“You’re pathetic, Kovacic,” Michael sneers. “What would your father think about how disappointing you are? You’re supposed to be some kind of legacy.”
Cameron wavers. “He’s not involved in this.”
Michael calling Cam pathetic and disappointing is the final straw. He’s heard those words from his dad far too many times, and I know he’s in his head now, no matter the progress he’s made over the past month.
“The only one disappointing is you,” I scoff. “You’ve destroyed your career over your own inflated ego, and look where that got you. Cameron has always been one to stand up for his teammates, no matter their gender, and that’s far from pathetic.”
“Back in the locker rooms,” Nils shouts, trying to contain the crowd. “You have a game to prepare for, and now you’re down a player.”
Sean, Marissa, and Nils take Michael with them as the team starts dispersing, but I grab Cameron before he can get away.
“Are you okay?”
His eyes are glassy as he shakes his head. “No, but I’ll manage anyway.”
“He’s wrong, Cameron.” I place my palm on his cheek. “I know what kind of man you are, and Michael Perry could never hold a candle to you.”
He gives me a small, forced smile before pecking my palm. “Thanks, Z. Go get ready for the game. I’ll see you on the ice.”
“Okay,” I nod before softly kissing him. “I love you.”
His smile now seems more genuine. “I love you, too,ljepota.”
With that, Cameron heads back into the men’s locker room, and I slowly make my way back to mine.
The mood is somber as the girls all talk about what just happened.
None of us has our heads in the game, so tonight might be an actual bloodbath…
fifty-one
Cameron
“Fuck,”Igroan,floppingonto my bed as Zhuri comes to sit beside me.
My entire body is sore after the brutal beatdown we suffered at the hands of the Winnipeg Wyverns. After all the drama before the game, no one’s head was in it. The only reason we lost three-nothing is because even when he’s bad, Lev is still a goddamn beast in the net.
Zhuri rests her head on my chest and takes my hand in hers. “Are you okay, Cameron?”
I sigh and let it all out. “No. We were fucking betrayed, Z. I’ve played with Michael since I was traded to the Lizards years ago, and he still did that? I didn’t know how much that would fucking hurt.”
“It hurts a lot when someone you know stabs you in the back.”
“We barely got to talk to our teammates as well. I saw all the side-eyes we got tonight during the game. They don’t trust us.”
“Then we’ll make them trust us.” Zhuri looks at me with those big, brown eyes, and things feel a little more okay. “They only just found out about us. They’ll need time to absorb the news and see that it doesn’t change anything.”
“I don’t know if we can actually do that.”
“Let’s talk to them then,” she says, sitting up and grabbing her phone. “Our next game is in three days. We need to win them over before that.”
MOVES LIKE JAGR
*Zhuri removed Michael from the chat*
*Zhuri added Noah to the chat*
Zhuri
