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“Yeah. Absolutely.” And I need to call my agent and have the discussion I’ve been putting off. I need a contingency plan if this season is my last. I need to start planning for my future, and I need it to include Aurora.
I watch from the bench as we win the game 3-2. It’s a huge boost for the team, and as hard as it was to sit on the sidelines, it was the right thing to do.
The sportscasters are stationed outside the locker room after the game. I hate interviews, but when one of the young reporters shouts my name, instead of muttering no comment, I turn to face him. Shocked, he shoves the microphone in my face. “What happened on the ice out there?”
“I couldn’t be what my team needed.”
“Is this because of your knee injury? Do you think you’ll be able to handle playoffs?”
“It’s not because of my knee,” I grumble.
“Do you think you’ll do better with home-ice advantage? Scarlet Reed has been attending your games. Is she your good luck charm?”
I level him with a glare. I’m so tired of people telling me who I’m supposed to be dating. “This has nothing to do with Scarlet. Despite media speculation, we are not together. And we will never be again, because I’m in love with Roman Hammerstein’s daughter—uh, Aurora.”
I’m met with shocked silence for half a second before ten microphones are shoved in my face.
“Does Hammerstein know you’re in love with his daughter?”
“Are you secretly dating?”
“How does Scarlet feel about you dating someone else?”
“How does Hammerstein feel about this?”
“I’m not taking any more questions.” I stomp into the locker room as they shout after me.
As the door closes behind me, Roman is standing there, an unimpressed look on his face. “It’s just words if you don’t follow up with action.” He disappears into the showers.
Dallas claps me on the shoulder as he passes. “Willy’s going to kick your ass for that.”
Have I dug my hole deeper or built myself a rope ladder?
CHAPTER 42
HAMMER
“Okay. You’ve finished all but one written exam, your last major projects aren’t due for several more days, and you’re watching horrible reality TV. We’re going out tonight, and you are not allowed to say no.” Rix stands in front of the TV with her hands on her hips.
She’s spot on about the horrible reality shows. I found some from a decade ago that have zero in the way of plot, and the cast is comprised of the most frustrating humans on the face of the earth. For a show that stresses the importance of strategy, there seems to be none. Unless being an annoying jerk counts.
I drag my eyes up to her face. “I still don’t know how to feel, and I’m still sad.”
“Of course you are. You’re watching the world’s biggest assholes vie for a quarter of a million dollars. That would make anyone sad.” She drops to the cushion beside me. “And you’re allowed to be conflicted.”
In a rare, shocking post-game interview, Hollis publicly declared he’s in love with me. Well, he said he’s in love with Roman Hammerstein’s daughter and tacked my name on at the end. I’ve watched the clip an unreasonable number of times. Dissected it. Tried to read between the lines. As nice as it is to hear I’m not alone with my feelings, that he referred to me as Roman’s daughter first leaves me with a lot of questions. Like how can it ever work between us if my dad is the third party in our relationship all the time? Also, it’s one thing for Hollis to tell the world how he feels, but what is he going to do about it? I don’t know if this will impact my potential job with the Terror, but I can’t worry about that today.
“I miss Hollis.” I look up to the ceiling to fend off my tears. He messaged the other night, but I haven’t responded. I’m over here working on my relationship with my dad and standing up for myself. I can’t do his part as well. I need Hollis to make an actual move. I want him to say those words to my face and tell me how he plans to prove he means it.
“I know.” Rix wraps her arm around me. “Which is why we need to dress you up like a thirst trap and go shake our asses on the dance floor. And we should also do shots like they’re not the worst idea we’ve ever had.”
“Shots are always a bad idea. And yet I always say yes to them.”
“Truth. I’ll text Hemi, Dred, and Shilps.”
“What about Tally? I feel bad that she gets left out of bar nights.”
“She’s on a senior-year high school trip, and we’ll have a girls’ night when she gets back. I’m sure she’ll have all kinds of drama to fill us in on, because teenagers.”
