Cheap Shot by Brittney Mulliner
Reid
Coach Hiller’seyes were on me during the last ten minutes of practice. I could feel a heavy stare, and it only took me a second to catch his disapproving gaze following me on the ice. What had I done this time?
I ran through the past few days but couldn’t think of anything that warranted his anger. My stomach knotted. When any of the coaches were mad, it was worse than when your parents gave you their ‘I’m disappointed in you’ look or called you by your full name. That instant punch of anxiety and nausea distracted me until Coach Weston called practice to a close.
As the others hurried to the locker room to shower or leave, I held back, knowing he wouldn’t let me by without saying something, and I wanted the least amount of witnesses possible.
When only Ben and our goalie, Andy, were left I approached the bench. Coach Hiller had his arms crossed over his broad chest, and he nodded once in the direction of the tunnel. I followed behind, pulling off my helmet and running a hand through my damp hair.
Maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. Maybe he needed a favor or had news for me. It wasn’t unusual for any of the coaches to call on me or one of the other seniors to discuss a new policy or change before telling the rest of the team. I wanted to believe that was it, but his stiff posture combined with the expression during practice made it seem unlikely whatever he had to say was anything short of a reprimand.
My mind raced through possibilities, but nothing stood out.
He stopped in front of his office and waved me in. As soon as I sat, the door closed behind me, and he walked around to face me, leaning against his desk.
“I’m not going to waste time, Bayman. You’re here because you’re incredibly lucky.”
I raised a brow. “Coach?”
“It seems someone either thought they were doing their due diligence, or they hoped to get you in trouble. No matter their reason, it doesn’t change the fact that there is evidence of you breaking the rules.”
What rule had I broken?
He pulled his phone out of his pocket, tapped the screen a few times, then held it out for me to see.
My heart seized. It was me at the football party, the same one that got Greco and Lee suspended. I stared at it, looking past me in the foreground talking to someone just out of the shot, to the figures in the slightly blurred background. I could tell they were the backs of Ben and Matt, but hopefully, that was only because I knew to look for them.
I sat back and squared my shoulders, readying myself for what was coming.
“We’re not completely ignorant. We know the parties held at the football team’s house are usually safe for athletes, but that wasn’t the case. You should have left immediately, before someone was able to photograph you.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I didn’t notice anything that violated the rules for the first hour or so that I was there, but I did leave as soon as I saw other attendees with alcohol.”
That was the truth. Those parties always started out fine, but eventually someone that wasn’t held to the same set of rules brought in their own drinks, and things would spread. That was the time we would head out.
“You’ve got too much potential and raw talent to let something like this mess things up for you.” He folded his hands in front of him. “That’s part of what makes you lucky. I know you are a rule follower as well as a leader. The other part is that I was the first and only person to see this picture.”
I lifted my head to meet his eyes. What was he saying?
“While this isn’t fair, you and the other seniors are held to a different standard. You’re to be the example, but not necessarily in punishment. If you give me your word that this”—he shook his phone—“doesn’t happen again, then I’m willing to look the other way, but if another picture comes up with you in the presence of alcohol or drugs, I might not be able to ignore it.”
I clenched my jaw to keep my mouth from falling open.
“We need you at your best, and that can’t happen if you miss two weeks sitting on the side.”
I nodded. His words were finally sinking in, and I understood his meaning.
“Our program has enough to worry about this year. I don’t think it would be constructive to bring negative attention to one of our stars.”
I sucked in a breath. “Thank you, Coach.”
He lowered his chin. “Keep in mind, you might not get so lucky again.”
“I understand.” This was my one get-out-of-jail-free card. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, cover for me again.
“Good.” He stepped around his desk and sat. “Have a nice evening.”
I stood and walked out without looking back. I wanted to put as much distance between me and him as possible so he couldn’t change his mind and call me back.
It took until I got to the locker room and removed my gear for my heart to return to a normal pace. That meeting could have been so much worse. How could I have been so stupid? After Haley disappeared, I should have left. She was the highlight of that night, and nothing else even remotely interesting happened. The second the alcohol started flowing, I should have been long gone. I knew better. Ben knew better. We all did.
This was the slap in the face I needed to remind myself what was important. I needed to pull myself together, and it seemed the rest of the team did too. No more distractions. The next time I had Ben alone, I’d ask him to tell the others.
“Hey, man.” Becker slapped me on the back and sat next to me. “You missed out on a great one last night.”
I glanced at him. “What are you talking about?”
Most of the guys had stayed late in our room, playing a game until Ethan kicked them out around one. Becker and Kevin had been missing though. Matt said they had other plans but didn’t expand. I assumed they had dates or something.
