The Rulebreaker

“We’re up,” Colson says and we skate up and start doing the battle drill again; this time he has the puck and I’m the one trying to get it from him.

Brian skates past us, and I try not to think about his date with Rocky. It’s not fair for me to feel like I have any kind of ownership over her. This is the kind of shit I would normally talk to her about without giving it a second thought, but I can’t bring it up without sounding like a simp for her because that would send the wrong message. Yes, I think she’s beautiful and hot and the coolest girl in the world. That doesn’t mean I want to date her. She’s my best friend. I push Colson a little harder and take the puck from him, skating away while he chases closely behind me.

“You motherfucker.”

I chuckle. “You need to be quick on your feet, man.”

His stick hits mine as he gets next to me again, but it’s too late and he knows it. Once the puck is mine, no one can take it from me. Well, maybe Brian, and isn’t that the most ironic thing? I laugh at myself as we continue with practice. I need to be ready for Monday’s game and the last thing I need are distractions.

Chapter Ten

Rocky

I’m dribbling the ball down the pitch when I hear the whistle. I exhale as I come to a stop and look back at our coach, waving us over. Time out, I guess. I was completely in the zone and headed toward the goal. Dammit. I pick up the ball, toss it to the referee closest to me, and run back to my coach, joining on the huddle.

“This is a community college for Christ’s sake. What the hell are you doing out there?” she says sternly, not yelling, but not quite nice either.

Coach Yolanda always knows how to get us standing a little straighter without doing or saying much. She’s a strict mother goose and we all fall into place when she’s around.

“I told you to play down the field. The only one following directions is Barnes and she looks like she’s daydreaming out there,” she continues, shooting me a look. “Don’t worry, you’re daydreaming and playing with heart, so whatever you’re thinking about is working.”

I shut my eyes as some of my teammates start to snicker. Coach Yolanda silences them with a look.

“Play it down the field. Rocky, pass the fucking ball to Ashley.”

“Got it.” I nod and take a breath with my hands still on my hips.

“Go, go, go. We have twenty minutes left and nothing on the board. That’s embarrassing.”

All of us run back out. She’s not wrong. This game doesn’t count, but it has been embarrassing thus far. We should have at least two on the board, one from me and one from Leyla, but both were blocked by chance at the very tips of the goalie’s fingers. I look at the formation on the pitch and shake my head, pointing at Ashley and Megan so they switch places. They do and we continue on. This time, when Leyla throws the ball in from the sideline, I dribble it toward Ashley. Soon, there are two girls on me trying to take it, but I put on my invisible visor and continue on, running a little harder, until I can only see one of them beside me, her foot trying to intercept mine, and hear another breathing hard to my right. I glance over at Ashley, who’s already in position. The next time the defender sticks her foot between mine and then takes it away, I kick it to Ashley, who head butts it toward the goal. We wait, breathing hard, anticipation coursing through us, and watch as the ball goes over the goalie’s left shoulder. I throw my hands up and scream as I run over to Ashley, throwing my arms around her.

“That’s right, baby,” Leyla’s shouting. “That’s fucking right!”

We all laugh as we hug and get right back to playing until the game is over.

“At least we got one on the board,” Leyla says after Coach Yolanda finishes giving us our after-game speech and walks out of the room.

“Thanks to Ash.” I finish drinking my bottle of water with one last long chug and glance over at Ash, whose face is still redder than a tomato.

“I just wanted you to be in a good mood for your big date tonight,” Ash shoots back with a wink.

I laugh as the rest of my teammates start talking about that and even though no one will know because of my complexion, I feel my face heat up as much as Ashley. I used to leave as soon as I could, but after the school spent all this money on this state of the art facility, I figure I might as well use it. After a shower and soaking in an ice tub, I grab my things and head home. When I get there, Colson and Maverick are in the kitchen eating, as usual. They both stop talking and chewing when they see me.