Page 29 of Slapshot Obsession
Tucker’s words earlier echo in my ears, and I almost let my feet carry me in the direction of Vaughn’s apartment.
But what if they aren’t just hanging out with our friends? What if Colsen and Tucker are sharing her right now? If they were doing the things I’m dying to do to her, I don’t think I could take it.
It’s much better if I stick to my guns and take a walk outside. Let the fresh air tire me and clear my mind. When I turn up to practice rested and ready to go tomorrow morning, it’ll be much easier to deal with whatever punishment Coach is going to dole out if the party gets busted.
It’s a clear night with a breeze that swept away this morning’s clouds. Despite some light pollution, once I walk a little further away from the building, a decent number of stars become visible in the black velvet of the sky.
The scent of the sea fills my nostrils, the murmur of the waves singing a calming song, almost a lullaby.
When I was in South Carolina, despite our college being in a beach town, campus was far from the actual beach. And summer training happened on a half-deserted campus, rather than a beautiful complex right on the beach.
I need to stay the course and have a great season to make sure that the LA Gladiators call me onto their roster rather than trading me or sending me to a minor league team to develop my skills. Aside from the fact that playing in the minors could become a trap that’s difficult to evade, I’m excited to live in LA.
The Gladiators’ HQ and practice arena are in a small town right outside LA, and if I’m lucky, I could find a place to rent by the beach.
I could go swimming on days when we don’t have practice and in the off season.
I could go swimming now.
My fingers toy with the zipper of my hoodie, but I decide against it when a gust of cold wind comes from the sea. If I want to swim, I should probably bring a towel and my swimming trunks. Besides, it’s better to do it during the day when I can see what other creatures are in the water with me.
I don’t think there are many sharks around here, but you never know, and I would rather be safe than sorry.
I walk a little more and, like I thought, the fresh air and the sea breeze do the trick, and before I know it, I’m yawning. Ready for a little snack and my bed, I begin walking back toward the apartment building.
The party, however, has spilled onto the beach. I hear my teammates before I see them and make the snap decision to walk back inside from the side entrance, even though that will force me to go through the basement. Before crossing the spot where some people are hanging out with solo cups in their hands, I pull my hoodie up to avoid drawing attention.
It’s the only way to make sure I don’t get spotted and guilted into staying for just one drink. It’s a universal lawthat it’s never just one drink, and I’m really not in the mood to party.
There’s a short flight of stairs that from the back entrance goes down to the basement, and I can get to the elevator from there.
Everything happens so fast that I barely understand what’s going on.
The overhead lights come on the second I step inside, and the fire door slams shut behind me.
These eco lights are dim as fuck and motion activated, so as I stop, slightly disoriented, I’m plunged into darkness, but it’s short-lived. Flashes of light come from further down the hallway, and I spot someone in a tank top and shorts running toward me. Even before I can make out her features, I would know that blonde hair and those shapely legs anywhere.
It looks like Taryn is running from something. My hunch is confirmed by the scream she lets out when she sees me.
My legs spring into action, pure instinct driving my movements the same way they do on the ice.
Whatever scared her, I’m here now and I’ll protect her.
But once she realizes that I’m going toward her, Taryn turns around and begins running in the opposite direction.
Why is she running from me?
Taryn is fast, but I have almost a foot on her and my much longer legs help me eat the distance between us faster than she can run.
I grab her shoulder, and she turns to face me. For a second neither of us move and it’s enough for the lights above us to go out.
She screams again, scared out of her mind.
I can feel her fear, and for a second, I’m confused. How can she think I would ever hurt her?
Then I remember pulling my hood up so my teammates wouldn’t stop me when I walked past them. My face is still hidden by the hood and in the stupid dim lights of this basement, I can only imagine how I looked when she saw me.
“Taryn, it’s me.” I say.
