Page 103 of Slapshot Obsession
That’s understandable. “I guess there’s a silver lining if I get arrested. I’ll be safe from my stalker behind bars.” Ilaugh, playing with the ends of my hair to hide the shudder that causes goosebumps to rise all over my arms.
“Don’t think about it, baby. The guys and I know you couldn’t have killed that guy. The stalker might know. Or if it’s Gen, she’s just playing with you and she knows shit. Regardless, there would be no reason to mention anything about the murder to the cops. We can just say that you’re being stalked. I doubt the stalker will call the police.”
Tucker might be right, but there’s a niggling fear in the pit of my stomach. “I don’t think they need to. All they need to do is post it online or send an anonymous letter. They have all the power in this situation. Like they said last night when they were taunting me, I’m a sitting duck, just waiting for their next move.”
“I don’t know. I think all the stalker wants is to keep you under their thumb. If they went to the cops, they’d lose all the power they have over you. Their little twisted game would be over.”
That’s something I hadn’t thought about.
“But speaking about ducks…” he says. “I hope Baety was a good girl with Talia. I can’t wait to move back to the Gamma house. There she’s gonna have a pool and if I convince my frat brothers to adopt her as our mascot, we can build her a nice little enclosure so she can roam around in the backyard without danger of her flying away.”
“Has she tried to?”
Tucker puts his truck in park in the garage. “No,” he shakes his head. “But she’s growing and I don’t know if instinct will kick in. Obviously, it’s not like I can teach her like her mama duck could. Anyway, the Gamma house will be perfect. And it’ll be great not to have to hide her.”
He runs around the front of his truck to open the passenger door for me. “One thing Coach was adamantabout was to keep any PDA under control. Keeping you safe doesn’t mean making out in public; those were his exact words. So I’ll take advantage of any opportunity.” He leans in to brush his lips against mine. The contact is fleeting, and Tucker breaks the kiss, offering me his hand to help me out of the truck.
“Hey,” he tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “Make sure you keep the Find My Friends app always on. We can’t spend every night together without getting caught for now, but I’ll feel better knowing where you are at all times.”
I show him the app on my phone. “I know. See? It’s on.”
Just as I’m about to put my phone back in my purse, it buzzes with a text message. The familiar sense of dread I’ve been feeling in the past few weeks every time I get a text rears its ugly head.
But it isn’t an unknown number this time. I exhale, relieved when I see that the text is from Jodie.
Jo-Jo: Hey Babe, can you come to our locker room at the arena? I’m here with Carole and Lexi, and they want to speak to both of us. They look mad, but I don’t know what this is about. They said they’ll tell us what’s up when we’re both there. I’m on my way there now.
“God, I thought I missed having a phone since I destroyed mine last night, but I’m already regretting getting a new one.” I sigh.
“Is that another message from the stalker?” Tucker cranes his neck to look at my screen. “Fuck. I hope Coach didn’t make it worse with Carole and Lexi.”
I shoot a quick reply to Jodie. “There’s only one way to find out. I guess I’m heading to the ice rinkbefore I come home.”
“Do you want me to come with? Maybe I can explain in case Coach wasn’t clear about the reason why we’re asking for an exception.”
Tucker is sweet to offer, but I shake my head. “We don’t know what they want. It might have nothing to do with the no fraternization rule, or they wouldn’t have called Jodie too.”
The first guess that comes to mind is just as bad as them having an issue with Tucker taking me into town to get a new phone. “Maybe Jodie and I are getting cut.” It’s a horrible feeling, but why else would they want to speak to me and Jodie?
“Weren’t they going to announce the final thirty-two on Saturday after our last game?” Tucker asks.
“That was the original plan. They said the thirty-four currently on the roster would all get to perform, and then there’s going to be the announcement. Maybe they’re cutting us now instead. You know how it is with reality shows. They like to have these bombshells to keep the audience engaged.”
Tucker squeezes my hand. “Nah, it must be something else. If they cut you, they’re total idiots. You’re the best dancer they have. Maybe they want to name you team captain?”
“It’s another possibility.”
“Will you text me as soon as you know?” Tucker lets go of my hand and I nod.
My mind is reeling during the short walk to the arena. What I tell myself is that if we’re getting cut, I have my Plan B. I know I aced my nursing license exam. At the worst, if I don’t get to perform on Saturday, all I’ll really lose is the money from the last episode of the reality show. I would still have enough to get an apartment and floatme until I get my exam results and hopefully a job in town.
Being cut would be a shame, but I can still dance in my free time. One huge perk would be that I could date the guys in the open if I didn’t sign a contract with the Shooting Stars.
I’ve never seen the arena so quiet.
With the hockey team done for the night, there is no one in this part of the building. Some of the coaches might be upstairs in their offices, but there’s no one in sight as I walk through the main entrance and turn left to enter the staff area.
The sun has gone down, and with no one around, the bright lights that normally guide the spectators to their seats and to the concession stands have been dimmed to save power.
