1
OLLIE
Never thoughtI’d be doing the walk of shame, but here I am, making my way toward the Spokane Sasquatch locker room and dreading it.I’m team captain, living my dream of playing professional hockey, and I’m afraid to face my team.Taking a deep breath, I pull open the door and step in.No one says anything, which isn’t unusual.No one talks to me, so maybe everything’s okay.Then I see it—the inflatable sex doll at my stall in the locker room with signs saying “insert dick here” pointing to her mouth and pubic area.It’s vile.
Schooling my features, I move her to the empty stall at the end.I’ll deflate her and throw her away later, after practice.For now, we have drills to run to get ready for our next game.I’m scared to see what they did to my gear in my locker.I take my skates and cup home with me, but they could’ve cut the straps on my pads or messed with my helmet.I don’t trust these dickheads.They don’t respect me, and I can’t stand them.But they’re my teammates, and we must work together if we’re going to have a winning season.I don’t care if we don’t get along in the locker room, so long as we win on the ice.
I’m not here to make friends.
I’m here to win.
I’m about to start putting on my gear when Coach bellows, “King!”from his office.At least I’m not half-naked.My teammates snigger as I walk by—that’s nothing new.
I knock on the doorframe to Coach’s office, and my stomach sinks when I see our general manager in there with him.
“Come in, King.Close the door.”
I do as the coach directs and take the seat he points to in front of his desk.A knot forms in my stomach.
“King, you’re our captain,” Coach says.“Your job is to put the team first.All you had to do was date a pretty girl for a few weeks on a stupid TV show, and you fucked it up.”
The GM gives a derisive snort.“If he’dfuck, we wouldn’t be in this position.”
My face flushes with embarrassment.As part of a media campaign for the Paranormal Hockey League, a player from each team in the league is appearing on a reality television show.Trevor Carter from the Atlantic City Devil Birds is dancing onCelebrity Dance Dare, and other teams have players onSecret Singer,Betraying the Pack,Baking with the Bears, and other shows.I was told to go onBigfoot Finds a Bride, a dating show.Last night was the first episode, and I met the human bachelorette who’s hoping to find a husband among twenty-five Bigfoot bachelors.
As the only Bigfoot shifter on the Spokane Sasquatch, I’ve been the face of the franchise.I was named the first team captain for optics, not because of my skills as a leader or my comfort with the media.I’m probably the last person they should’ve named captain.I want to play hockey, not talk to the press.I don’t even want to talk to my teammates.Let me play and leave me be.But I’m a team player, so when I was told to go on the show and woo the bachelorette, I did.
It was going okay.She was pretty with shiny blond hair and blue eyes.She seemed nice.But when we were talking one-on-one and she leaned in for a kiss, I knew I couldn’t go through with it.I pulled back before her lips landed on mine, blushing and stammering.
“I…I’m sorry.I can’t do this.You’re really pretty, but I don’t want my first kiss to be with a stranger on TV.I wish you the best.”
Remembering the way her eyes widened and how she jumped up from the loveseat we were sharing causes me to burn with shame.When they held the pinecone ceremony, where the bachelorette offered the bachelors that were advancing to the next round a pinecone—so their relationship could grow—not a single person was shocked that I wasn’t offered one.
“King, you’re being traded to Atlantic City.You’re done here.You aren’t giving us what we need.”
Averaging two points a game and ranked third in the league for goals isn’t giving them what they need?I’m here to play, not be pimped out.
“Okay.When am I due in Atlantic City?”There’s nothing else to say.They don’t want me, and I don’t want to be here.
“Their GM will be in touch.This weekend.”
I rise from my chair.“I’ll clean out my stall.Is there paperwork I need to sign?”
I’m given the details on who I’m to meet with, and then I leave.No shaking hands.No “Thanks for what you’ve done for us.”No wishing me well in the future.
Fine.
They want an amoral sideshow to boost their ratings, but I’m not about to abandon everything important to me.Not even for hockey.
I’ll finish my year with the Devil Birds, and when they don’t renew my contract, I’ll start my career in computer engineering.A year is more than most people get to live their dream.And I’ve got more than one dream.I’ll be fine.
I land in Atlantic City three days later.At almost seven feet tall, I’m not built for flying coach, so when the Devil Birds sprung for first class, that was a relief, at least.Some players would be depressed about being traded mid-season, but I’m pumped.Not only will I be closer to my brother and his wife, but now I have a chance at winning the league championship.The Devil Birds are a talented team, and I’m going to do everything within my power to help them get there.My smile slowly spreads as I imagine hoisting the Dickinson Cup over my head and skating past my former teammates after they lose the biggest game of their lives.Then they’ll regret trading me away like I was nothing.
“Can I get you a refreshment, Mr.King?”
A flight attendant is standing next to my row.No one’s sitting next to me, and I appreciate having the row to myself.I hate making small talk in the best of times, and now is definitely not a good time.
“Orange juice and a bottled water, please?”
