I can’t imagine what my face looked like at that moment. My eyes trailed to the ground to make sure my jaw wasn’t resting on it. “U-uh…”
Words escaped me. Why was he even there? Did Cody invite him?
My heart raced in my chest, and I beamed with pride.
He wants me to try out? He’s literally asking me to try out?
This was the coach of my dream team! I wanted to do backflips all the way home.
Home.
That queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach came back. Why try out when I knew I couldn’t afford to join? Mom would never spend a dime on something like that. I got the essentials—food and clothing—and that was it.
I looked down, shook my head, and pushed my voice through the lump in my throat. “I can’tafford it.”
Even though it was the end of June and close to eighty degrees outside, a shiver ran down my back. I felt exposed.
I’m just trash, and they all know it.
I wanted to run away.
Did Cody ask him to come? Why? He had to know I was too broke to join the team. Was it some sort of cruel joke? A last-minute fuck you for never being his friend before he moved away and had the best fucking life ever with his mom, who wasn’t an awful bitch, and a new dad who had money? It was so fucking mean.
“I know that,” Coach replied. “I’ve been speaking with some of our sponsors about need-based scholarships. We all agree that the cost is a barrier, and we’d like to help alleviate that. I can’t guarantee you’ll get a spot, but Ireallywant you to try out next week. Will you do that?”
My eyes met his, and he gave me a knowing look. I turned to Cody, his smile was dazzling, and his excitement made him look like an anime character.
Stop being so cute!
Why was he doing this? I didn’t deserve this.
“Say you’ll be there,” Coach added.
I could feel the tears forming, and I started to panic.Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
I wasn’t supposed to cry in front of other men. I wasn’t supposed to cry,period.
My frantic nodding was enough to shake off the overwhelming emotions that threatened to pool at the base of my eyes and spill down my cheeks.
Coach Hughes smiled and gave me a little nod. “I look forward to seeing you there, and take care of that leg.”
“O-okay.”
The coach chuckled and got into his car, then drove off. I stood there watching him drive away.
Did that just happen? Am I dreaming?
Cody’s voice shook me out of my disbelief. “You’ll be a great center for the Vipers.”
Then, he wrapped an arm around me, and I tensed—my fight-or-flight responses firing.
It was a habit. Aside from hockey, guys put their hands on me for one reason…
My eyes met his warm gaze, and I calmed down. There was no threat in his stare. I wasn’t used to being touched like that. It made me feel all weird and gooey. I had to stop myself from melting into him and resting my head on his shoulder.
I didn’t know what to say. People weren’t nice to me.
Why is this happening?
