Blah.
Madison and the girls assured me thatmostof the athletes didn't act like him. But the league had a few creeps to watch out for, and he was one of them. I was surprised he even managed to take his eyes off us long enough to score.
So it sure looked like justice was served when Hunter lost his cool and punched him square on the chin. Hunter wasstrong—it took a whole crowd of men to finally pull him away from Cunningham, who was too cowardly to actually fight back.
Escorted by the refs, Hunter stewed with anger. He'd lost his helmet in the scuffle. A trickle of blood ran from his lip—he dabbed at it with his hand, saw blood, and looked evenmorepissed. He ran that bloody hand through his sweaty, wind-swept hair as he stormed into the penalty box and took his seat.
Yow.He looked bad-ass.
Madison caught me staring at him from across the rink, and her raspy voice was suddenly in my ear. “Don't get too excited. He looks at all the new girls like that.”
I swallowed, broke my gaze, and shot Madison an innocent and troubled look.
“Wha'?”
“Oh, don't act like you don't know, Honor. I saw the way you two werestaringat each other tonight.”
I laughed nervously. Was she joking? I wasn't sure. I thought she was so sweet during the audition, but ever since I told her about my break-up with Todd, she'd flipped a switch.
“I—Ihaven'tlooked at him, though …?” I mumbled.
She tutted. “You and Hunter have beeneye-fuckingeach other all night.”
My jaw dropped. I didn't know what to say! I'd gone out of my way to avoidlooking at him, oranyof the players for that matter. Yet the other girls, including Madison, all chit-chatted with the boys in passing. What the hell was going on?
“Okay, uh—sorry?”
“Just remember the warning I gave you the night I hired you: no fraternization. Iwillfind out.”
“Right …” I mumbled. In moments like those, what can you really do but shake your head and act like you've got the message?
With Hunter serving a penalty, the Bears scored with less than a minute to go.Cunningham scored it—ugh, of course—and he winked at me as he skated past, his arms raised in the air as he celebrated histhirdgoal of the game.
***
After the disappointing loss, we went to our locker room and hit the showers. Locker room chat filled the showers as the girls talked about the highlights and lowlights of the game. I stayed mostly quiet—only chipping in with a comment here or there—since I was still trying to figure out how I fit into the team culture.
“You did great tonight, rookie,” Cora, the assistant captain and third-year girl, told me as we made our way to the shower. At least Cora had been totally sweet to me—and thank God for her. Because without Cora, I'd feel like I was receiving the cold shoulder from the other girls on the team. “You looked so comfortable and confident out there.”
That's good,I thought, because I wasn't feeling comfortable or confident at all. Not since Madison started acting all hostile toward me.
Yet … listening to the banter in the showers? It sure sounded like these girls openly talked about 'fraternizing' with the players. Actually, they talked about doing a lotmorethan that with the athletes. They talked about late night texts … 'Netflix and chill' … drunken hookups … promises of rings with the next big contract … rumors of exotic get-aways during the off-season …
These girls are openly talking about hooking up with the players,I thought to myself, confused.Why is Madison so on my case about it? I haven't even done anything!
Done with my shower, I wrapped a towel around my body and made my way into the dressing room. Madison and some of the other girls were toweling themselves dry.
“Honor? Sweetheart?” Madison began in a suspiciously cute tone.
“Yeah?”
“Would you mind running across the hall and grabbing some extra bath towels from the janitor's supply? We're running low.”
“Oh, sure.”
Still in my towel, I went out the door and across the hall. But the janitor's supply closet was locked. I headed back to our dressing room to let Madison know, but nowthatdoor was locked, too.
I knocked, but only gleeful giggles answered.
