Power Play - Brittney Mulliner Page 0,4

table, and for the past two years, I’d been able to fly under the radar.

“Well?” Hartman’s stern look made me cringe. He wasn’t asking for a laugh. He was using his captain’s voice.

“She’s an ex.” That was too casual of a label, but I didn’t want the third degree from any of them.

Colin’s eyebrows shot up. “And I thought I messed up.”

Grant chuckled. “Lucy pretended you didn’t exist, but at least she never threw a drink on you.”

A few of the guys joined in the laughter while I pretended like I wasn’t completely out of the loop. Their inside jokes and shared memories were intimidating enough in the locker room, out in the real world it was just further proof that I was an outsider.

“I take it things didn’t end well?” Noah prodded.

“Not exactly,” I mumbled. I hadn’t allowed myself to think about her or what happened for so long. I didn’t want to uncover the locked box I’d pushed all those memories into. It was the only way I could function, especially at the beginning. I had to block it out in order to focus on playing hockey and furthering my career. If I’d let myself hold onto her and what we had I would have withered away in the darkness.

She hated me and she had every reason to. I didn’t just break up with her. I disappeared.

That captured the attention of the table and they quieted.

“Sounds like a story.” Erik wagged his brows.

I’d heard Dad and a few of the other guys complain about how much this group loved drama and gossip, even referring to them as school girls. This was my first experience being at the center of it. I was not a fan.

“We dated in high school,” I offered, hoping that would be enough.

“So what? Last year?” Reese asked, earning a few laughs.

“Four years ago, actually,” I replied lamely.

“I thought you were in the Major Juniors?” Noah added.

“I was.”

Erik leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “You naughty boy.”

“Isn’t dating against the rules on most teams?” Derrek asked.

I shrugged. “Depends on the coach. It’s not an official rule.”

“But it was for you.” Erik’s grin widened. “Wasn’t it.”

Running away to the restroom was a tempting option at this point. Unfortunately, that would make everything worse. I had to face them now and minimize this before it became a whole thing.

“I kept my personal life off the ice. It didn’t affect my training or how well I played, so it never came up.”

“How long were you two together?” Reese asked from the other end of the table.

“Two years.”

“Oh, man.” Noah sucked in a breath through his teeth. “This doesn’t end well, does it?”

“Obviously not.” Hartman nodded in the direction of the restrooms.

I tapped my fingers on my thighs. I needed to get out of here before Taylor came back. “I went back home to Canada to graduate from high school there, and the next month I was drafted and flew out to Florida to start training with the farm team.”

“So, you didn’t break up with her?” Noah asked to clarify.

“You didn’t speak to her at all, did you?” Erik accused and leaned even closer.

I ignored his prying gaze. “I didn’t get a chance. By the time life settled enough for me to call or email, months had passed. She was off at college, and I figured she’d moved on.”

“Well, that didn’t happen.” Grant raised his brows.

“We should teach the kids to just say no to dating before the draft. It never ends well,” Colin said with a pained expression.

“We already tell them that,” Hartman pointed out. “It’s on you guys for not listening.”

“Says the guy that didn’t even realize females existed until last year,” Erik grumbled.

“And look how that worked out for me, Schultz. Captain of the championship team,” Hartman countered.

“And oh, so many missed opportunities,” Erik quipped back.

“I’m with the love of my life now and have no regrets.” Hartman then turned his attention back to me. “And no public displays of humiliation. No ghosts waiting to pop out and destroy everything I worked for.”

“Aye, aye, cap’n,” Reese said with a mock salute. “For those of us that didn’t live like robots, a little embarrassment is nothing to lose your mind over. You’re still playing in the finals of the Stanley Cup tomorrow. Focus on what matters.” He sent me a meaningful look and I nodded.

“I think it’s best you head back to the hotel. We’ll get your meal packed up and bring it back for