So worth it.This time, I dropped off with my boyfriend safe in my arms.
Chapter 11
Logan
Sweat trickled down the back of my neck after practice as I trudged from the ice to the locker room.Coach usually kept game-day practices light, but we’d pissed him off somehow, and he’d pushed us harder than usual.He’d also pulled out the insults, calling us slow and lazy and pussies.The second time he said that word, Bubs tapped my shin with his stick as he skated past.I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or annoyed.
Petrov hadn’t looked me in the eyes all morning, but he also hadn’t said a wrong word.Morty was on a tear because Coach ripped him a new one about his coverage in front of the net.He’d already tripped up Rickie and elbowed Digger into his locker before I even had my skates off.
When Morty called Chiller “Fatty,” I gathered my nerve.
“Mort, shut the fuck up already,” I called, not looking up from removing my shin guards.“Chiller got past you twice in practice.Maybe you should fix your own self and leave the rookies the fuck alone.”
Morty stomped my way, his feet in sweaty socks appearing in my line of sight.“What did you say, fuck-face?You talking to me?”
I sighed theatrically and looked up.“Yeah, I am.I’m sick of you dragging down this locker room.If you can’t chirp your own teammates without making them feel like shit, you should shut your face.”
Morty bent over me to get in my space.“Gonna make me, shorty?”
Behind him, Nikki said, “He won’t, but I might.”
Morty turned, which gave me a chance to get to my feet.I didn’t trust him not to sucker-punch me while I was sitting down.
“You?”Morty sneered at Nikki.“You’ve fought what, twice all season?”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t know how.At least I’m your size.I’ve noticed you only pick on the smaller players.”
“The fuck?”Morty threw a glance around the room.The guys had quieted, watching us, and I couldn’t tell who was on which side.
Petrov heaved a sigh.“All of you should shut up and take showers.We have a game tonight, remember?Mortenson, quit picking fights.”
“Me?”Morty stared at him, no doubt shocked Pete bothered to say anything.“I’m just toughening the kids up.Fuck knows they need it.You want us to get creamed again tonight?Huh?”He turned back to me.“Like you, skating so slow a five-year-old could catch you.Did your boyfriend fuck you up the ass too hard?Is that why you can’t fucking skate?”
I counted to three, my choices racing around in my head.Yes?No?Is it time?Memories of how I sat back and let Miles take the heat a year ago egged me on.Yes.Now.I said easily, “No, he doesn’t fuck me the night before games.”
“Say what?”Yagger burst out, staring at me.
Morty laughed like I’d told a joke.“So what?Youarea fag?Yeah, right.”
“We say gay in this locker room,” I told him.“Yeah.I’m gay.My plus-minus is still better than yours.”
That silenced the room.The guys all stared at me.
Bubs cleared his throat and said to Yagger, “And he’s scored more goals than you have, so next time you want to run your mouth, remember that.”
Morty whirled to Bubs.“Youknew?”
Bubs shrugged.“Sure.”
Petrov said, “I also knew.It makes no difference to how Vally plays hockey.And it should make no difference in this room.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.”Morty glared at our captain.“Dolan was bad enough.At least we knew going in.But this fucker, looking at us in secret all these years?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”I pulled off my base layer shirt and shook sweat out of my hair.“My boyfriend makes you look like a tiny marshmallow.With a tiny dick.Nothing I want to look at.”
Morty grabbed my shoulders, shoving me back so my knees hit my bench.“No human would look twice at a disgusting freak like you.”
Bubs said, “Who’s your boyfriend, Vally?”
