Page 19 of Scoring Chance

Derrek was attractive, okay gorgeous, and I couldn’t deny I was drawn to him. We’d only had one conversation, but I felt like I knew him. Probably because we skipped the pleasantries and I dove into his insecurities. Not the best way to kick off a relationship, but he’d been so broken last night. I saw his open vulnerability and couldn’t walk away.

“Oh Amelia. I know how hard it is to come back from a bad relationship, but don’t let that stop you from taking a chance on him. You won’t want to lose him to someone else, would you?” She lit up when I didn’t contradict her. “Oh, I knew it! You like him!”

“I never said that.” I stood and hurried out before she could get anything else out of me.

7

Derrek

I was tense as I pulled into the parking garage. We had a training day yesterday so I went to a private gym rather than the one at the arena. I needed some space from the guys, but I couldn’t skip morning skate if I wanted to even be considered to play at tonight’s game. Of course, there was little chance I would, not unless Olli somehow injured himself between now and six o’clock tonight.

Regret filled me from the moment I watched Amelia walk away with Madi the night before. I should have gone after her and asked her not to tell anyone about our conversation, but when I went inside, I couldn’t find her. I didn’t hang around for long, though. I wasn’t interested in being the butt of the jokes for the night.

Before someone could find me, I got out of my car and made my way down to the locker room. No one even noticed me walk in. They were too busy talking about the game tonight. The Charleston team had been better last season than any other time in their history and had been a real threat for the championship. They’d had a few trades and a new assistant coach since then that seemed to throw them off. They were back down to fifth in their division, but they were unpredictable. Some nights they were on fire, and some it seemed like they had no idea what they were even doing on the ice.

“Hey, Aston, Coach Abrams asked to see you before you went out,” Olli called to me, and I nodded in acknowledgment.

I stopped changing and headed for his office. I’d been expecting him to call me in all week, but figured he forgot. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I knocked on the open door and he looked up, waving me in.

“Hi, Derrek. Thanks for coming by.”

“Sure thing.” I shut the door behind me and sat down in the empty chair across from him.

“How have things been going?” he asked, and I had a feeling he had something specific he wanted to discuss. I cursed myself for being so dumb. I never should have opened my mouth around the new girl. I didn’t know her, and her allegiance belonged to Nikolay and the Pride.

“Fine, sir.”

He leaned back in his chair and stared at me, obviously waiting for me to continue.

“I haven’t gotten in any more fights.”

“I’m aware.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why don’t you seem pleased by that?”

“Because I had a feeling this would happen, and I’m a bit disappointed that it has.”

“What are you talking about?” He was disappointed there haven’t been more fights?

“When I told you to watch yourself, I didn’t want you to hide away.”

I sighed and dropped back into the chair. “So, if I confront them, I’m at fault, and if I avoid the situation, I’m still at fault?”

He gave me a stern look, not unlike something my dad would give me growing up when I was frustrating him. Good. He knew how I felt right now too.

“I was hoping you’d try harder to integrate with the team and repair relationships. I wanted you to try thinking before you spoke or acted.”

“I did. I went to a party Erik and his wife hosted.”

He gave a single nod. “And you hid outside the entire time.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How did you know? Who told you?”

He let out a huff that was almost a laugh. “I was there, Derrek. Why is your reaction to instantly go on the defensive? You act like the team is out to get you.”

I fought the strong urge to roll my eyes. I didn’t see him there that night, but it wasn’t far-fetched to think someone brought it up to the coaches.

“Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why there is animosity between you and some of the guys?”