Page 6 of Slapshot Obsession
The news cause relief and a little pang of pain at the same time. “Right. I think it’s for the best.”
“You don’t want to discuss the situation with him too?” Colsen asks.
I sigh. “I bumped into him earlier, and we talked.”
“By the look on your face, I guess it didn’t go well?”
One nod is all they need in response to that question. “To be honest, I wasn’t surprised.” I admit. “We had a conversation the day before yesterday, and he was clear that hockey is number one in his life right now. And nowthat even being seen having an innocent conversation could get me kicked out of camp and him benched, we didn’t really stand a chance. But the no fraternization clause wasn’t our only problem. Nash was really mad at me. At us.”
I explain Nash’s possessive edge. “Even without risking his good standing with Coach Harrison, he was furious after he saw us together last night. He asked me point-blank if I was going to choose him. And when I said that I couldn’t, he didn’t like it.”
There’s a coffee table between me and the guys, so Colsen can’t touch me. But the way he looks at me gives me the same feeling as if he had pulled me into his arms. His hazel eyes are full of warmth. “I’m sorry, pretty girl. I know you care about him. And I’m putting this out there because I want you to know how I feel. The fact that I didn’t give you an ultimatum doesn’t mean that I’m not possessive and that I don’t want you to myself. Until last night, I thought I did. And I do, really. But I realized that I’m not possessive where Tucker is concerned. Maybe because he’s the best friend I’ve ever had, more than even a brother. I don’t know. Sharing you with him doesn’t feel like I’m giving up anything.”
His words would have made my heart sing before that meeting.
“So you guys are both going to continue dating Taryn? Like, long term?” Mack asks.
“If that’s what Taryn wants.” Tucker finally looks at me. “Is that what you want, baby?”
His question feels like a double-edged sword. “I don’t know. It depends, I guess.”
Tucker lowers Baety onto her little dog bed on one sideof the couch. “On what?” He scoots forward, his blond eyebrows furrowed as he looks at me.
“I would never want to cause any trouble for you guys. Before that meeting, being together was already dangerous because we could get our hearts crushed if something went wrong. But now, if we got caught, I could get kicked out of camp, and you could get benched by your coach. You’re elite athletes, headed for the pros. I don’t know if I’m worth risking your future. It wouldn’t be a matter of waiting until training camp is over either. Carole forwarded us the paperwork that was accidentally omitted from our welcome package. The no fraternization clause applies as long as we’re part of the Shooting Stars. So if I make the team, we wouldn’t be able to hang out even as friends until next summer.”
Tucker runs a hand through his hair. The corded muscles in his forearm jump and somehow he manages to look even hotter with the hair on the top of his head all mussed. “That’s so fucking unfair. I don’t get why it’s such a problem if cheerleaders and players fraternize. If they didn’t want us to even interact, they shouldn’t have put our training camps in the same place.”
“I agree.” Colsen’s unwavering gaze is on me. “Maybe I get it in the future if the Shooting Stars end up cheering for the future NHL team they want to bring to Star Cove. Relationships between cheerleaders and players could be seen as problematic. Like there’s some kind of power imbalance, with players having much bigger paychecks and such. Also, some NHL players might be married, and that would pose a problem for the squeaky clean girl next door image they want for the cheerleaders. But we’re college students. We don’t even get paid to play and I don’t know anyone on the team who’s married.”
“I don’t think money is the only factor.” I sigh. “Carole reiterated the rules at the end of this afternoon’s training session. She said that the rule is there to avoid drama, scandals, and possible misconduct or harassment problems.”
Mack barks out a laugh. “They want to avoid drama? Then I’m sorry, but they should have never let Gen try out. I would bet both my nuts that she was the one who shared the photo of you and Tucker with Carole.”
“I think your nuts are safe and sound, Mack,” Colsen chimes in. “The thought has crossed my mind too.”
Tucker interrupts the conversation. “I get all that. And do you know what? I don’t give two shits about why they decided on that stupid clause. All I want to know is what you want.”
His blue eyes are focused on me as if they wanted to see deep inside my soul.
“I want to make the team.” I admit. “Making a living as a dancer has always been my dream. But it’s complicated.”
Tucker shakes his head. “No, baby. It’s actually very simple. If you want the team more than you want us, then?—”
“I didn’t say that.” I snap. “My future isn’t the only one at stake. What about you and Colsen? If your careers were derailed because of me, I would never forgive myself.”
Colsen intervenes. “Let us worry about our own careers, Taryn. Tucker is right. What do you really want?”
That question makes me feel put on the spot. If I told them how I feel, that they’re more important than the team to me, and they didn’t feel the same, I would be crushed.
“I…”
Tucker rises from his seat and closes the distance between us in a heartbeat. He comes to kneel in front of me, his fingers finding mine. “I’m not sayingthis to put pressure on you, baby. If the team is what’s most important to you, I’ll have to find a way to accept it. But if you want me, us, just know that I would risk way more than my spot on this team for you.”
Colsen backs his best friend. “Me too.”
One single tear slides down my cheeks, and Tucker’s face falls.
“Oh. I see. Ok.” He tries to pull his hand away, but I don’t let him.
