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I straighten my shoulders and look him in the eye. “Good to see you, Travis.”
His eyes dip down my body, a body he once told me didn’t have enough curves. His lips spread into a wide smile. “You look amazing. Finally filled out nicely.”
Gram steps between us, glaring at him like she’s seven feet tall. “Watch what you say, young man. I know where you live.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about, but Travis looks worried and backs away a step. The locker room door opens, and our guys enter the large hallway along with Bruce and Remy. They’re smiling until they notice the tension between myself, Gram, and Travis.
Colby is by my side in two long strides. “What’s going on?” He asks Travis.
Travis snickers. “I didn’t realize you liked leftovers, Knight.”
Colby’s eyebrows scrunch together in confusion. “What?”
I clear my throat. “Colby, Travis is my ex from college.”
He studies Travis for a moment, and I can see in his eyes when he remembers my college ex cheated on me and broke my heart. His usual relaxed body language changes instantly… he straightens his spine, standing at his full height and looking down at Travis with his eyes narrowed into slits. Colby’s dimples are puckered on his face, but not from a smile. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone sneer until now, but he is definitely sneering. I brace myself for them to start punching each other, but Bruce and Mitch are beside Colby in a heartbeat.
“Let’s calm down, guys,” Bruce says.
Remy steps in, ever the team captain and voice of reason. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation?” he asks, glancing between Colby and Travis.
Colby’s face is red with anger and his fists are balled tight at his sides. He’s using every ounce of self-restraint not to ruin Travis’s face right now, so he’s not capable of answering Remy.
“Travis is my ex,” I offer quietly, trying not to draw any more attention than we already have.
Remy’s eyebrows raise slightly. “Okay. Well, everyone has exes, Colby. Even you.”
“He cheated on her,” Colby says through gritted teeth. “He’s an asshole. I knew it from the moment I met him. And he’s a dick to the staff.”
Travis scoffs. “They couldn’t even get me the right glove size. Not my problem.” He turns toward me. “And Noel, do you think this man-whore is going to treat you any different than I did? He probably already has half a dozen chicks on the side.”
Wow. He really hasn’t changed at all. I can’t believe I once thought myself in love with this tool.
Colby’s nostrils flare, and he snaps, his fist coming up and meeting Travis’s jaw with a loud, crunching sound. “I would never treat someone like that. You can keep her name out of your damn mouth.”
Travis yelps and brings his hands up to his face, his jaw and mouth bloody and red from the impact of Colby’s punch. “What the hell! You’re insane!”
Travis growls and lunges toward Colby, but Bruce and Remy catch him by the arms. “That’s enough!” Remy raises his voice.
Travis yells over him, “let me at him! I will ruin that stupid, pretty face of yours!”
Colby takes a step toward him, bringing his already-bloody fist up as if to punch Travis again. Mitch grabs his shoulders. “Okay, let’s cool it. You’re better than this, Colby.”
Colby takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He nods at Mitch and says, “You’re right.” Then turns to me, his eyes going soft at the sight of me. “Are you okay?”
Opening my mouth to answer, a booming voice rings through the large hallway, and all of our heads snap up to listen. “Colby and Travis. My office now!” The man who I recognize as their coach looks absolutely livid.
Colby reluctantly leaves me, following his coach. And I’m left by the locker room doors, trembling from the rush of the fight.
CHAPTER 34
COLBY
Coach Young slams the door behind us, entrapping myself, our general manager, Tom, and Travis Evander in here with him.
Tom and Coach Young stand behind the desk, and Travis and I stand in front of the desk. I’m too keyed up to sit down in the chair behind me, and I assume Travis feels the same way. Coach mutters an expletive to himself and slams his palms onto his desk. Leveling us with a glare, he says, “Tonight’s game went great, we won, everyone was fine. So, what the hell are you two fighting about?”
“Colby is dating my ex from college. My relationship with her,” Travis pauses, clearing his throat. “didn’t end amicably.”