Us At First (Carolina Rebels 2.50)

“Focus, Bruiser!” Bruce shouts when I miss a pass. It’s not like this is a serious game here. There isn’t but a handful of us playing.

“Ian!”

Everyone stops moving at the sound of Sydney’s voice. I skate over to her.

“What is it, gorgeous?”

“Take me to my dad’s.”

“What? Why?”

“He wants me home.” She shrugs.

“He said you had until eleven.”

“He changed his mind! Just take me home!” she yells.

What the fuck is happening here? I stare at her for a moment before facing the guys. “I gotta go.” To her, I add, “Let me change.”

The only thing obvious is that Sydney is upset about something. What has upset her, though? Or who? When I come out of the locker room, she has her arms wrapped around herself and she avoids looking at me. What the hell could I have done? I was on the ice. I place my hand on her back, but she steps away from me.

“What the fuck, Sydney?” I ask the moment we’re in my car.

“Why did you ask me here?”

Her question stuns me for a moment because I’m not expecting it. “What?”

“Why did you ask me to come, Ian?”

“So I could see you. Why?”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it! What’s your fucking point here, Sydney? Get to it already because I’m totally confused here. One minute, we’re fine and the next, you’re pulling me off the ice.”

She glances out the window and doesn’t say anything. I give her ten seconds before reaching over to squeeze her knee since she’s keeping her hands where I can’t easily get to them.

“Babe, spit it out.”

She closes her eyes briefly; the babe comment got to her. Good. “Do you tell Bruce about the things we say?”

My head is spinning from all the directions she’s coming from. “What?”

“Do you tell him about all the stuff we talk about?” she repeats.

“Will you tell me why you’re asking me all this shit?”

It pisses me off that she appears to debate telling me, but I stay quiet. Eventually, she says, “Bruce’s girlfriend said you told him that we would sext and that the only reason you invited me here was to see if I was any good in person, that you only invited me here to have sex with me. And I didn’t want to think about what she said, so I wanted to go home.”

I sigh. Do you see why girls suck? They talk too much and they like to stir shit up. Now, my girl is upset. “The first part is true, but that is not why I asked you to come. I only wanted to see you and hang out.”

“Good. Because I don’t know that I’m ready for that kind of thing and I’m...I’m...”

“You’re a virgin. I know. So am I.”

Her head turns so fast, I’m surprised she doesn’t give herself whiplash. “Really?”

“Yeah, I would’ve told you if I had sex with someone.”