The entire locker room breaks out in a chorus of “oooooo’s” and “yeah, he is.”
I know they will. I played differently today; my teammates noticed and so did the coaches. Throughout the game, I was asked questions and getting funny looks from them.
I can’t explain it; I felt wired, and I guess in a way…Iwashigh, not on drugs but on Josie. She just makes me feel alive and on top of the world. It’s like she injected herself in my veins and all I feel is euphoria rushing through my body.
“So you live with Josie now?” Bryson’s nonchalant question disrupts my thoughts.
The guilty expression on Gray’s face gives him away. “Sorry.”
I shrug, not bothered. He was going to find out and I genuinely don’t care that he knows.
“Good game, Bry,” I say instead.
I know behind his indifference, he’s mad. I can hear the indignation underneath his tone, feel the anger exude hot from his skin despite him being across the room.
He bitterly laughs, untucking his jersey from his pants. “If you want any tips, want to know what gets her off, what she likes, I’m more than happy to tell you. But she’s pretty easy so…”
I inhale a sharp breath, gliding my tongue across the top of my teeth. I fist my hands at my side and Angel notices because he puts his hand on my shoulder, shaking his head.
“It’s not worth it. Just let him be.”
I loosen my fist, exhaling.
He’s not worth it,I chant in my head as I grab my stuff to shower, but when I walk past him, he snickers.
“No hard feelings. I fucked your ex, you’re fucking mine. We’re even now.”
I keep walking but stop at his next words.
“Don’t be like that, Danny. Seriously, if you need pointers, I don’t mind sharing them with you.” He smiles at me, supercilious. “But like I said, Josie’s so fucking easy, she’ll like anything you?—”
My vision tunnels and I black out. I don’t remember dropping my stuff or pushing Bryson into the locker until two people are behind me, trying to pull me off him because somehow, we landed on the floor. I don’t know who it is and I don’t care. I’m on top of Bryson, ramming my fist into his face. I think he tries to hit me and if he does, I don’t feel it.
“You don’t talk about Josie!” I pummel his face and anywhere I can get my fists. “Run your fucking mouth again! I fucking dare you! Fucking do?—”
“Daniel, that’s enough!” Coach D shouts, hauling me back. There’s another hand on me, but I don’t turn around to see who it is. “Daniel, stop!”
I’m forcefully dragged back. Bryson stays on the ground, blood pouring from his face.
My vision only clears when I’m dragged out of the locker room. Coach D and Coach Lewis let go of me, both pinning me with disappointed and angered looks.
“I’m not going to apologize.” I clench my jaw, fisting and unfisting my bloody hands.
“What the hell is the matter with you!” Coach D barks, voice booming down the halls, and shoves my shoulder hard. Anyone who’s around quickly disperses. “He’s your teammate; you’re the captain! You should know better!”
“He started it.” I breathe out harshly, dragging my fingers through my hair.
“I don’t give a damn who started it. He’s your goddamn teammate! Is this still about the girl from last year? She’s not?—”
“No,” I clip. “It has nothing to do with her.”
“Then?” He crosses his arms against his chest, impatiently tapping his foot, eyes narrowed into murderous slits. “Then what the fuck is it about? What made you so mad, you’d be willing to get suspended, huh?”
I grind my teeth, my jaw aching from how heavy they scrape against each other. “Josefine. I don’t need to explain myself anymore. He was already warned not to run his mouth. He knew and still did it anyway. I won’t apologize when he already knew what would happen.”
Coach D runs his palm down his face, then pinches the bridge of his nose, grunting. “You better not have broken anything.” He points at me threateningly. “This is so unlike you.”
“Yeah, well, shit happens.” I shrug unremorsefully. “He shouldn’t have called her easy…called her anything. I wasn’t bluffing last time and I won’t now or ever.”
