“We,” he whirls a pointed finger around the room, “need to step it the fuck up.” His head swivels around the space before adding, “Seychas!”
Grunts are given in agreement and comprehension alike.
“You already did that, Cap,” I mirthfully remind in between removing my upper padding to give my frame more air. “Pretty sure you broke his nose.”
The grumpy, half Russian smugly shrugs. “On vso yeshcho dyshit.”
“Yeah, he can still breathe,” Snowman loudly laughs, “through his mouth.”
“I think I saw him choking on his own tooth,” Peck cringes prior to popping an orange slice down the hatch.
“Eh,” Cap dries his face, “he’ll be fine.”
“Will you?” Snowman unexpectedly questions in my direction, pulling my attention away from what I’m pretty sure is my phone vibrating behind me. “You have been looking very ill-kilter since warmies.”
When I saw my girlfriend for the first time and couldn’t even acknowledge it?
Go fuckin’ figure.
“Off-kilter,” Wahl tries to correct.
“Doctenns sayill-kilter,” Cap casually informs.
“Why?” ponders Potato.
“Because we bloody love to complicate things,” chuckles Frosky before redirecting his stare to me. “Andyouneed touncomplicatethings, aye?” His eyebrow waggle has me giving the back of my neck a guilty scratch. “Find your Slayer. Take a beat.”
My mouth twitches to reject the idea, to remind them that her brother – our head coach –stilldoesn’t know.
That he won’t know until Sunday dinner, which we need to bring dessert to.
I’m honestly thinking of calling up Grams to get the recipe for her super-secret triple berry cobbler.
I need to pull out all the stops for it.
We’re talkin’ tryin’ to win The Cup in game seven level of focus.
But for now?
For now, I need to get my head backhere.
Unfucking what they say isn’t my fault when we all know it is.
I’mthe one not keeping ginos off the board.
I’mthe one failing my job.
Them.
“Go,” grunts Cap, towel being draped over his shoulder. “We’ll cover.”
Knowing better than to look a gift horse in the mouth is what pushes me out of the locker room and over to the med area where I know the team dentist is stationed during the game just in case they’re needed.
Ya know I don’t think me needing a moment to have my Slayer in my arms is quite what they meant by needed but that doesn’t mean I can’t take full advantage of the open opportunity.
Lord knows I’ve missed her.
While keeping a bit of distance on the road wasn’t easy for me, it was necessary.
