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“I’ve got some whiskey in the locker room for us,” Joe said. “Finish out practice. We’ll do some bonding.”
“Does it bother you that this team sucks?” I asked.
“Of course it does. But we don’t suck. We’re in a tough position all the way around. You being here will help. You and I get to control the game. If you look at the stats, we’re not bad.”
“Don’t count on me for shit, Joe. I’m here on a one year deal if that. Pay me and I fucking leave.”
“Is that what you dreamed of as a kid, Atlas?”
“Actually, it is,” I said. “When there was no food in the fridge. When I was home alone and the electricity was turned off. When I had nothing. All I cared about was money. Now quit fucking talking to me.”
I skated away from him fast.
Ten minutes of laps, ten minutes of some violent defense, and Coach Denny not only ended practice, he seemed excited about the possibility of Joe and I working together.
A mutual hate for one another yet a respect for the game was what we needed.
And we had it.
Back in the locker room, I sat on an old metal chair and Joe stood in front of me.
“As promised, good sir,” he growled.
He handed me a bottle of whiskey.
“Speech!” Rome called out. “New guy. Speech.”
“Tradition.” Sebastian said. “Someone always talks.”
“Give us something,” Jago said.
I looked at Henry.
He nodded in agreement.
I forced myself to stand. “I have nothing to say. I don’t really care what the record for this team ends up as for this season. The checks still clear the same. But if you give a fuck about winning, play hard. Like practice today. Joe and I will have your backs. Joe and I will protect Jago. Henry and Sebastian have chemistry on the front line. Rome… I don’t fucking know what you are…”
“I’m jealous,” Rome called out. “Henry and Sebastian have chemistry. Let’s drink to them. When’s the wedding? Who gets to be on top?”
“You couldn’t have used a different word?” Henry asked.
I sat back down.
These guys aren’t my fucking friends.
I opened the whiskey bottle and started to drink.
The guys all closed in on me, wanting their turn for a drink.
But I was far from done.
Whiskey went down like water.
And then I’d probably look for someone to fight.
My phone vibratedin my bag.
Through a narrow slit where the zipper wasn’t fully zipped up, I saw the glow of my screen.
