Chapter 23 #2
"Because you're a hockey captain in your own right, and a really excellent player?
" He said it like I had a screw loose or something.
"You're just as capable of leading on those days as I am.
Heck, I think you're even more capable than I am and, if you're worried about the Runners, don't be. You scare the shit out of all of them."
Ba-thump .
Ah shit, 'bathump'? What the hell was that for? It was like his words were groundbreaking—I knew I was a damn awesome player and Captain. But hearing this asshole say it like that, with that casual certainty, like it was the most obvious thing in the world...
Ba-thump . Ba-thump .
Fuck.
“And you?” I found myself asking, unable to control my curiosity or where the hell it was even coming from.
“Huh?” He blinked, never taking his eyes off of me.
“Don't I scare the shit out of you, too?” I asked him, the curiosity surging in my chest.
It was immediately dampened by dread, however, when a particularly weird smile lit up his face at my question.
“Oh, you absolutely terrify me, Hailstorm,” he said, voice dipping into something low and warm, molasses over gravel. “That’s kind of the problem. I think I like being scared of you a little too much.”
Wha-? Agh! This fucking pervert. He never missed any opportunity to mess around, did he? I shouldn't have asked in the first damn place!
Gritting my teeth so hard my jaw ached, I busied myself scribbling down our names next to the corresponding days, pressing the pen into the paper with such force it nearly tore through.
"So on my days," Lively continued, as if he hadn’t just said a whole load of bullshit straight to my face. In fact, his voice was steady and focused in a way that reminded me of how he'd looked earlier—commanding his team, clipboard in hand, all serious captain.
I didn't like that I was noticing that, either.
"I was thinking we could implement a hybrid 1-2-2 forecheck, especially during the scrimmage sessions. It worked really well for us last season when we played against Riverside."
When I looked up, he was waiting expectantly, one eyebrow raised just slightly.
"Hailstorm?" He tilted his head to the side, looking genuinely concerned, those blue eyes narrowing slightly as they searched my face. "You still with me?"
I blinked, snapping back to reality with an almost physical jolt. "Yeah. Fine. Whatever forecheck system you want." I shook my head slightly, trying to dispel the weird fog that had settled over my brain. "It's fine."
"Really?" One eyebrow arched higher, skepticism radiating from him in waves. "You're agreeing just like that? No argument about how your 1-1-3 trap is superior?"
Oop. Now he was going to think that I wasn't paying attention. Which, fair—I wasn't paying attention, but not for the reasons he probably thought.
"I said it's fine," I snapped, overcompensating with a sharpness that made him blink. "We can work with both. The 1-2-2 for your days, the 1-1-3 for mine. It'll be good for both teams to play different systems anyway."
He nodded slowly, that stupid grin spreading across his face again.
"That's a great plan, actually." He said, agreeing with me once again.
I needed to get a fucking grip. This was Lively Summers sitting across from me. The same jackass who'd tormented me for two straight years. Just like he was doing now, with his stupid hair and his stupid smile and his stupid blue eyes.
"What about backcheck rotations?" he asked, completely unaware of the absolute mental spiral I was going through. "I was thinking we could practice five-card formation first, then move to man-on-man once everyone is comfortable with the basics."
Oh, he was totally fucking oblivious , because here I was noticing the way his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip as he waited for my response, like a loony.
"I have to go," I blurted, standing so abruptly my thigh banged against the edge of the table with a dull thud. Pain shot up my leg, but I barely noticed it through the haze of panic.
Lively blinked. "Huh?" He said, confusion clearly sewn into the fabric of that one word.
I didn't even answer him right away, too busy stuffing my notepad into my bag with shaking hands. I needed air. Space. Distance from…whatever the hell this was.
"We know the schedule, we know what's happening—the meeting's over." I was already backing up, gripping my bag like it was some kind of lifeline.
His brows furrowed deeply, that confusion now finding unrestrained expression in his eyes. "No, it's not," he said, "We haven't done the other task."
Oh shit . That. But I also knew that there was no way I was going to keep from screaming out loud like a banshee if I continued to hang around this man with the way my brain was currently overheating.
"Just…uh, do your half of that, and I'll finish the rest! Don't worry, I'll get my half done before dinner!" I said and, before he could say anything else, I turned on my heel and walked off, quick and efficient.
