Page 51 of These Wicked Hearts

“Why do they bother, then?”

She looks at me seriously. “Because why let the bigots win?”

“Fair point.”

“It’s slow, but the game is changing. Change doesn’t happen by staying silent and hiding away. I’m very proud of my friends. Their coming out has had a ripple effect through the league. A handful of players have come out since, and there are rules in place now to protect athletes that weren’t there years ago. In fact, our team captain on the Vipers came out as bisexual after Oli and Andre did.”

“Really? That’s amazing, actually.” I look over at Atlas, bent over facing another opposing player. “What about twenty-eight?”

Her eyes light up. A teasing smirk plays on her red painted lips “What about him?”

She’s so annoying. “What’s his deal?”

“That’s Atlas Sgarbossa. I don’t know too much about him, other than he likes piña coladas. That’s all I got.” Except he’s trying hard not to drink. “Some shit went down over the summer between him and his best friend. He hasn’t seemed the same after that.”

“What do you mean?”

She shrugs. “He just seems a little sad. I don’t know. He comes into the bar sometimes, but he hasn’t been by lately.”

“Because he’s trying to stay sober.” It slips before I realize what I’ve said. It’s too late. Her eyes light up. “Please don’t.”

“And you know that because nothing is happening, right?”

I sigh heavily. “Can we just forget I said anything?”

She shrugs. “Fine, I’ll let it go.” She leans in. “For now.”

I laugh a little and focus back on the game. On him. I watch him play, but Vanessa’s words hit me.

Sad? Him?

I try to picture it and I can’t.

Then I think about the roof that first night. He’d said he was lonely, and despite the weird shit that came out of his mouth, there was a desperation in his words. A strong need for company. Or a distraction. I’d thought at the time he just didn’t want to drink, but maybe it’s more than that.

And maybe I want to know a little more about what it is.

Maybe.

TWELVE

Atlas

Why the fuck is Gage here?

Did he find out? Why is he here with Vanessa? I mean, maybe they’re friends. They could be. I literally know nothing about him other than he’s a hot as hell rock star with the voice of a fucking siren.

The boards rattle as I’m slammed into them, and a familiar sting blooms in my shoulder. Fuck, I need to pay attention. “Get your fucking head in the game,” Tanner Vasilov snaps as he skates by.

Right. Game. Easy. Just stop thinking. Stop.

Knox skates to the face-off circle, bending at the waist and saying something I can’t hear. He wins the face-off against Oli and slaps the puck toward me. I shift to the right, my skates digging into the ice as I barrel through players. I’m nearly knocked on my ass by Ryker. Dick. I slap to Cole Manning who nearly collides with Colton. Knox skates toward him, knocking him on the ice. Fuck.

Colton gets up, but Knox is nowhere to be seen for the ass kicking I know he wants to give him. I find Dimitri, and he strikes it to me. I skate toward the goal, then I’m clipped, cannoning right into Andre and the goal post.

I grab my shoulder, struggling to stand. Dizzy. “Shit, Andre.” I try to help him up. “Are you okay? Fuck! I don’t like being on this end of it.”

Andre laughs. “Uh, I’m fine, but um, incoming my guy.”