that. If anyone fucks up on the ice, they won’t live to see the end of the season. You’ve only seen Coach Harrison’s nice side so far.”
“That was him being nice?” I can’t help but laugh.
My three teammates look at me like I don’t know what I signed up for when I decided to come here.
“Just hope you’ll never see Coach Harrison really angry.” Tucker shudders. “I’d take a real bullet to the leg rather than risk his wrath.”
Aside from his reputation, I can’t argue with the “fuck with me and find out” vibe he gives off.
“Fine,” I sigh. “Let’s make sure we aren’t late for this judging gig, then.”
“Speaking of the auditions.” Macklin calls out as my hand is on the handle of my bedroom door.
“Gen, my ex, is auditioning too. I don’t know how the day is going to play out, but please make sure you stick close to me if she approaches me.
She’s been a pain in my ass since I ended things.
And fuck knows what she might do with a film crew on site. ”
Tucker claps him on the back. “You got it, Mack. But didn’t she break up with you? That’s what she’s been saying, according to Talia.”
“I couldn’t be with her anymore. I was tired of her bullshit.” Mack says. “But if telling the world that she dumped me keeps her ego satisfied and her drama out of my life, I don’t care what she says.”
I don’t blame Mack.
Hockey is my only focus this year and I want to stay as far from drama as humanly possible. This is why I swore off women until the hockey season is over.
Once my future is secure, I can let my guard down.
I feel in much higher spirits when we get to the main building.