It’s where I thought she was taking me. But then she took a right instead of a left, and I knew I was in for the ass whooping of my life when the arena appeared before us.
The place is deserted and makes it even more eerie.
Hailee could kill me and dispose of my body, and no one would ever know.
“Rett,” she sighs, dropping her face into her hands.
“Look, I know I fucked up. Trust me, I really do. But…fucking hell, Hailee. You just dropped a massive fucking bomb on me and expected me to go out there and win that thing.”
“No, I expected you to go out there with a fire in your belly to perform to the best of your ability. I don’t give a shit if we win or lose as long as you all do your jobs and work like a team.”
“This is professional sports, not the end of semester exams,” I spit back at her. “No one gives a shit if I try my best. They want results.”
“They don’t want you ejected from the game because you can’t rein in your temper.”
“Uh, hello,” I say, pushing forward and holding my arms out from my sides. “Have you met me?”
“Sadly, a number of times now,” Hailee mutters.
“In case you hadn’t noticed, the fans come to see me lose my shit. It’s what they live for.”
“Until it means their team loses.”
I grit my teeth, doing my best to pretend that this isn’t eating at me.
They lost because of me.
If I could have just kept my head. If I could have stayed on the ice …
“What do you want from me?” I finally ask, deflating back into the chair.
“I want you to sort your shit out. I’m good at my job, Rett, but there is only so much I can do.”
“Are they going to trade me?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. That’s not my department. Maybe. Would they be right to do so after last night’s performance? Also, maybe.”
It might not be her job, but still her words hit their intended target, and they hurt more than I’m willing to admit.
“You’ve got some serious work to do to prove to them that you deserve your spot here. You’re a great player, Rett. You don’t need me blowing smoke up your ass and telling you that you’re one of the best defensemen in the league. But when the press narrative is nothing but negative stories about your personal life and reckless behavior, it starts to overshadow that.
“The Vipers have a reputation to uphold. And if you’re not working with the brand then…well…” She gestures a shooing motion with her hand, and I groan.
I don’t want to be traded again. I don’t want to be anywhere but in LA with my little sister and my best friend.
With my…
I slam my eyes shut as more memories from last night hit me full force. I shove them back down. I’m far from ready to deal with them yet.
I take a moment before I quietly mutter, “What do you suggest I do?”
She sighs, steeples her fingers, and presses her lips against them as she studies me closely.
Unease washes through me. She has a plan, and if I know anything about Hailee, then I know I’m not going to like it.
“We need to switch up the narrative. The arrogant, hot-headed playboy image is no longer working for you. You’re getting older, Rett. You need to start acting like it.”
“Sounds incredibly boring.”
