“Thanks, Coach.” He helps me hook the weighted bar back into its place, and I sit up, slightly panting. I grab my sports bottle from its spot on the floor near my feet and start chugging water.
My shirt is soaked with sweat, and glancing at the clock on the far wall shows I only have twenty minutes before I meet Princess outside her last class for the day. Coach comes around to stand in front of me, his arms crossed over his chest, and gazes down at me under his hat.
“Keep it up, and those scouts will be fighting over you. Whatever's got into you, don’t let it go. Hit the showers and get the hell out of my gym.” He lays his hand on my shoulder with a squeeze, even as he talks to me in a stern voice. “I like her by the way, she’s good for you.” His lips twitch, and he turns around, yelling at his next victim.
“I want everyone walking out of here on shaking legs! Lift those weights, ladies!” Coach’s voice shouts across the room, and I cover my chuckle into my arm with a cough.
A grunt leaves me as I stand up. My legs are on fire from the weight machine earlier, but it feels fucking amazing with each burning step. Practically jogging to the showers, I push the locker room door open and head right to my locker to strip. After taking a cold five-minute shower, I’m sliding my hand through my hair as nerves grab a hold of me. I’m dressed and throwing my hockey bag over my shoulder as I stride toward the exit in a haste, almost bumping into Collins on my way out. I hold my fist up for him to bump as I pass him, and he slowly raises his in shock to smack his fist against mine.
“Good job out there today. We need to practice that move more,” I call over my shoulder as I leave, and watch his mouth open and close a few times before he nods enthusiastically.
The cold air whips against my face as I really do jog across campus to meet Kat before her class lets out. I hope she likes my surprise and doesn’t feel like I’m doing this out of pity. I just want her to live, and maybe by showing her that it’s going to be okay, she might take chances just for her. If I get her to start skating for an audience, my girl could make it to the Olympics one day.
