Page 30 of Scoring Chance

“The guys have each other. I can’t imagine how hard it was for Olli to sit on the sidelines and watch Derrek in the net while he was injured, but the team had an amazing season. Derrek didn’t screw it up. I just don’t understand the animosity. I’ve been here for two weeks, and I can’t believe how loving and supportive you guys are. Except when it comes to him.”

I wasn’t sure where the bravery came to say all this, but now that I started, I couldn’t seem to shut up.

“Don’t you think he knows that? He’s not stupid. He’s well aware he’s an outsider. He’s trying. He comes to these parties and dinners because he wants to be included. He wants to feel like he’s really a part of this.” I threw up my hands. “I know it’s not required for everyone on the team to be best friends, but why invite him if everyone just talks about him behind his back when he’s out of the room? Why do the guys tell him to come only to belittle him to his face?”

I was starting to get emotional. I barely knew him, but I already hated how he was treated. He didn’t deserve it. I knew how much it stung to have people say things about you that weren’t true. People made assumptions without even knowing you. The rumors that spread about me ruined my career in Texas, but it also destroyed my spirit. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have your own team do that.

“You know what?” I let out a huff. “I’m not going to sit back and watch as it keeps happening. I appreciate your invitation, but I think we’re going to go somewhere else for dinner.” I shot them a serious look that I hoped conveyed my disappointment. “Go Fury.” I said with sardonically.

I pushed past them and hurried in the direction I saw Derrek go. More people had arrived and it took me a few minutes to find him sitting in the theater room watching a recap of a football game that was played earlier tonight.

“Hey, Derrek?” I whisper-yelled, trying not to distract the rest of the guys.

He turned and smiled when he saw me. He crossed the room and leaned down so we were almost eye level. The smell of cedar overwhelmed my senses making me fight the urge to lean closer. “What’s up?”

I cleared my throat and pushed away the inappropriate thoughts of running my hands through his hair. “Would you mind if we went somewhere else for dinner?”

He looked confused. “Are you okay?”

I tried to smile, but couldn’t. “Not really. I just want to leave.”

“Yeah, of course.” His eyebrows pulled together, but he turned and grabbed his coat off the edge of the couch and walked with me down the hall. We were almost to the front door when Emma, Kendall, and Madi stopped us.

Emma blocked the door. “Can we talk to you?”

Derrek’s eyes found mine before moving back to hers. I knew if I said no he would make sure we were able to leave, but I didn't want to leave on bad terms. Well, worse than they already were. “Sure.”

Emma turned back down the hall toward Olli’s office with Kendall and Madi following behind her.

“I’ll be back in a second.”

He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but nodded instead.

I headed into the office and shut the door behind me.

“You’re right, Amelia.” Madi was the first to speak, which surprised me.

Kendall agreed. “You brought up a lot that we didn’t consider.”

Emma agreed. “We haven’t been fair. I’ll admit we were following the lead of the guys, but that’s no excuse. If anything, it makes it worse.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. The last thing I expected was for them to apologize minutes after I ended my rant. I thought we would all need a few days to cool off.

“We haven’t been treating Derrek the way we should. Yeah, he’s got some growing up to do, but so does half the team,” Madi said with a shrug. “We might not be able to change the guys’ minds, at least not without work and some patience, but we want you to know that we’ll do better.”

“I can’t imagine how hard it’s been on him, to be honest,” Emma said with a small voice. She cleared her throat. “We’re a tight knit group, but usually welcome people on the team with open arms. We should have done better.”

“We’ll lead by example,” Kendall said with a confident nod. “It will probably take some time to get everyone on board, but you can count on us.”

I looked around the room and relaxed. “Thank you. I’m sorry I went off, but…” I struggled to find the right words. Why had I done it?

“You like him,” Madi supplied.

I let out a half-hearted laugh. “Yeah, I think I do.”

Emma stepped forward, waving us out. “We know. Let’s get back out there.”

Kendall stopped her and forced us into a group hug. “I love you guys.”