The insult flew over most of the guys’ heads, but I dropped my stick from laughingsohard.
“What did you call me?” Jamisonholleredback.
I flew in between the two. “Now, now, no need to get off on the wrongfootguys.”
Harding wasn’t even phased by how confused and pissed Perry was, and I couldn’t blame him. Trash talking was all part of the hazing process. If you couldn’t take it from your teammates, how the fuck would you be able to deal with it from ruthless opponents comegametime?
“Yeah, Crosby’s right. Sorry man, I just got a little flustered there.” I was proud of Harding for being the bigger man in that moment, but Jamison didn’t seem to care too much for theapology.
Before I could stop him, Perry’s right fist was connecting with Harding’s jaw. Hayes and Cox each flew up behind the guys while I stood in the middle of them, and Chase was just as shocked as the rest of us as we all stared at the new guy like he had just hit apuppy.
Coach Hayes leaped to his feet, screaming at the top of his lungs for Jamison and Chase to head straight for hisoffice.
We waited until they left the rink to go back to the ending of ourpractice.
“What did Harding call the new guy anyway?” Brayden asked as he skatedbyme.
“Astampcrab.”
“What in the fuck?” His brow creased as he tried to figure out what the insult actuallymeant.
“Clumsy. It means he’s a damnklutz.”
He shook his head. “Geez, you guys and your nerdyinsults.”
I laughed at little. “You have to hand it to Harding, at least it wasoriginal.”
Gavin joined in. “It doesn’t fucking matter how original it is, teammates need to stop being dicks to each other.” I knew Hayes was having a hard time keeping all the players in check recently, and it was starting to really wear on his demeanor. “Of all of us, Harding should know how hard it is to be the new guy. He had it rough as hell when he first joinedtheteam.”
“Give it a rest, Hayes. We all went through being a rookie. Don’t you remember when Crosby and you were rookies together? You told me the guys treated you two like damn whipping boys for months.” Brayden did have a point, but it didn’t make the bullying any morejustified.
Simon blew his whistle. “Well, this practice is shot to shit. Showertime,boys!”
We all thanked him for a fun break from our normal practices and filed into the locker room. Harding and Perry had already left for the day but Coach was waiting for us, red-faced and huffing around thelockerroom.
“Take a seat, guys.” His eyes were narrow as he paced in a small circle. “We need to get this team back to feeling like a damn family. I don’t know where you guys lost it, but it needs to come back. Each one of you is important and was handpicked because you are the best there is—don’t forget that. Each and every one of you blockheads were selected to be part of one of the best teams in this damn league. Now get the heck out of my sight. We have a game to win tomorrownight.”
Chapter5
Jordan
The week wentby like normal for the most part—slinging drinks, teaching novices, dealing with idiot bar patrons and mind-numbingly clueless owners. By the time Thursday rolled around, I was incredibly thankful for the night off with myfriends.
“Did Gavin tell you? Griffin is coming tonight.” Myla was finishing up her makeup while I flipped through the latestCosmoon her plush California king. Seven, Myla’s husky, was snoring softly with her head on my lap. We were waiting for Karla to drop her kids off with the sitter and she was cutting it very close on time, perusual.
“Really? That is awesome. I don’t think I have ever known him to go to a game since he wasakid.”
“Finally, right? I am so glad he decided to start hanging out with us again.” She popped out of the bathroom, diving onto the bed nexttome.
“Whoa now! Don’t shake up the baby before it’s even born,” I teased as she scoffedatme.
“Oh please, this thing goes to spin class with me, so I think it can handle a little elevation from time to time. I am just too excited to tell you thebestpart.”
“Well, out withitthen.”
“Griffin found that girl and is bringing her and one of her friends to the game tonight. He called Gavin yesterday andtoldus.”
I gasped as I started to bounce in place a little. “That is fucking fantastic news! I’m so thrilled it went well for him.” Seven got jostled a bit from my excitement, yawning and stretching after being woken up from herlittlenap.