AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 21
Jacob
My lip is throbbing, and every time I try to open my mouth, I taste blood. Giovanni's sitting across from me with a black eye that's already swelling shut.
Great.
We look like a pair of brawling idiots who forgot they were supposed to be playing hockey on the same team. And, well, we kind of are.
Coach bursts into the locker room like a hurricane, his face as red as our jerseys. "What the hell was that out there?" he roars, his voice echoing off the cold metal lockers.
Every one of us flinches. It's not often Coach loses it, but when he does, it's like facing down a grizzly bear.
A grizzly that could bench press a truck.
"Not only did you two dumbasses spark a brawl," he growls, pointing a shaky finger between Gio and me, "but you lost the damn game! The Chicago Blades are now 0-3 against the Seattle Sparks! Do you have any idea what that means? We're hanging by a thread, and it’s fraying. Fast."
The room is silent, or as silent as it can be with a dozen sets of lungs sucking in air like our lives depend on it.
Because they kind of do.
Gio and I lock eyes, and for a brief moment, I think I see a flicker of guilt, but the anger and determination burn brighter.
Coach paces back and forth, practically pulling his hair out. "We’re supposed to be a team! A united front! But all I see out there are a bunch of individuals playing with their heads up their asses!"
His glare sweeps over us, daring anyone to respond.
But no one does, not even the constantly joking Halstead.
We all know this isn't just about a game anymore. It's about our pride, our careers, and for some of us, our friendships—wrecked and bleeding, just like my lip.
I lean back against the cold wall, feeling a mix of shame and frustration twisting in my gut. We've got a lot to fix before the next game, and I'm not just talking about the scoreboard.
After a few more curses and nearly blowing a gasket, Coach finally snarls, "Hit the showers, all of you. Move it!"
The team scrambles to their feet, relief flooding the room like the first calm after a hurricane. But just as Gio and I start to rise, Coach's steely voice cuts through the chaos.
"Not you two."
We freeze.
The rest of the team sneaks quick, pitying glances our way before taking off. Coach's eyes narrow as he focuses on us, waves of fury practically emanating from his large body.
"You think this is some kind of joke?" he thunders, fingers shaking as he points between us again. "You want to cost us more games, more respect? I needed leaders out there, and instead, I got a circus."
I feel my stomach knotting tighter with each word. Gio looks like he's chewing on glass but doesn't flinch.
Coach steps closer, his voice dropping to a low growl, making it all the more menacing. "You two had better fix whatever personal crap is going on between you, and fix it fast. We're a team, not a soap opera. And if I catch even a whiff of more conflict, you’re benched for the next game. I mean it."
With that, he storms out, leaving a deafening silence in his wake. I finally let out a breath and look over at Gio.
"What the hell is your problem?" I ask, my voice breaking the heavy quiet.
Gio’s eyes smolder as they meet mine. "You already know," he says, the words hitting me like cold water.
My mouth goes dry as I realize he's right.
We both know exactly what this is about, and neither one of us wants to be the first to back down.
