Chapter 26 #2
“Oh,” Skylar said, her face lighting up. “That’s the charity management has decided to team up with this season. They bring sports programs to underprivileged communities. It’s a great organization and we’re really excited to be working with them. I think it will be a lot of fun for all of you.”
“Underprivileged communities, huh?” Conway, one of the D-men said. He smirked over at Gabe. “That sounds right up your alley, huh, Dalton?”
Gabe looked at him, unflinching. “I grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, asshole. But thanks for the assumption. Really shows your intelligence.”
“What the fuck did you say to me?” Conway growled.
“Jesus,” Jay muttered next to me.
“He’s not worth it,” Ryan Cane sneered. He cast another dismissive glance at his schedule. “And this all sounds like some woke ass diversity bullshit.” He crumpled up the paper and tossed it carelessly at Skylar’s feet. “I’m not doing it.”
She gaped at him for a moment, as if she couldn’t quite believe anyone could be such a raging asshole. Before she could respond, I was up off the bench and striding towards him, still in my lower pads and skates. I didn’t give a shit. I’d had enough.
“You wanna be on this team? You’re gonna do what you’re told,” I snarled, getting close to him. I had a good two inches on the guy, more with my skates on, and it felt pretty damn good to make him look up at me.
Cane’s face tightened. “You think you’re the boss around here, huh? Well, you can go and fuck yourself. This entire organization is a damn disaster and if you think for one minute I’m going to waste my time on this feel-good bullshit just because some chick with nice tits thinks—”
I had him up against the wall before he could finish the sentence, my left forearm pressed against his neck. “You are not going to talk about an employee of this organization like that.”
He tried to push my arm off, sneering. “God, do you ever get tired of being such a prissy little boy scout?”
I wasn’t feeling like much of a boy scout in that moment. All of my frustration over Chloe and the team’s struggles were currently focused right on this asshole with the smug, sneering little face.
“I am done with your attitude,” I snarled, pushing my arm in a little harder. “You’re a cancer on this team.”
“This team is a joke,” he shot back. “I’m just putting in my time until my contract is up and I can sign somewhere decent.” He glared at the gawking crowd over my shoulder. “And if the rest of you have any fucking brains, you’ll do the same.”
Then he narrowed his eyes at me. “But you’re pretty good at clinging to a sinking ship, aren’t you, O’Conner?
How long did you stay with your wife after she started screwing every player she could get her hands on?
” He let out a nasty little snicker. “Yeah, we heard all about her, even in Atlanta. Half the players in the league knew she was up for a good time whenever we played New York. You were just too much of a pussy to notice—”
My fist was making contact with his jaw before I’d even consciously thought to throw the punch. I was done with this asshole, done with everything. If he wanted to be the target for all the shit in my life right now, then I was happy to let him.
“Hey!”
People behind us were shouting, arms trying to pull me off. Cane held a hand up to his split lip, blood smearing on his fingers. He looked a little shell-shocked, like he couldn’t believe I would actually hit him. It only made me want to do it again.
“Enough, man,” Jay said in my ear. “He’s not worth it.”
Jay and Enzo finally managed to pull me off. “I’m not going to let you poison this locker room,” I panted, pointing at Cane. “You keep your fucking mouth shut.”
He glared at me, breathing hard, but didn’t respond. Apparently, his big mouth had run out of things to say. Or else he knew I could kick his ass.
“What the hell is going on in here?” a voice boomed from the door. I glanced over to see Olsen, our interim GM, face red as his eyes scanned the cluster of players and Skylar, who was standing frozen in the center of the locker room, looking shocked.
“Just a little team meeting,” Jay said easily, making a few of the guys snigger.
Olsen’s eyes narrowed as they bounced from player to player. “You all need to think about how you conduct yourselves on and off the ice,” he said. “Or you’ll be spending a lot more time on the bench.” His eyes swung to me. “Get showered and dressed, O’Conner. Owner wants to see you in his office.”
I closed my eyes. Just perfect. A one-on-one with Andrew Knight. I had no idea if this meeting was about what had happened on the ice or here in the locker room or something else entirely. But I did know that it wasn’t going to be fun.
Cane was pulling on a pair of jeans when I passed to head to the showers. “I’m calling my agent, dick. Get ready to have your ass handed to you.”
“Have fun with that,” I told him. I honestly could care less if he got the team or the player’s union to fine me. Even a suspension from the league would be worth the satisfaction of finally shutting that asshole’s mouth.