19. Brock
19
brOCK
I can’t concentrate at practice at all. If Caroline is somehow in trouble with the team’s ownership because of our night together, I’ll never forgive myself.
It doesn’t make any sense that they could know about that already, though. I haven’t told anyone about our magnificent night together, and I can’t imagine that Caroline has either––especially since it could put both of our jobs in jeopardy.
But the team ownership has practically unlimited funds and unbeatable resources. If they want to know something, I’m sure it’s no challenge for them to get whatever information they seek.
Perhaps they had one of us followed? The mere idea of that inappropriate intrusion into our personal lives makes me shudder with anger, but I wouldn’t put it past them. People with that much power and money tend to think the regular rules don’t apply to them.
Of course, Caroline and I broke the clearly defined rules by sleeping together, but that was spawned out of unmatched passion and true feelings. If the team owners are having us followed, that invasion of our privacy comes from an unwarranted need for control.
We are both consenting adults. As long as we aren’t hurting anyone, I don’t see why our employer should have any say in our personal relationship.
I’ll be happy to tell them that––loudly––if it turns out that this is what Caroline’s summons upstairs is about. But I can’t go off half-cocked and turn this into something it’s not. They may have called her up for a medical issue or something else completely unrelated to our magnificent night together. That would be piss-poor timing, but it is one explanation that makes sense.
The wait seems interminable as I try to convince myself that this can’t possibly have anything to do with me.
Usually, I focus on the puck like a dog that has recently discovered the perfect stick, but today, my mind keeps wandering back to Caroline. Even though I’ve never left a practice early before, it’s tempting to skate right off the ice and march up there to protect her.
Granted, she likely doesn’t need or want my protection, but that doesn’t stop the caveman-like urge to save her that bubbles uncomfortably in my gut.
Stoner seizes the opportunity of my lack of focus to slam me into the wall––hard. Normally, I appreciate the fact that we go full-force and refuse to take it easy on each other during practice, but right now, it’s hard to feel grateful for the reminder to keep my mind on the ice.
I shake it off and get up with renewed determination. Practice will go much faster if I focus on what I’m doing. As soon as we finish, I’ll be able to track down Caroline and find out what this morning’s impromptu meeting with the team brass was all about.
Deciding to give Stoner a dose of his own medicine, I charge after him. The two of us are what females would likely refer to as frenemies. Deep down, we like and respect each other, and we always enjoy cracking open some beers together. But that fondness is buried deeply beneath a heightened sense of competition that erupts whenever the two of us hit the ice.
“You’ll pay for boarding me into the wall, Stoner!” I shout the warning in my most menacing tone.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Stoner yells back, “Bring it on, Brick Man. There’s plenty more where that came from.”
I have no doubt about that, but I’m sure not going to admit it to him.
Wheeler passes the puck to Stoner. One good thing about Stoner is that he is single-minded when it comes to driving towards the goal. That narrow focus means that he’s easier than most to surprise. Picking up speed, I rush to cut him off.
I’m nearly there when he rears back to take a shot.
The unmistakable sound of the door to the rink closing draws my attention. I glance up at Caroline for a fraction of a second and try my best to determine if she is upset.
As I’m working to read her expression, I realize too late that I’ve skated right into the line of fire without doing any defensive maneuvers to block Stoner’s shot.
The realization that this is really bad barely has time to register before my bucket flies off my head and the world goes completely dark.