“The guy was high and probably needing money for his next fix.”
Kirby nods sagely, as if he understands more than I ever will. He probably does. I’m not one who dissects a person’s intentions to figure out why they do what they do.
“The worst part is that she hugged me, and I liked it.”
“That’s curious.” He’s intrigued, and I’m sorry I told him. He’s going to make something of it. I know he is.
“It’s not curious. It’s terrifying.”
“Why do you suppose she’s chosen to constantly criticize you?”
“Fuck if I know. Something about me sets her off.”
“There are plenty of others on the team equally deserving of her attention, but she’s chosen you. I mean, we’ve all been in her crosshairs for the past two seasons, but she’s moved on from each of us except you. Have you considered asking her what her beef is?”
“No. I rarely speak to her. She’s into creating drama, and I’m her target.”
“But why you? There has to be an underlying reason or inciting incident.”
I shrug because I have no answer. Kirby’s right. Aria has attacked every one of my teammates. I’m the only one she has a personal vendetta against. “Maybe she and I hooked up while I was in a drunken stupor, and she hates me because I don’t remember her?”
Kirby studies me so intently I start to fidget. “Do you believe that’s possible?”
“I guess anything is possible. I’ve done some pretty wild things in my life that I’m not proud of. Maybe she was part of one of those nights.”
My new roommate regards me with an unreadable expression. Kirby doesn’t party. Not like I do. In fact, I don’t recall ever seeing him drink. I’ve never asked him why he doesn’t drink. It’s none of my business.
“Let’s talk about something more pleasant than her. Like a visit to the dentist or a broken leg.”
Kirby laughs. He’s amused. I’m not. “It’s a good thing I’m here because you need me.”
I blink several times, not knowing how to respond to his claim. He often says weird stuff like that, and I never know how to take it.
Kirby gets up and starts moving around in the kitchen. “If you’re looking for something to eat, good luck. I don’t cook.”
“I can tell. What do you eat?”
“Takeout or at the facility.”
Kirby’s a master at hiding his true feelings when he wants to, but the intensity of his gaze unnerves me.
“Is there a problem with that?”
“Only if you have one.” His dark eyes are unreadable, but I sense disapproval.
“Do you cook?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll clean up if you cook.” I hold out my fist, and he bumps it. He’s going to make an interesting roommate. He doesn’t miss a thing, and I won’t be able to hide my frustration with my game and with Aria.
Chapter 6
Rocky Ride
The Icehawks’ season comes down to one game—tonight. It’s simple. Beat Vancouver, and they’re in the playoffs. Lose, and they can start making summer vacation plans. The team has had a rocky week since their win against Colorado several days ago. They’ve lost two in a row, thanks in part to Drakos Lenkov. Lucky for them, so has Vancouver. This is an all-or-nothing game. Hang on to your seats. It’s going to be a wild ride. —Aria at All Hockey News
~~Aria~~
