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“She talks about me?”
“All. The. Damn. Time. She loves you. Says you guys have fun together. Now, I’m not too happy about her and Baylor dating, but she’s a big girl, I guess.”
Even though Hayes knew they were dating, for some reason, every time he heard it, it was like a punch in the balls. “Why? You have an issue with Rook?” he fished.
Nick returned his arm to the resting position before rotating it again. “Any pain?”
“None.”
“Good. That’s a fantastic sign. Yeah, no issue with Baylor at all. Just don’t think she’s mentally ready for a relationship right now is all, not to mention, he’s a bit more of a playboy than I realized. It’s just, I’d hate to see either of them get hurt. She’s always been able to, uh, how do I say it nicely? Persuade guys. They’ve always just kinda fallen at her feet. As soon as one would leave, another one was right there waiting.”
“I can see that,” Tyler said without thinking. “She’s a cool chick, I mean.”
“She is. But she doesn’t always think things through all the way. Likes to rush into things with high hopes and doesn’t always realize that decisions have consequences until it’s too late. Hence: her marriage. Everyone told her not to marry him. You can’t tell her anything though. And of course, there’s the age difference. I just…didn’t see it coming is all. In hindsight, probably should’ve. But, whatever. They’re both adults.” He helped Hayes sit up. “Make you a deal: we can skip the pendulums if you promise to hit them first thing at dryland tomorrow.”
“Works for me.”
“How you feeling, Hayes?”
“Great, man. Like I said, no pain whatsoever.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh. Right. Um, OK. Good moments and bad moments, you know? Fuckin’ way she goes.” He shrugged. “You know, your cousin really helped me. I was in kind of a bad place and she pulled me out of it.”
“Well, I did the same for her, so I’m glad to hear she’s paying it forward. She’s a little broken, but she’s got a good heart.”
“Man, I’m slowly finding out that we’re all a little broken.”
“That we are, Hayes. Hey: see you tomorrow.”
“Later, Dunny.”
Hayes went back to the locker room, fully expecting to take a shower in peace; instead, he arrived to all hell breaking loose.
“I just don’t get it is all.”
“There’s nothing for you to get, man. I like her, and she likes me. What’s the fuckin’ problem?”
“The problem?” Seggy stood up and inched slowly towards Ryan. “The problem is that ever since you’ve been fuckin’ with that bitch, you’ve been shit on the ice and a locker room cancer, bud.”
“Don’t call her a bitch, man,” Ryan warned, stepping closer to him. “Don’t.”
“Or what, pussy? Everyone’s been real patient with you, but the truth is that you’re a waste of cap space. You’re inconsistent as fuck, and you suck on D. Probably suck the D, too.”
“I’m not your mom.”
Rizz came out of nowhere, wearing only a towel, and stepped between them. “Yo, boys. Calm down. Let’s just calm down now, eh?”
“And maybe if you could hit that shit right, she wouldn’t be all over Hayes’s jock. Don’t think we didn’t all see that shit tonight during warmup. She was eye-fuckin’ him so hard, I got half a chub just watching it.”
“How the actual fuck did I get dragged into this shit?” Hayes came over, down to nothing but his hip pads, and stood next to Ryan, facing Seggy.
“Because everyone knows you’re bangin’ her, too. Probably why your girl cheated. She’s about the same age as those billet moms were, eh? Seems right up your alley, you little fuckin’ home wrecker.”
Ryan made a sudden move towards Seggy, but Hayes held him back. “Nah, fuck this washed-up piece of shit, man. He’s not worth it. AHL contract with no hopes of ever movin’ up to the show, and a mediocre wife who’s probably on my jock, too. Just jealous is all.”
Seggy let loose an exaggerated laugh. “Yeah. That’s it, Hayes. She prefers men, not little boys.”
