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Chapter 22
Carter
We head into the rink and I’m tired as fucking hell. We’ve been back to practice for two weeks now, and Blake and Chase barely talk. If it doesn’t have to do with a play, then it's as if the other person doesn’t exist. It’s been that way since that fateful night at the cabin. The tension between them is so thick.
Chase told me about what he saw on Blake’s body that night and as much as I want to fucking knock his teeth out and find out what happened, Chase won’t let me. He’s torn up inside about it, constantly wondering how he could go out that quickly after a fight and hook up with someone else. Hell, I have the same question.
This strain is killing me. I’m torn between my brother and my best friend. Both are so caught up in themselves they can’t see the other’s point of view. My need to protect Chase is weighing heavily on me. Chase feels as if he’s placed me in the middle of their battle and it’s just something else to eat away at him.
Chase was an idiot thinking the team would treat him differently, but Blake is too hard-headed. He should have understood that it was all new to him. Hell, I’m not bi and I understand. I just wish the two of them would fucking sit down and talk this out instead of giving each other the silent treatment. That’s not going to fix anything.
The strain isn’t just between them, though, the whole team feels it. They're not idiots. Hell, Henley even brought up that we needed a team meeting to me, and not so subtly pointed to the distance between two of our key players.
Not to mention, we’re all missing our girl. Both of the guys have mentioned it to me. We've all messaged her so many times in our group chat, but nothing. When I would try to call, it would go straight to voicemail. She truly has just walked away and left us in the dust.
I never thought I’d develop feelings for her like I did. I’ve seen the movies where the main character falls in love instantly, but I thought it was a bunch of bullshit. That was until I met Ginny. Now I know it exists, but let her walk right out the door and didn’t even put up a fight.
I can hear them bickering behind me one of the few times they actually talk and I’ve had enough.
Stopping dead in my tracks, I spin around, facing them both just as we step inside the rink. I can hear our coach yelling something, but I’m too pissed at the moment. I’m fuming that my brother and best friend are being idiots. “You two need to get your shit together. It’s affecting the team and I’ve had enough. The two of you are acting like kids!” I bark out at them, fury swirling through my veins.
“Carter—” Chase starts, but I don’t let him finish.
“No, I've had enough. You were so focused on what people would think about you being bisexual, you let someone good slip through your fingers. Instead of just having an adult conversation about your feelings, you fucked up a good thing with Blake.”
I’ve barely gotten Blake’s name out of my mouth when I see him begin to open his mouth. No fucking way. He’s not the good guy in this either.
“Nope, you don’t get to say anything either. You knew Chase wasn’t out publicly about his sexuality. Instead of coming up with a solution, you pushed him to do what you wanted and when he couldn’t, you let him go. Both of you are fucking idiots.”
They look at each other and I can still see the love in their eyes. They just need to find it again and work out their shit.
“I’m going to get dressed.” Blake charges past me with his head down, walking to the locker room.
“This is all my fault.” Chase's voice is so soft and I can feel the pain in it.
“No, it’s not just yours. He could have given you some time, understood how you were feeling. No one on the team is going to care that you’re bi or that you’re seeing Blake. Hell, they’ll be happy for you. But if you don’t do something, you’re going to lose him.”
“When did you become the insightful one?” Chase asks with a smile spreading across his face.
“I’ve always been, just choose not to show it. Hey, who is that guy on the ice?”
Chase turns his head, looking in the direction I am.
“No clue, maybe a new transfer. Let’s go get dressed.”
We head to the locker room, and Blake looks up when we enter, pain in his eyes, before resuming changing his clothes. I can see the longing look between him and Chase. God, they need to get their shit together.
I head to my locker and Chase walks to the one beside me. All three of us in a row. Yeah, not uncomfortable in any way at the present time. We all undress and put on our hockey gear without speaking a word. Around us our teammates are laughing and talking about what they did last night, who fucked who and giving very descriptive details. Hell, if I wasn’t hung up on a certain girl, it would make my cock hard hearing it.
Chase shuts his locker once he’s dressed and looks over at Blake, then around the room. He takes a deep breath before bringing two fingers to his lips and giving a shrill whistle.
Everyone shuts up and turns to him, including me. What the hell is my brother about to do?
“So, hey guys, I got something to say,” he starts. His voice is shaky, and I know he’s nervous.
“Well, spit it out,” Henley calls out from the back of the locker room.
“Shut the hell up and let Chase speak,” I order them as their captain. No one would dare defy my words or I’ll make sure they end up doing suicide sprints for the entire practice.
