Friends with Grace or not, I refuse to put up with someone talking about her that way. It’s inappropriate and a real prick move.
Before he can get away, I’m on him. It’s not like I can do much damage with all of our gear on, but when I hear him grunt, I take a sick satisfaction in it.
When the guys finally pull me off, I’m glaring at him.
“James, take Cooper to the locker room. Woods, take Hendricks outside. You better come back without whatever the hell that was.”
I frown as I skate off the ice, making my way to the locker room. Once inside, I sit on the bench, putting my head in my hands.
“What was that about?” Clay asks calmly.
I look up at him. “He was talking shit about your girlfriend. I didn’t appreciate it.”
“You don’t have to defend her anymore. She wouldn’t want you jeopardizing your spot on the team for her.” He folds his arms, leaning against the lockers.
“This isn’t some love thing, James. What he said was disgusting. He shouldn’t talk about women that way. It just hit a little harder because the girl he was talking about was Gracie,” I admit to him.
He nods. “Because you are in love with her?”
I shake my head. “I thought I was, but no. Because she is my best friend, even if we aren’t really talking at the moment.”
“She misses you too, you know.” He says it so matter-of-factly.
As if her missing me doesn’t bother him at all. It only makes me angrier.
“Shouldn’t you want to fuck that guy up? He was talking about Gracie in sexual terms. You should be the one sitting here in trouble. Not me.”
He smirks at me. “You think Hendricks doesn’t talk shit to me? He does. It’s his MO. He likes to cause chaos. Whatever is wrong with that kid, it’s internal. He is trying to get to us and make us act out. I don’t give him the satisfaction. I guess that’s why he moved on to you. Someone must have told him our history.”
“So we let him get away with it?” I say incredulously.
“Oh, absolutely not. We just have to have some finesse to it. He will get his when the time comes, but not right now. You need to get your head on straight. Last year is in the past. If you think you can move on from the shit, then I would love to mend the bridge between us. We don’t have to be friends, but you are one hell of a player. One of the best I’ve seen. You have the instincts to take you far in this game. Right now you are playing sloppy, but that’s because your head is in the wrong place. So get that shit straight and figure your life out. We need you out there. You are an asset to this team. We need you.”
His words hit me in the same place that outcast feeling did before, only this time, it feels a little lighter.
“Don’t blow smoke up my ass,” I spit out.
“When have you ever known me to say something I don’t mean?” He quirks an eyebrow at me.
He’s right. He makes sure his words are what he means. It’s what makes him a good captain, though I will never admit it to him.
“I’ll try my best,” I manage to say through gritted teeth.
He nods, looking satisfied. “Good. Take the rest of practice off. I’ll take the blame for it with Coach. Tomorrow, I want a more level-headed Cooper. Got it?”
I nod. “Yeah. Got it.”
As he leaves the locker room, I wonder if this means things between us will get better. Will I stop resenting him for the destruction he caused in my life?
Again, it’s all up to time.
four
“All right, that’s it for today. I’ll see you guys later this week,” the professor says.
I wait in my seat, letting everyone clear out ahead of me. I thought high schoolers rushing out of classrooms was bad, but it’s even worse in college. Once the congestion trying to get out the door clears, I get up and make my way out of the room.
When I step outside, I sigh. The sun is shining, but there is already a chill in the air, teasing that winter is coming sooner than I’m ready to admit. I scan the area, and smile when I catch a familiar face sitting underneath a tree in the little courtyard.
