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Chapter 4

Keelan

“ S hould I be worried?” Ryker says to me as I tie my skates.

“Worried?” I blow air through my lips. “Nah, we’re good.”

Ryker leans forward with his elbows on his thighs. He rests his chin on his hand, looking exactly like I told him not to be– worried.

“Ry, it’s fi-ine.”

He groans. “Just because you’re ignoring the fact that your ex-girlfriend and your… Rina,” he says, for lack of a better word, “...are now working together doesn’t mean problems don’t exist, Kee. And that press conference… you sure know how to add fuel to an already raging fire.”

I tug my jersey down over my head, rubbing the C on the left side of it. “I’m not ignoring it. It’s weird, sure. But we’re all grownups.”

“Debatable,” Ryker says, eyeing me.

"And that press conference went swimmingly," I add a chef's kiss for emphasis.

"Really? You think calling out Rina's ex on national television and telling him you wish you broke his leg is going ‘swimmingly?’"

The rest of the team is quietly putting on their gear. Everyone's a little on edge because of who we're playing tonight.

And Rina and her drama aside, I've got to get these guys on the same page.

I stand and turn to reach into my bag, pulling out and unwrapping a red lollipop without much thought and sticking it into my mouth.

Ryker watches me."I would just like you to stop acting like everything is okay, Kee.”

I slap a hand onto his back. “But everything is okay. And do you know why?”

He cocks his head to the side. “Because you're delusional?"

I take the lollipop from my mouth and point it at him, “No, my grouchy friend. Because you are getting married this weekend.”

I say it loud, and as soon as I do, the boys in the locker room all stop what they’re doing to let out a big “Ah-ooh” for our groom.

“And you’re going to be my brother by the bond of marriage. So don’t worry–tonight we beat Georgia. Sorry, Hicks!” I call over my shoulder like our old teammate can hear us in the opposing team's locker room.

"God save his soul," Fergie, my linemate, says, making a cross over his chest.

“He's gonna need it!” I say, then turning back to Ryker I add, “And this time next week, you and Izzy will be back from your honeymoon reminiscing on the most memorable day of your lives.”

“I’m pretty sure Izzy pushing a baby out might’ve been the most memorable day of their lives,” Zane, one of our D-men, cuts in.

“Reminiscing on the second most memorable day of your lives,” I correct myself.

There’s a tiny hint of a smile tugging on my grumpy friend’s lips.

“That being said, Heatwave, who’s ready?” I yell out.

“We’re ready!” The team responds.

“Who’s ready?” I put my hand up to my ear.

“We’re ready!” They say even louder.

“Then let’s go!”

On the ice, I'm well aware of the two people standing next to my sister as she snaps pictures looking very uncomfortable.

The women look like they could bite each other’s heads off at any moment if either one of them were to make a wrong move.

I look over at Ryker in the net. He’s shaking his head and hits his helmet.

Head in the game.

Yep. I’m on it.

I sink down as the puck drops, and we face off with the Thunderhawks at the start of the first period. I win the faceoff for our team. Fergie takes control of the puck and shoots it over to Vance MacDonald, one of the rookie players this season who rose to the top during training camp, earning his spot in the starting lineup. Vance rushes it over to the left of the Thunderhawk’s goalie. He shoots. It gets blocked.

Georgia takes the puck. Their fastest forward—Joshua mother freakin' —Hicks, takes it for a breakaway. I watch Ryker square up. He drops it back to another teammate, who gets it closer before he drops it back to a third, who shoots it and scores.

Ryker never sees it coming, completely fooled by a series of back-to-back dekes.

I shake my head as the Thunderhawks rush to our old linemate to celebrate the first goal of the night. My eyes shoot over to Rina. She’s standing as still as a statue. Emotionless.

Jenny is leaning over and saying something to Izzy. Izzy nods her head in understanding.

She points her camera to the opposing team and I watch as she captures their excitement.

What the hell?

Hicks skates over to me. "Sorry, Lando. Wish I didn't have to kick your ass, but c'est la vie, bud." He shoots me his award-winning smile. And I shove past him as we regroup.

The period continues, with Georgia scoring two more goals before it’s over. The second we hear the buzzer, we get up from our places on the bench and walk down the corridor toward the locker room.

This is not good. Not good at all.

