Chapter 13 #2
I always have a sports bra and bike shorts underneath, so it doesn’t bother me when I have to strip in the sheds.
I sit down to pull my skates on before joining my teammates on the ice for our warmup. Nerves flutter inside me as I complete my stretches.
We are playing St Mary’s University, who are from Minnesota. They’ve played well this season, however, I believe Lakewood is much stronger team. We are sitting first place in the division with a record of three wins and no losses.
Coach West’s voice snaps me back into the present. All of us skate over to the edge of the rink and head back into the locker room after his direction.
Everyone has their game faces on as Coach gives us a pre-game pep talk.
All of us that are starting head onto the ice to take our starting positions. I huff out a breath as I stand opposite to my opponent. A smile forms on my lips.
I need this win.
***
I grip my hockey stick tighter, swinging it past my shoulders.
I have a clear view of the goal, the goalie being the only thing in my way. I whack the puck hard, executing a slap shot better than I ever have.
The crack from my stick hitting the puck reverberates throughout the arena. My chest constricts as the puck flies towards the goal, relief and elation engulfing me when it slides into the net.
The buzzer blares, signalling the end of the game. Cooper and Sam skate over to me, before wrapping their arms around me. I can’t hold back my laugh.
“A breakaway! That was fucking awesome!” Cooper says, though it borders on a scream.
The entire arena is up on their feet, cheering at Lakewood’s victory. Six to one, our best win of the season so far. The smile never leaves my face as we skate to the edge, then walk off the ice.
My eyes catch onto a group of young girls behind our bench. I look at their jerseys and suddenly I can’t breathe.
They are wearing my number.
I wave at the girls, wincing slightly when the three of them scream my name. I move toward them. “Hey girls, what did you think of the game?”
“Oh my gosh, Dad! Willow Roger’s is right in front me,”
The older man next to the girls chuckles, and I can’t help but join in.
“I am. And I have to say I love your jerseys,”
All three girls beam at me, as if this was the best day of their lives.
“We love watching you play, and you are our favourite player, so we just had to get your jersey.”
My heart melts, tears pricking my eyes. These girls, who couldn’t be older than eleven, said I’m their favourite player. But more importantly, they get to watch someone like them, a woman, play with and against men.
Now, that is a fucking legacy to leave.
This is why I wanted to play sport, for the young girls who have a dream but are scared to pursue it. I wanted to show them they can chase their dreams. I swallow. Maybe I still do.
“Do you three play?” I ask.
A different girl replies this time. “Yes, we play on the mixed team. But next year we might have enough to create a girls’ team and join that competition.”
I gasp, a surge of joy flooding my body. That was never an option for me when I was their age. “That’s amazing. How about I give your dad my number and we can organise a coaching session? I’d love to–”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” All three girls are screaming once again.
I smile at their father, who looks in shock. “Are you sure? You would be so busy–”
I shake my head. “Nonsense. I love seeing girls so passionate about hockey.”
I chat to the girls and dad for a couple more minutes before Sam appears, telling me I need to come back into the shed.
I say goodbye to girls who are oozing with excitement for both a possible coaching session as well as their newly signed jerseys.
This could go down as the best day of my life.
When I enter the locker room, everyone congratulates me on my final shot. I relish in the praise. They appreciate me and the skills I bring to the team, which is all I’ve ever wanted.
The coaches give us a debrief, before everyone heads to the showers then into the parking lot. I was one of the last ones out of the shower and to arrive at the parking lot. I look around for Sam’s car but it is nowhere to be found.
“Willow.”
I grit my teeth but walk over to his car, nonetheless. “Jayden,” I scowl. “Where is Sam and Cooper?”
“I told them I’d take you back. We need to talk.”
My nostrils flare, anger bubbling in my blood. “Why would we do that? We talked about this on Thursday.”
“No, you talked and walked away.” He opens the passenger door. “Now, you can’t leave without hearing me out. Unless you jump out of a moving car, which you wouldn’t do.”
“Don’t be too sure.”
Jayden’s eyes spark, lips pursing. “Get in, Red.”
Flashes of last night’s dream appear in my mind: “You’re such a greedy slut for me, Red.”
No. I will not think about that stupid nightmare.
“Don’t call me that,” I say, climbing into the car.
There is no point fighting him, as Jayden does have a point. I won’t jump out of a car and jeopardise my position on the hockey team. Jayden moves into the driver’s seat, and we head home in silence. But it doesn’t last.
“So, I was thinking…”
“Please, stop thinking then.”
He glares at me. “I think I have a solution to cut the tension between us,”
I snap my head towards him. “If it involves me punching you, maybe I can get on board.”
“No,” Jayden begins.
“Well, spit it out, we don’t have–”
“I think we should fuck.”
I choke on air. What the hell did he just say? Please tell me he didn’t hear me this morning. I will die of embarrassment. “Absolutely not.”
Jayden flicks his gaze to me, but I’m not having any of it. “Eyes on the road,”
“Why not? I don’t have to like you to want to fuck you.”
Jayden pulls into the driveway of our house–I mean, our shared house .
“No, that’s ridiculous. I’m not even attracted to you.”
Lies. Lies. Lies.
Curse my vagina. She needs to shut up because it ends in disaster when I think with her instead of my head.
Jayden scoffs. “Is that so? I bet one touch from me and your cunt would be dripping,”
I suck in a breath. Jayden’s dirty words hit exactly where he wants them to. It takes all my self-control not to rub my thighs together. I will not give him the satisfaction of knowing I’m one: attracted to him and two: turned on right this minute.
“It’s not happening,” I say, getting out of the car and sprinting inside the house.
Operation Avoid Jayden is in full swing after this conversation. Otherwise, who knows what sinful path I will seek?