“Kapa Kapa Nu, or whatever it’s called, the sorority on the corner, had a rager.” He pulled out his phone and flipped through pictures of an above-ground pool filled with way too many people to be comfortable and others dancing in the yard.
He flipped to the next one, and I recognized the swing of long brown hair.
“Hold on.” I took the phone and zoomed in on the couple in the background. It was Haley with some guy holding her by the waist. They were both laughing, and she was looking up at him like he was the greatest thing she’d ever laid eyes on. I cringed and handed it back.
“You shouldn’t have been there.” I bit out the words.
He leaned back. “Whoa there. What’s your problem?”
I shot up and glared at him then the rest of the room. “Do none of you care anymore?”
My roar got everyone’s attention, and they fell silent, watching me. Getting called out by Coach was too much. I came too close to suspension. Adrenaline and fear were coursing through me, and they needed a reminder of what was at stake.
“We are a team. We win or lose together. We need each other to be at our best in order for West Penn to get the attention we all deserve, but we can’t do that if we’re losing sight of what’s important.”
Ethan stepped toward me, but Ben put a hand on his shoulder.
“Stop being stupid! Stop thinking that you’ll get away with it. That the rules don’t matter. Do any of you want to play professionally?” I paused, giving them time to reply, but no one uttered a word. “Because you’re not acting like it. We only have our time here to prove our abilities. If any of you want to make it to the NHL, this is your one chance. Start treating it like that. No party, no girl, is worth risking it all. You might not respect yourself enough but look around you. Look at who else your choices could affect.”
A few of them did while the rest ducked their heads.
“Do better!” I yelled, my chest heaving.
Did they get it? Did they finally understand? I wanted to wait until each of them swore, but everyone was silent.
“Come on, man.” Ethan tugged on my elbow. “Go shower and cool off.”
Ben stood next to him, giving me a look that said that wasn’t a suggestion. A small part of me wanted to resist being told what to do, but they were right. Yelling at the team wasn’t making me feel better, I was just bringing everyone down to my level.
But they needed a reminder. Obviously. Some of them were at the frat party last night. They knew better than that. We had rules for a reason. There were things we did and didn’t do. Specific houses we avoided, and we never took pictures.
“Fine,” I bit out and pushed past them to the connected shower room.
By the time I returned, almost everyone was gone. Ben and Ethan waited until I got dressed before standing and leading the way out to the parking lot.
“Let’s go off campus,” Ben suggested and pulled out his car keys.
I wanted to get as far away as possible, so I nodded and climbed into the backseat while Ethan claimed the front. The three of us were rarely able to step out of our dorms without gaining a crowd. Driving even a few blocks away gave us the anonymity we rarely got these days.
“Burgers?” Ben asked as he pulled onto the street.
“Sounds good,” Ethan agreed.
“Sure,” I added.
A few minutes passed in silence before Ethan spoke again. “Are you going to make us wait to tell us what’s going on?”
I rubbed my face. I wanted to forget about it, but they deserved answers. They would support me no matter what, but it helped if they at least understood why they were defending me.
“Coach Hiller called me in.”
“I noticed.” Ben caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “What happened?”
“He showed me a picture that was anonymously sent to the team’s general email. He happened to be the first to open it and deleted it before anyone else could see it.”
Ethan reached out and put his hand on Ben’s headrest so he could twist to face me. “A picture of what?”
“Me at a party a few weeks ago,” I admitted. “One at the football team’s house.”
Ben clutched the steering wheel. “Who else was in it?”
“Just me.” I didn’t tell him that I could make him and Matt out in the background, but Coach hadn’t noticed, so I didn’t point it out.
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “What did he say?”
I stared out the window, not wanting to meet either of their eyes. “That if I step out of line one more time I could get suspended from the team.”
“Really?” Ben’s eyes widened. “But the others were suspended immediately.”
“I know.” I dropped my shoulders. “I was lucky it was Hiller and not Weston that saw it.”
“We can make it a few games without them. You, we can’t afford to lose.” Ethan sighed. “We’ve got to be more careful.”
I’d never tell to anyone, even my closest friends, that Coach admitted that a few of us were given more leniency. Neither Benjamin nor Ethan could afford to get complacent. Coach Hiller understood there was more at risk for the seniors. If we got in trouble, it affected the entire team, not just with the outcome of games, but in the school’s reputation. No one wanted to draw negative attention to the program.
I was on thin ice, but so was the entire team. I had to be careful. I couldn’t take any chances for a while, if at all. There was too much on the line, and nothing was worth my career.