Once everyone is inside, Coach Murray joins us. He’s flanked by his two assistant coaches, who make way for Rina and Jenny.

Ah, shit.

“Boys, it’s only the first period,” he slides a hand into the pocket of his suit pants.“Chins up. Being behind just means there’s room for a comeback.”

Usually, the boys would be all about one of the coach’s inspirational talks, but as I look around at the faces of my teammates, I know everyone is distracted by the blonde elephant in the room.

Not that she’s an elephant by any means… she looks great, actually. But I will never tell her that.

“Okay, Coach. I’m going to step in for a moment if you don’t mind.” Rina places a hand on his shoulder and steps forward.

“He’s right. You will turn it around next period. I know you, boys. When you want something bad enough… you fight hard for it. Something our new Marketing director will soon find out.” She motions to Jenny. “Heatwave, this is Jennyfer Cobbs. She now works for you to build this team's brand and make sure the Heatwave stays number one in the eyes of its fans with her marketing prowess. I want you to treat her like one of us. Do you understand?”

Ryker and I look at each other. Are they… friends?

Jenny steps up next to Rina. “Thank you, Mrs. Bon–sorry—Ms. Lopez. My apologies.”

Nope. Not friends. Rina might've married the soccer douche, but she never changed her name. Something I paid really close attention to. So that was a dig. But Rina doesn’t drop her facade. She pretends like it didn’t bother her in the least.

“I’m really looking forward to working with each and every one of you Heatwave players to make sure I help you look and be your best,” Jenny says.

Her eyes land on me and stay on me for a beat before she looks away.

I clear my throat. “Well, you can count on us,” I say, rising to my feet. “These boys are the best in the business.”

Her eyes flick back to me. And it feels like a Mexican standoff between Jenny, Rina, and me. I suddenly feel like I’m right back in college.

Coach steps up after a few awkward seconds. “It’s good to have you here, Ms. Cobbs. And thank you, Ms. Lopez for the introduction. So as I was–”

“First thing’s first,” Jenny says, stepping in front of Coach and Rina like she’s now in charge. “I’ll be working firsthand with the team photographer to make sure we’re catching candids not just on the ice during games but at all times. We’re doing an entire social media revamp–”

“Uh, Jennyfer,” Rina interrupts.

“Second,” Jenny continues. Oh boy. “We’ll be doing a reshoot of the calendar Rina's been working on next week. You guys look great, don’t get me wrong," she reassures us as if we care how we look in a calendar meant for the fans to enjoy. "But we can do so much better. I’ll be reaching out to schedule those new dates soon. After Ryker and his bride come back from their honeymoon, of course.” She winks at Ryker.

He shifts uncomfortably next to me. The last thing Ryker wants is to be stuck in the middle of this old rivalry—the one we thought was long and buried. Apparently not.

“And third, I’ll be sending out a list of upcoming events that I’d love for you to attend as a team. That way we can get ahead before the holi–”

Rina steps up. “Um… no, that would be in my realm. So… disregard that,” she says to us.

Jennyfer looks at her with a smile. “Of course. My apologies. I didn’t mean to step on toes.”

“I’m sure you didn’t,” Rina murmurs.

The guys are volleying between Rina and Jenny—no doubt, trying to decipher what the hell is going on right now.

“O-kay,” Coach Murray says. “So, are we good here?”

“All good,” both Rina and Jennyfer say.

Ryker gives me a look. “Still think everything is fi-ine,” he asks under his breath.

“Shut up,” I say from the side of my mouth.

The women both step aside and are at another stalemate, insisting that the other walk out first. Like they’re both trying to seem like the more considerate one.

Once they’re gone, Coach reviews some of the plays we need to take advantage of in the second period in order to secure a few more goals and get ahead.

And when it’s time to go back out, the two women are standing next to Izzy again. This time, they both have arms crossed over their chests and are facing away from each other, like acknowledging each other’s presence might cause them to physically combust.

“So much for team unity,” I say to Ryker, who shakes his head when he sees the two of them. He skates up to Izzy and taps on the glass a few times. She smiles and snaps photos of her soon-to-be-husband.

Tomorrow, my sister and my best friend get married. Two people I would never have imagined would hit it off. I feel a pull to look up, and Rina's eyes are on me.

Her face hardly ever gives anything away. But that look. I know that look.

Rina Lopez is scared.