“It went about as well as you’d think it would,” I say, tugging a hand through my hair. “I’m suspended for the next four games. And I might be kicked off the team for good.”
Blake’s brow hits his hairline. Same with Leo. Travis looks pissed.
“What the fuck, how could he do that?” Blake says. “Your girlfriend was being attacked.”
“Yeah, did he seriously think you were going to just stand there?” Leo says.
“This is fucking insane,” Travis mutters.
I sit on the bench in front of my stall. I rest my elbows on my knees and let out a heavy breath. I suddenly feel exhausted. I’mglad I showered before meeting Coach because I don’t have the energy to do anything right now.
For a long moment, my teammates stand around me in quiet support. It’s exactly what I need right now. They don’t bother with words of comfort or encouragement. They know I don’t want that. Just seeing them here with me is enough.
“I’m gonna go,” I say. “I need to clear my head.”
They all say they understand.
“Text us if you need anything,” Travis says. “We’ve got your back.”
“Thanks, guys.” I grab my gear bag and head out. I check my phone and see that my parents and Anna texted to check on me. I message them back and let them know that I’ve been suspended and that my status on the team is up in the air.
After I was kicked out of the game, they came to check on me. Because they were all gone when Brody attacked Poppy, they didn’t see me go into the stands, so they were confused about what happened. After I explained it to them, they told me they stood behind me one hundred percent, which means a lot.
I walk down the hall, turn the corner, and see Poppy standing there.My girl.
She walks up to me, her beautiful hazel eyes big with worry as she looks at me. She hugs me. I wrap my arms around her tight, burying my face in her hair. I breathe in her sweet scent and relax into her hold. The tension in my muscles starts to fade.
She’s all I need right now.
“Are you okay? How’s your arm?” I ask.
“It’s fine.”
I lean back and gently take her arm in my hand and push up the sleeve of the jersey she’s wearing. When I see the beginnings of a bruise, that rage from earlier starts to flare up inside of me.
I hate that motherfucker for putting his hands on her—for hurting her.
“Nick. I swear I’m good,” she says softly. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “I just finished up a meeting with Coach.”
She cups my face in her hands. “What did he say?”
I tell her everything that went down in our meeting.
Her eyebrow furrows in concern, her eyes teary. She shakes her head. “What? But…Nick, they can’t suspend you. That’s outrageous. You were doing the right thing. You were protecting me.”
I rest my hands on her waist, pulling her close. “They don’t care. All that matters is that I broke the rules.”
“That’s such bullshit.”
I let a small smile break free.
She stares up at me. “What?”
I swipe a chunk of her hair out of her face. “You’re cute when you swear.”
The corner of her mouth lifts like she’s trying not to smile. A second later, her expression sobers. “I’m just so angry for you. It’s not right that they’re trying to punish you for doing the right thing. It’s so unfair.”
