Power Play - Brittney Mulliner Page 0,5

you.” Hartman made it sound like a kind offer, but it was an order.

“Thanks,” I meekly stood, and I glanced over at the restrooms. “Do you think I should try talking to her?”

“No,” they all said at the same time, and relief rolled through me.

“Let the girls calm her down. If she wants to talk to you, we can let her know where you are,” Noah offered.

“Yeah, thanks.” I nodded to the group and turned to leave. Even though I knew I wasn’t really in any formal kind of trouble, I still felt admonished. Kicked out for something not entirely in my control. My one chance at getting them to take me seriously, and even maybe become friends rather than just teammates, disappeared.

I wanted to blame everything on Taylor. If she hadn’t been there, hadn’t confronted me and made a scene, things would have been fine. We would have enjoyed a relaxing night out before one of the most important games of the season. I had to keep my head straight if I wanted to help the team, but now memories I’d locked up and ignored for the past four years were flooding back.

I couldn’t place all the blame on her. I was the one that left and never looked back. I was lying to the guys and to myself about not having time to reach out to her. How long did a call or text really take? Even though I was exhausted from training harder than I ever had in my life when I first got to Florida, that wasn’t a valid excuse. There was always time. I made time to call my family. To check in with the guys I played with in the Major Juniors. Just not Taylor.

I deserved a drink in my face. Probably a lot more than just that.

I’d left Taylor and moved on with my life, not because I didn’t love her. I really did back then. I loved her enough to let her go. At least that was the noble thought I’d repeated to myself until I believed it.

I knew I was going to be drafted. I knew what my life would be like for the next few years. The little control I had over my life in high school was a distant memory the moment I signed the contract. I was told where to go, when to go, what to do, what to say, when to breathe, eat, and sleep.

It was like drill camp. I thought I was a hotshot, getting drafted at eighteen, but I was a child. I learned that quickly. Everything was so much more intense once I was in the ECHL. The guys on the farm team respected one another as teammates, but there was no comradery. No friendships. We were competing against each other for a spot with the NHL team. We were fighting our way to the top.

My contract stated I would play at least one season with the farm to hone my skills and bulk up, so the cutthroat attitude didn’t sink in until my second year when I realized it was my time to outshine the others so I could move on.

How was I supposed to do all that and maintain a relationship with Taylor while she was still in Michigan, attending college? Especially after everything that had happened. That would have been a nightmare for both of us. That time in my life was dedicated to doing absolutely everything in my power to be the best player I could be. Spending time and energy on a relationship was inconceivable. Laughable even.

A few of the guys on the team tried, and I watched things blow up in their faces over and over.

Taylor didn’t deserve to be dragged through that. She was free to meet new guys and date and not worry about when she would hear from me. Free to be happy.

I put space between us for both our benefits. Doing what needed to happen. What was best for her and me.

Judging by her reaction to seeing me, I was guessing she didn’t agree with my thought process.

The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt her, but I failed.

By the time I got back to my room and dropped on my bed, I was emotionally and mentally drained. And hungry.

Hopefully, the guys would get back soon with my food and more information on what happened with Lucy and Colby.

I wasn’t sure what made them run after her, but I was grateful she hadn’t