Sparkling Hope (The Eastburgh Devils Series Book 1)

‘I think Coach gave me an orgasm. That’s how much my legs are shaking after that workout,’ complained Charles, who booted on his skates across the rubberized floor of the locker room to his seat.

‘Take a cue from him. At least he can give orgasms, you rag,’ I said, making my teammates laugh.

I threw Charles off with his rumpled and sweaty jersey.

It was his first time for Charles, having not been to Eastburgh for six weeks. First, we had practice on the ice, then lunch break throughout the afternoon because some still had classes in between, and then practice in the pool.

‘I don’t think it’s just you,’ Carter countered, rubbing his thighs as he settled on the bench beside me.

‘You guys are such pussies,’ I replied as I covered the blades of my skates with a sleeve for protection.

The workout was exhausting, but I loved it when I realized that the upcoming muscle soreness was already making itself known after the training, and everything felt like jello.

‘After this training, I definitely need a girl’s attention,’ said my best friend next to me because all this guy needed to do was snap his fingers, and he’s got girls hopping after him.

This guy knew how to flirt.

Luckily I didn’t live with Carter because I would see more girls walk through his door than he would.

‘You can go fish for Charles’ younger sister as you have done before,’ the redhead and second goalie next to Henry butted into our conversation, pretending to have a fishing rod in his hand.

Where did this unnecessary and, at the same time, shitty statement come from?

‘Bullshit,’ hissed Carter.

‘Shut the fuck up, you piece of shit,’ grumbled Charles, who took his sports bag, skates, and jacket and was about to leave the locker room.

‘What? Paisley’s a sweet and hot chick, and I’m sure she’s a real good slut. Isn’t that the case with every rich bitch?’ he continued to laugh, and his buddies laughed while everyone else was quiet.

We were a team on the ice and worked perfectly, but as soon as we were off the ice, two groups formed that absolutely didn’t get along.

Suddenly Charles booted back, dropped his stuff in the middle of the rubberized floor, and walked up to Luc. Charles grabbed him by the collar of his jersey. ‘Put my sister’s name in your mouth again, and I promise you I will cut your little fucking dick with my skate.’

‘Get down here, man,’ Henry intervened.

‘P-A-I-S-L-E-Y,’ Luc provoked, saying Charles’ twin sister’s name very slowly and with the ugliest and dirtiest grin.

In the next moment, Luc had Charles’ fist in his face and a nose dripping blood.

I just started praying that the Coach had already left the ice arena and didn’t notice all this.

Luc held his hand to his nose, where the blood was dripping up.

‘Fuck you, you rich asshole.’

Again they started trying to punch each other’s fists in the face or the pit of their stomachs, which didn’t quite work because Carter and I got in between them and held Charles by the arms while Luc was held down by his buddies Grayson and Spencer.

Luc was a filthy and bitter asshole who pulled a big face to everything.

Charles had also taken a punch or two, which will probably still appear as a green mark on his skin.

‘I’m going to fuck you up, you disgusting piece of shit,’ Charles growled from between his teeth while his lip was bleeding profusely from Luc punching him after he broke free from Grayson and Spencer’s grip.

However, before I could react again, Charles took a big step toward Luc, pressing him against the wall and hitting his cheek with full force.

How are you supposed to get angry, muscle-massed hockey players away from each other who were sticking to each other like burrs and beating each other bloody.

‘That’s enough. Don’t make that sucker feel like you care,’ I tried to convince him to let it go.

‘That’s right, Charles. Let me fuck your sister and be done with it.’

I would love to punch Luc in the face in front of everyone in the next game. I never really liked him before, but that was the moment I hoped that someone up there was saving Luc a place in hell.

This guy needed to have his mouth taped shut and his jaw broken at the same time as deprecating as he was talking about Paisley. Before Luc could hit Charles with his fist, who dodged a step, and I tried to hold him back, I felt the cool fist crash against my jaw.

‘I guess I hit the right one anyway,’ Luc taunted.

‘You son of a bitch.’ My cheek throbbed, and I felt a liquid run down as I brushed my fingers across it. As I looked at my fingers and felt the pulling pain on my cheek, Carter lashed out and punched Luc in the face.

This was definitely all escalating now.

One look at my hand told me that blood was running down my cheek.

I was already boiling with rage since Luc started mocking Paisley, but now he gave me a reason to smash his face too. I know it was wrong to interfere now, but I had a strong urge to punch him too.

But before I could punch him, the locker room door slammed against the wall, and Coach Henderson stood in the doorway.

‘God damn it, what’s wrong with you guys’ brains. You’re all proof that you can live without brains,’ roared the voice.

Henry once told me that Coach Henderson should have been in the military, which would not surprise me with that loud voice color.

‘Luc, Charles, you are suspended for the rest of the practice day. Pack your bags before I suspend you from the Halloween game in two days.’

Charles grabbed his things and was out of the booth in seconds.

‘Weston, come with me and get your cheek looked at,’ he commanded.

‘Yes, sir,’ I packed my things while Coach looked at Luc’s nose before sending him out of the locker room.

‘You guys are such spoiled idiots,’ Coach said as we walked across campus toward the building with a medical area.

The spot where I pressed the cloth throbbed and burned like hell.

‘You tell me right now what your fucking problem was for that stupid fight in the locker room,’ grumbled the daintily built Coach.

I couldn’t get an answer out of myself, partly because my cheek hurt every time I moved and only made the throbbing worse, and partly because I didn’t want to get Charles in deep shit.

Plus, I was scared for the team that he would suspend them for the game on Halloween.

This game always happens once a year on Halloween. Afterward, the traditional Halloween party is held at Sigma Devils. Either with a win or a loss, but it is always special every year.

I was looking forward to Friday and couldn’t wait to play ice hockey again and finally celebrate.

Now more than ever, I needed a pussy. A game won on Friday, no suspensions from them, and a not-so-swollen cheek.

‘You guys need to be a team on the ice and in the locker room. That’s where a brawl is absolutely the wrong way to go.’

I won’t tell Coach that Charles was so sensitive about Paisley because I didn’t want to get him in trouble.

Charles has never been that sensitive about it, but I’d be sure I’d react the same way when people would talk about my sister if I had one.

‘You know, I don’t even want to know why you had a fight.’

‘We were trying to separate Luc and Charles so it wouldn’t escalate.’

The Coach crossed his arms.

‘That’s just not enough sometimes. Weston, you’re the assistant captain. If Charles can’t get you guys under control or even himself, you have to,’ he pointed his finger at me with the last words.

I sat on a recliner while the nurse looked at my cheek and the Coach paced back and forth.

‘You have such damn good potential, kid. Use it. Make something out of it and use your energy on the ice and not in some brawl,’ he urged.

‘I’ll do my best,’ I shrugged as the nurse went over my cheek with a cotton swab soaked in disinfectant and cleaned the wound.

‘I want to see that on Friday. Give everything. You know this home game is important.’

‘I promise,’ I confirmed his demand.

Besides Rudy, who I helped out at the diner when I was thirteen so I could pay for my hockey equipment, Coach Henderson was the second person who believed in my sport and me.

I never got that from my Dad.

‘I’ll see you at practice later.’

I felt the nurse put Band-Aids on my cheek with her cold fingers, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Coach leaving the room.

‘Coach,’ I called after him without turning my head.

‘Please don’t suspend them for Friday.’

‘I know, I know.’

Nobody announced it because it was not announced officially at all, but sponsors and essential National Hockey League people are sitting in the audience at the home game next Friday.

This game was more than important.