Clipped by Love (Bellevue Bullies 2)

Now, it’s only Jayden, Jace, and me.

“Well, we have our two alternates and our captain, now who is who?”

I’m the fucking captain.

When I hear clapping, I look over to see that everyone is on the bench watching, cheering us on. Looking to my left, I see that Jace is almost done. He’s white in the face and sweating so bad, but Jayden… He doesn’t even look like this is bothering him.

Another fifteen minutes passes and Jace shakes his head. I’m behind them, trudging along and trying to breathe right, but damn it, it’s so hard.

“I’m done.”

“Sure?” Jayden asks.

“Yeah, my feet are dead.”

“Okay, good go, bro. Proud of you.”

Jace nods and then falls to his knees before promptly puking down his jersey. Closing my eyes so I don’t see it, I suck in a deep breath, swallowing down the puke that is trying to escape. But I can’t. Soon I am stopping and puking with him.

“Guys! Come on! I have to clean this,” my dad yells, and I skate toward the boards, puking my ever-loving heart out. Tears sting my eyes, puke is burning my nose, and I want to quit so damn bad. But I can still hear his skates on the ice.

I can’t let him win.

“You done, Bay?” Dad asks, and I shake my head.

“No.”

Annoyed, Dad says, “Baylor, you’re puking your brains out.”

“No,” I say with more force before pushing past him and skating away. Coughing, I lift my cage and wipe my face free of tears, puke, and sweat before settling in. I’m basically moving at the speed of a slug, but I am skating.

I’m not giving up.

Jayden passes me twice before he finally slows down beside me.

“I have at

least another hour in me.”

“Go away,” I grumble.

“Baylor, please, just stop. You’re gonna make yourself sick.”

“Go away,” I say again, and he shakes his head before skating off. As I watch him get farther away from me, the tears start to fall in rivers.

And then I fall to my knees.

“You’re done,” Dad says then, and it’s not a question. I nod my head and he says, “Get up and get off the ice with your head held high, Baylor Irene Moore. You lasted longer than most.”

When I look up at my dad, I can see the disappointment in his eyes. I failed him. As my lip wobbles, I slowly stand, ignoring the hand he has held out for me before I skate off the ice.

A loser.

I think I am supposed to be happier than I am.

I just got the position I wanted.

I got my team.