Riley’s pov
“We won!” My teammates cheered the moment the buzzer rang.
I grinned, I’m finally living my dream. “Nice shot, Riles.” Chris wrapped his arm around my shoulder, ruffling my hair with the other. “You really are a pro at this shit, didn’t think a scrawny kid could do this much.”
I couldn’t help but break a smile, clenching my fists with a shrug “I’m just too good at what I do.”
“Riles! That assist was insane! Where’d you learn to pass like that, little man?” Jordan patted my shoulders, giving me a thumbs-up.
Little man. I was okay with that.
“Probably from watching Zavi’s highlight reels.” Jake was already grinning before he finished the sentence.
The team burst out laughing as we approached the locker room, and my face went hot so fast I felt my ear tingle.
The locker room was filled with everyone celebrating that I didn’t know when someone had grabbed me onto their shoulders… Chris. I was laughing, hands up.
Then a hand grabbed my arm. Not a pat, a literal squeeze.
I jerked so hard I nearly fell. “What the…” I squealed.
“Damn Riles!” Marcus cackled, squeezing again. “You got a meaty ass for a little guy, what have you been eating?”
They cackled even harder, I shoved his hand away, my face burning,. “Fuck off dude, find a bitch to soothe your fetishness.”
“I swear you’re as soft as a girl.” He squeezed again. “Feel that?”
I twisted off his shoulder and landed hard on my feet, my heart pounding. “Hands off, Marcus,” I growled as deep as I could. “I don’t swing that way.” My face scrunched in disgust.
“Could have fooled me with that ass.”
Before I could respond, something slammed me into the lockers.
My back hit the metal, hard, and my lungs felt pressured.
I winced from the pain. Shit, I stared up at the culprit… Zavi, the team's captain. “What the f-“
He was in my face, his grey vicious eyes stared down at me coldly, his hand yanked my shoulder. “What the hell did you pull on the rink?”
“What are you-“
“You had the pass, you knew where the hell I was and you decided not to pass? Because you want to prove what on my goddamn rink?” He growled.
I stared at him, my heart racing. “Zavi…” I hated him, I hated how close he was to me, how his grip hurt, how I couldn’t take my eyes off him and yet I wanted to… kiss him?
“Your pass could have fucking failed,” he continued. “We could have lost, all because you decided to be greedy.”
Wrong.
His jaw clenched. “Well that didn’t happen, I knew just what I was doing,” I argued.
Huge mistake talking right back.
“What the fuck did you say?” He shoved me on my chest, and I winced from the ache. “As long as I’m captain you take my orders, okay? We lost three openings thanks to your carelessness.” He shoved me against the locker again, this time he was closer.
I bit my lip, his gaze leaving my legs feeling like jelly. I tried to look at anything but him. His frown twisted into disgust. “The fuck are you blushing for?”
I quickly turned away from him. “I’m not-“
“The fuck is wrong with you, don’t tell me you swing that way little man.” Jordan, one of my teammates scorned. “So me touching your ass and you reacting that way was all an act?”
The others burst out laughing. “Interesting.”
He shoved me so hard that I hit the floor, palms scraping against the tiles, then he walked off.
Fuck you Zavi, I swear I’ll make you lick the floor.
I stayed on the floor, breathing while trying to compose myself..
My heart was still racing and I hated it, I hated the way my body acted around him.
I pulled myself up.
I grab my duffel and head straight for the corner stall, the one with the broken lock that hasn’t been in use for quite some time, obviously.
“Still using the old locker? Chill with the guys man or are you hiding something?” Jordan snickered, hovering over me with his height. “You get turned on when looked at or what?”
“Privacy, there’s no way I want to see all your old junkies.” I scrunched my face in disgust. “I’m far too traumatized just thinking about it.”
“I guess puberty hasn’t hit yet.” Chris cackled and the others followed suit, I too joined in the laughter.
“Well, I can hit your girl deeper than yours could.” I stared at him with a smirk across the room, seeing him raise a bottled water I quickly ducked before it could hit me.
“Fuck you, Riles!” I heard him as the others burst into laughter again. “At least I don’t have a crush on the captain.”
I got in and closed the door behind me, leaning on the door I sighed, dropping my bag on a bench and taking off my jersey, then the compression shirt, then the binder.
My chest dropped free, air rushed into my lungs, my ribs ached… they always did.
My phone buzzed, and staring down at the screen I saw my mom's image pop up. “Hey, honey! Oh thank God, I have been trying to reach you.” She cheered the moment I answered
“I was in practice…”
“How’s college going? Made new friends?”
I sucked at that. “Heard from Rilen?”
“Your brother isn’t answering my calls, you’ll have to be in there for a few more weeks till we find him.”
My stomach dropped. “I’ve been busy… with exams.”
She sighed on the other end of the line. “Riley, I understand that you’re standing in for your brother but you can’t also slack off on your part.”
“Mom I-“
“Listen, I need you both home, your stepfather is visiting, I’m coming to pick you up.”
Yeah right, she has to rub it in my face that she’s divorced and moving on.
“What?” Sweat trickled down my forehead. “Isn’t that-“
“I’ll come pick you up in four days, that should be more than enough time for you.”
“Mom-“
The line went dead.
I can’t let her see me like this… my brother… I needed to call the hospital and make sure no one answered his phone…
I quickly ripped off my jersey, the compression shirt, and then the binder.
My breasts fell free, air brushed into my lungs finally, my phone fumbled in my trembling hands as I tried to pack my things up.
The door swung open. “Yo! Riley, coach needs-“
I looked up
Zavi was at the doorway, jaw gaped in horror with his gaze on my chest. “What the fuck?”