“Okay, I’ll ask in a different way,” he said. “Why did he pull Levi Dunn off of you?”
“Beats me. Why don’t you ask him?”
“Because I’m asking you.”
I’d known for years that Jax Echlin was a major asshole, which didn’t seem like a big deal before because I was as much of an asshole as him. Only now, I was less of an asshole, even if I wasn’t a choirboy. Let’s say that hanging around Jakob had reduced me to only being a douche.
He kept staring at me with the obnoxious look I used to find cool but could no longer stand. God, I wanted to punch his lights out, but that only would’ve made matters worse.
“I don’t know why he did that,” I said. “I would’ve loved to get in a good shot on Levi Dunn. Matter of fact, I would’ve loved to punch Jakob Martin right in the nose. I could’ve finally taught him some manners.”
“Something you’ve had more than one opportunity to do and somehow blown it every time.”
Jax thought I was full of shit. He didn’t have to tell me in words or through body language.Ididn’t believe what I’d said, which was a guarantee that neither Jax nor anyone else would be dense enough to.
Enough of this, I decided. I rinsed, twisted the taps back, and toweled off. Jax did likewise, like he’d meant to latch onto me amoeba-like. When we strolled back into the locker room, the rest of the team joined us, but no one was celebrating. I’m not saying that the scene looked like a funeral, but you would think they’d be way happier after chalking up a win—especially one that’d come at the expense of the Larkin Lions.
My problems didn’t stop at the lack of celebrations, though. People kept walking past me, saying nothing, almost like I didn’t exist.
As always, Coach Mack took the floor once everyone had settled.
“That’s some fine work out there, men,” he said. “I know that most of you played your hearts out. We had an important mission in mind, and we failed at that part, even though we got the win.”
A few claps sounded in the room, and it paled in comparison to the thunderous applause that normally accompanied any high point of a victory speech. The stony look in his eyes suggested he really believed we’d failed at this ridiculous mission, just like Jax had said.
And what the hell did he mean bymost of you?I might’ve been bested by Jakob Martin for what seemed like the hundred thousandth time, but I knew damn well he was talking about me. He might’ve been a hockey coach, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be passive-aggressive.
“If you’re worried about being disciplined, then let me tell you not to worry about a thing,” he said. “There won’t be any discipline coming from me.”
Now more hands clapped. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It sounded like my teammates still bought into all this insanity, even after the chaos that’d erupted on the ice. Worse, I would’ve been right there with them if I hadn’t forged such a bond with Jakob.
“I don’t want any of you thinking of today as a failure,” he continued. “I certainly don’t want you thinking it was your last chance. We’ll be playing those assholes again soon enough.”
No applause this time (thank God), but spirited voices echoed through the room. A lot of what I heard sounded like gobbledygook, but I could translate some of the muttering. In a nutshell, everyone looked forward to another opportunity to put a hurt on the Larkin Lions.
Everyone except for me, that is.
“Now, I want everyone to take a day off and enjoy the win,” he said. “You guys deserve it.”
That brought the applause back. The clusters of players and assistant coaches then dispersed happy. The fact that Coach Mack didn’t once look in my direction wasn’t lost on me. After all, he’d placed the bounty on the table and had declared me the logical player to nail Jakob Martin in the first place.
And I’d let him down. Any hockey player who’d ever taken the ice for Coach Mack knows that the man didn’t accept let downs. He also didn’t accept anyone refusing to carry out his orders. Only I hadn’t refused anything, not directly. Did failing to do something awful constitute refusal?
Part of me wanted to stop a few teammates and explain the situation to them but say nothing about Jakob and me. I wanted to believe they were good, decent people, and that they would understand that we’d been asked to take an uncivilized action against the Larkin Lions. Violence was part of the game, sure, but one should never seek it out.
Doubtless, they would ask me why Jakob had pulled Levi Dunn off of me, and I would have no answer. Like I’ve said,Ididn’t even know the reason. I did understand that the consequences of my relationship with him were beginning to flower. Honest to God, I knew something bad technically could happen, but I didn’t reallybelieveit would. Think of it like knowing you could have a house fire like anyone else, but you doubt it will happen to you until you see your house engulfed in flames. I’d crossed the point of no return. The craziest part was that I had no desire to look back anyway.
The next day, I received word from NCAA that I would receive a three-game suspension for my involvement in that little scrum. I guess that was what Coach Mack had meant when he said there would be no discipline coming from him. I didn’t give a shit. That would allow sorely needed time away from the Remington Riptides.
But for the first time ever, hockey wasn’t at the forefront of my mind.
26
JAKOB
Zane drove his cock into me, making me feel the power of each thrust. I kept my head down and my eyes shut, absorbing it all. Moments before, he’d fucked me hard and fast, pushing me to the brink of orgasm, before slowing down, allowing me to relish every ounce of pleasure. Think of it like grinding away on a treadmill or stair master. You work your way up and push hard and heavy for a period before easing up, but it still takes a toll on your body.
Zane sped up in a fierce burst of energy, and he clasped both hands onto my shoulders. Feeling his iron-like grip heightened the pleasure. As it was, I felt the expert precision with which Zane fucked. Don’t laugh. It’s a real thing, something I never would’ve expected from him.
