“I was considering it. It’s nice out today.”
The weather is a little chilly, but I’ve always loved the fall weather. With it being nearly October already, it’s perfect.
“I’m glad you are out here. We need to talk.”
I take a deep breath, trying to breathe past the tightness in my chest. “What’s up?” I ask.
“I know I already gave you my blessing to date my sister, but I want to make it clear. She might be willing to forgive the shit she wasn’t here to live through, but I’m not there yet. You have something to prove to me. Show me you are the guy Grace has been best friends with for years. I need to know you aren’t the dickwad who put her through hell last year.”
“I know. I’m working on it,” I mutter, rubbing my chest.
Why isn’t it getting better? Why does my heart feel like it’s about to beat out of my chest?
“Good. You can start here with the team. Some of the guys will scoff and act like this is beneath them. I expect your full participation today. Understood?”
I nod. “Anything it takes.”
He pats my shoulder. “Good. Let’s get in there.”
Without a choice, I follow him inside. He goes to the desk, so I walk over to the group of guys huddled around. Calvin moves over, making room for me. I regret it when I see what they are doing.
Douchebag Hendricks is sharing photos some girl sent him. Intimate ones.
“Dude, that’s fucked up.” I push his phone away, shielding it from everyone.
“Don’t touch my shit, Cooper,” he growls at me.
“Don’t disrespect the woman who trusted you enough to send those to you,” I say through gritted teeth.
“She doesn’t even know me, and she sent them. It’s obvious she wants people to look at her.”
I shake my head. “Have some integrity and decency. Put the phone away before I make you put it away.”
I take a step forward. The guys all back up a step, leaving me and Hendricks in the center of the circle.
Fuck, Clay isn’t going to like this, but what he’s doing is wrong. I won’t stand for it.
“I would like to see you try, Cooper. We all know you are a sucker for the pussy. Isn’t that how you ended up macking on Cap’s girl?”
I feel the anger rising inside. Mixed with the weight I still feel on my chest, I almost feel faint, but I square my shoulders.
“I have respect for women because I was taught to respect others. Now what’s it going to be, Hendricks?”
“Hendricks, why don’t you hand over your phone? You can see me after to get it back and we can discuss what is so interesting that everyone wants to see,” Clay says, coming up from behind. “In fact, all of you turn your phones into the desk. This is a phone-free day.”
The guys all grumble, but I hand mine over without thought. Then I head over to the wall, leaning against it while I try to get my body under control. I really wish my chest would loosen up.
After a moment, Wyatt comes over, leaning against the wall next to me. “That was cool of you.” He nods toward the group.
“I didn’t do it to be cool. He’s an asshole. That woman didn’t consent to her body being seen by the whole hockey team.”
He nods. “That’s why it was cool. You did it because it was right.”
He doesn’t say anything else, and I have no clue what to say, so we stand in silence.
Then Clay claps his hands. “Okay team, we will be breaking off into groups and doing some exercises. At the end, we will come back together as a group and reflect on the day. Remember, this is important to keep the vibe of the team good. We won’t play well if there is contention. Come up here when I call your name.”
Thankfully, Hendricks goes in the first group with Brett. Beckett is broken off into the second group with Calvin. Wyatt and I get put in the same group. Then Clay puts himself in the last group.