I was running away. There was no other way to describe it, but I didn't mind running if it would save me from these funny thoughts in my head.
I’d run until my feet bled.
By the time I got to the cabin assigned for the Blizzard Belles, it was to find my teammates crowded around the entrance like a pack of disgruntled penguins. Gina was the first to spot me, her face lighting up with relief.
"Hails! Thank God." She said, and everyone turned to look at me. "Do you think switching partners is possible?" She had a desperate look on her face I hadn't seen in a long time. "I swear, that bastard is so fucking stubborn; I want to wring his head off of his neck!"
"Whoa, calm down, Gina." I said, and Dani made a retching sound that sounded suspiciously close to laughter.
I'd known it would be hard for our teams to adjust to the pairing arrangement, so I was still holding out hope that it'd get better soon.
Hope .
"It'll be fine. We just have to—"
"Fine?" Zoe cut in, following me inside, flopping dramatically onto the nearest bunk. "Mine won't stop picking fights with me about who the best goalie is out of the two of us. It's annoying!"
"At least yours talks," Dani chimed in, sprawled across one of the beds with an arm thrown over her eyes. "Mine just... stares . Like a serial killer planning his next victim."
I couldn't help snorting at that. "Maybe he's just shy?" And Dani rose on one elbow to give me a look.
"Or maybe he's plotting our deaths." She muttered darkly, and I pressed my lips together to keep my amusement from peeking through.
"I mean, if we're suffering this much," Gina said, settling onto the windowsill with more composure than her earlier outburst, "Just imagine what Hailey's going through."
And just like that, all eyes turned on me again.
My pulse stuttered in my throat and I made sure to keep my face carefully blank. I mean, even I didn't know what I was going through, honestly.
"It's not like I'm not used to his attitude." I said, even as my own thoughts made sure to mock me: It's my own attitude I'm having a damn problem with!
"Yeah, at least, you've had repeated exposure to his bullshit." Zoe cackled and the girls burst out laughing.
My mouth curved into a reluctant smile. "Ha, yeah." Yeah, sure, I've had repeated exposure to his bullshit, and maybe that was the problem here. But it was fine. Really. My brain had just been glitching for a bit there.
That had to be it.
"Are you guys done with your tasks?" I asked, and the immediate chorus of groans told me all that I needed to know.
"God, I really don't want to see that fucker again, seriously." Zoe grumbled, folding her legs underneath her on her bed. "You're done with your tasks, right, Cap? I envy your willpower so much, you know?"
Ahem. Righty-o .
"I, on the other hand," Rina said, her expression sour, "am stuck with a guy who wouldn't even look up from his phone."
"Hey," I said, my tone strict, arms folded. "You all heard what Coach said, didn't you? This is a team-bonding retreat. No one is going to be doing anything that would jeopardize that."
The room quieted, all of them suddenly very interested in their hands.
Gina sighed, her Vice captain energy kicking in. "Come on, I'm sure she wasn't being serious, Cap." She said, glancing around at the others with a look that said settle down . "We won't be so stupid as to disobey the coach's orders. It's just…those bastards are so damn annoying, you know?"
"Yeah!" Zoe piped up, "I can only imagine how rough you have it having to deal with that asshole of a Captain—"
"That asshole saved Dani, remember?" I snapped, my glare ice now, and Zoe flinched.
I couldn't believe it, either. I mean, did I just…did I just defend that asshole unprovoked? That surprised me. Not just the fact that I said it—but the fact that I meant it. I didn't know what it meant yet, and that scared the hell out of me.
"Because you're a hockey captain and a really excellent player? … You're just as capable of leading on those days as I am. Heck, I think you're even more capable than I am."
Shit.
"I-I mean, he…did…" Zoe mumbled, glancing once at Dani, her cheeks flaming. "I'm sorry."
"No, I mean," I sighed, scratching at the back of my neck. "I'm just saying that we should just try to get along with them."
"Ugh, fine." Gina sighed, her expression softening slightly as she looked at me with what might have been concern. "Guess we'll have to leave now and try our best to get along."
"Yeah, and if our trial results in errors not of our own making," Dani said, "Then you can't blame us. Right, Cap?"
My lips curved. "Right."
I guess I'd have to remember that, too.