Page 201 of Cross Check

I swallow. “Is he forcing you into this?”

“You think I’m being forced into a relationship with another adult?” Hannah bites out a laugh. “I’m not having this conversation.” She looks at Coach. “I’m going to wait for you at your place. I don’t want to be here.”

“Of course.” Coach digs his keys out of his pocket and hands them to her. He clasps her hand and strokes his thumb over her knuckles, and I want to puke. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Hannah doesn’t offer me another glance as she storms down the hall, and I glare at my coach.

“I trusted you.” I wipe my nose. My emotions are getting the best of me. The happiness from five minutes ago is replaced with anger and disappointment. “And now you’re dead to me.”

I push past him and disappear into the locker room. I rip off my gear, throwing everything into a pile in front of my stall. Resting my head against my nameplate, I try to take a deep breath, but I’m so fucking mad. Adrenaline pounds behind my sternum, and I undress as quickly as I can.

“Hey.” Maverick puts a hand on my shoulder. He squeezes once. “Talk to me, G.”

“So you can tell me I’m overreacting?” I bend and unlace my skate, tossing it to the back of my stall. “How would you feel if Murphy started dating someone much older than her? Someone you knew on a personal level?”

“I’d be pretty fucking pissed.” He sighs. “Livid, actually, and I’d never tell you that you’re overreacting. I’d respond the same way.”

“I’m leaving. I don’t want to talk to the media. I don’t want to stick around and listen to whatever debrief he wants to give us.” I shuck off all my gear and pull on my slacks and shirt, barely stopping to button them. “I need to clear my head.”

“Go home. Take a shower. We’re going to figure this out,” Maverick says, but I don’t believe him.

I ignore the rest of my teammates and slip into the hall behind the locker room. I pass through the parking garage and slam my car door closed, trying to get my breathing under control.

Squeezing my eyes shut doesn’t help, and all I can do is replay the last twenty minutes.

The hurt on Hannah’s face is as clear as day, and I can’t believe I lashed out at her like that.

I hate what I saw, but I hate how I acted even more.

I have to sit with this. I have to process it, and then I need to make it right.

SIXTY-ONE

AMELIA

Lainey

Have you found a place to live yet, A?

Sienna

We miss you! We need to visit ASAP.

Me

No luck on the apartment, but I’m trying!

The second I move in, you all will be on the first flight out here. I miss the hell out of you too.

Lainey

How does Baltimore compare to Denver?

Me

Totally different, but that’s not a bad thing.

It was time for a change.