Page 5 of Cheap Shot

“Everything okay?”

It took a moment for him to respond. “Yeah, just waiting to hear back from my sister.”

Oh, right. He’d mentioned a few weeks ago that his little sister was transferring here. I vaguely remembered meeting her during the family week our freshman year. She’d been awkward. All gangly limbs with braces and glasses that didn’t stay on her nose.

I got dressed and caught Dylan across the room, so I made my way over and sat next to him while he pulled on his shoes.

“Hey, man,” he offered a halfhearted smile.

He was normally one of those perpetually happy, optimistic people, so seeing him down was uncomfortable.

“Hey, I heard about your ex.” I glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “I know it’s hard and it sucks, but it will pass.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I know. It was just a shock.”

“I get that.” I clapped him on the back. “We need you at your best, so if there’s anything I can do to help––”

“It’s okay,” he rushed out. “I needed a couple of days, but it’s out of my system. Last night won’t happen again.”

His eyes held more conviction than his words, so I let it go. “Sounds good.”

I stood and headed back.

“Anyone going to the party tonight?” Kevin asked.

Benjamin folded his arms across his chest. “What party?”

“Don’t worry, the football players are hosting, and they follow the rules. It’s Coach approved,” Becker, a fellow right-wing, assured.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t get in trouble,” Matt, a junior defenseman, countered after tossing his wet towel in the bin. “One of their parties last year got so out of control the city police had to be called in because campus police couldn’t handle it.”

None of us that had been there needed the reminder. Coach had been so furious the next day at practice, he had us skating suicides for two hours straight. It didn’t matter that none of us were drinking, let alone doing anything more illicit, because the rules were clear. The moment we see alcohol, we leave. That’s it. No exceptions.

There was far too much at risk for the twenty-six of us who dedicated our lives to the game just to lose our spot on the team for a stupid college party, especially the seniors.

Benjamin shot me a curious look. “You in?”

“You’re sure there won’t be alcohol? I asked Becker.

He nodded and looked to Kevin who agreed.

“And no drugs?”

“Dude, I wouldn’t go if there was.” Becker crossed his arms.

It was a risk, but the football team was really good about following the rules. Their coaches weren’t as strict as ours, but they knew better than taking stupid gambles. When was the last time any of us had gone out? Weeks, at least. It might be good for the guys to get a break from the stress and take a night off.

“Fine, but we leave the second anything shows up we shouldn’t be around.” I pulled on my shirt then turned to Ethan. “You?”

“I think I’m going to sit this one out,” Ethan said while pulling his hair up into a bun that made the girls on campus go crazy. I teased him about his long hair for the first six months as he let it grow out, but by the time it reached his chin I was proved to be of the minority that thought he looked ridiculous.

“You never miss a party.” Benjamin eyed him while putting on deodorant.

Ethan dropped his arms and shrugged. “Not feeling it today.”

Benjamin accepted that vague answer, but it wasn’t enough for me.

I turned toward my locker and lowered my voice. “What’s going on?”