Taming the Obnoxious Hockey Captain

Chapter 6: Ezra

Hurricane Hailey is in love with an artistic jerk. No matter how much I think about it, I just can't wrap my head around that piece of information.

She just gave off the vibe of someone who'd probably be attracted to some hot nerd like in those cheesy soap dramas.

The girls she had sent my way had been somewhat of a distraction but I had to fake an early leave and get my meal to go because they smelt like cheap bathroom hand sanitizer.

I lean my head back into the headrest of one of the bleacher seats, drifting off in thoughts. Making my way as a Division 1 hockey captain with no help from my father whatsoever had been grinding as hell.

Yet, that's what I love the most about my journey: the fact that it wasn't handed to me on a platter of gold. I had worked my butt off to get to where I am today.

And just when I'm finally about to reach that long awaiting dream, life just had to do me one. Asking my dad to revoke the summon sent by the NCAA would drive this matter far into the past. I didn't want that.

Because then, my teammates, though they'd understand, they still won't see me the same way again. Another reason is that everyone expects me to carry on my father's legacy but I want to make my own way.

On. My. Own.

And the blunt truth is I hate my father. I absolutely abhor the man The ironical part is the fool thinks everything I’ve ever accomplished is because of him.

Because of his influence

Because of the intense training

The full-body bruises

Ruining myself twenty four hours every damned day in order to look the part.

Yeah.

He’s proud enough to believe that I put myself through all that for him from childhood up to the end of highschool.

I run a hand through my hair. This Hailey girl has gotten enough 'jerk' from me today so I have to tread carefully if I ever want her to hear me out. The hearing date for the summon is next week and I have to come up with a reasonable defense to scale through.

Her relationship troubles isn't the only thing I found out about her anyway. There's another trump card I have up my sleeve since the first didn't work out.

The ice rink is empty. I look at my watch. Ten minutes past our agreed time. I had to skip a lecture for this meeting and she just bailed on me.

I must have spoken too soon because a minute later, as I get up to leave, Hailey struts in from the back exit, clutching the long straps of her bag like there's a human head hidden inside. I gesture to the space beside me but she just ignores me then plops down three seats beside me.

Jesus Harold Christ she's unbelievable.

"I'm not gonna bite you, Hailey. I have self-control even though you obviously doubt that."

“So, how long have you wanted to ban—I mean been attracted to Elias Denver ?”

She doesn't say anything but still has that deep seethed scowl plastered on her face but even with that hateful expression, she still looks unfairly hot.

Hailey has a very peculiar level of beauty too rare to acknowledge: her cheeks are a little round yet sharp, full plush lips combined with her smooth oily skin, unmistakable brown eyes and a long lashes.

She’s gorgeous in her shirt, vest, and pants that accentuates her curves in all the right places. With that body, now that I’ve noticed it, it's hard to wipe the image away.

Argh. Focus on the mission you dummy.

Hailey is too important in all this for me to mess it all up by sleeping with her or having anything intimate to do with her.

I turn fully to my side this time to have a better view of Hailey, wondering what it’ll take to persuade this stuck-up granny with the permanent scowl on her face.

I’ve been thinking about this whole thing the wrong way. She’s definitely not his type but if she knew what sort of jerk he was, he won't be hers either.

Elias Denver makes it seem like he’s the, silent type with that philosophical b*llsh*t going on around him but I’ve hung out with the guy enough times to see through the vague act.

He uses that man of b*llsh*t to draw girls in, and once they bite, he turns into the real Elias and lures them right into his pants.

Pretty smart I must admit.

She turns sharply at my direction and I swear it almost made my heart skip. Geez can't this girl even be a bit romantic?

"Aren't you gonna tell me why I'm here or do I have to regret giving you the benefit of doubt?"

"Calm down you scowling granny. You probably came here because you want something out of this meeting too. So we're both in it together."

She opens those luscious lips to say something but shuts them down immediately.

Hehe. I'm right.

For a split second, I almost tell her to just forget it. It seems wrong that this girl who's obviously never given her heart out likes a player like Elias. Though she looks tough, she's still a girl.

With actual feelings.

But then I think of my team. I can't afford to be benched for a whole season. That'll ruin our team and months of formation arrangements. So I bury the good guy in me and let the black angel take over.

“Think about it granny,” I begin, grabbing her shoulders and making her face me. She pinches my hands away but I don't say anything.

“The hearing is next Friday which means we have a full week to set things right. I’ll go to the hearing with your article since you're so legit and all that and talk to the Dean to extend your scholarship expenses to my account. I'll also ask Killian for the dude's number and set up situations where you two can meet up. He won’t be able to resist, trust me."

Hailey hasn't said anything yet since I started talking. She has this look on her face like someone who'd been shot dead looking super surprised.

"How—you know about my scholarship?"

Okay. Guess that was the only thing she was able to pull out of it.

"I have my ways, granny. You're not as mysterious as you think. Most people just don't want to get on your bad side."

She stares at me a second longer then stands up abruptly. "Sh*t, hold on. Did I say something offensive?"

Hailey spins around so hard her hair flys out.

"You think you can just threaten people with their weaknesses just so you can't what you want? That's so f*ck*ng low even for a douchebag like you."

"Well I wouldn't have to go that far if you had just heard me out. I really need your help and I'm offering everything that can solve your problems. Why...why won't you just accept it?"

"Because you're no different from the others!" She screams at me. It's the first time since our two days encounter that I've ever heard her scream.

"You're just like the others, Ezra. Using people to get what you want before dumping them like trash. So yeah. Rejecting your offer shouldn't be a surprise."

I stand there speechless, unable to think of a comeback. This girl...

Just what would have happened to her to make her judge everyone through the same lens. It left me curious as I watch her storm away, swinging her arms beside her.

For heaven's sake.

I rush to meet up with her and plant myself in front of the doors. "Look. I'm not asking you to like me neither am I asking you to change your perception about me. All I want to say is...don't let one awful event from your past make you see everyone as the same. I have every opportunity to let my dad handle this sh*t but I'm choosing to take care of it on my own."

I step closer to her. "I promise to keep my end of the bargain by making that shithead fall for you and extending your scholarship. No one has to know about it. I'll carry it with me to my grave, I swear. All I need is one article, Hailey. Just one. And for what it's worth, I really didn't do it. It's all a ruse. A setup. So please...say yes."

Her eyes continue glaring at me unrelenting but eases up the next second. She looks like she's thinking about it deeply.

I press my lips together in expectation. Somehow, it feels like if she rejects me now, I might never be able to win her over ever again.

"My scholarship's worth five thousand dollars per semester and this is just year one of my four-year course. Think you can handle that?"

I smirked in relief.

"Do you have any idea how much hockey players get paid for every game?"

"How much? Is it worth getting beat up on the rink?"

I chuckle a deep one."You'd be surprised."

I lean in closer to her ear and whisper the amount. Her eyes widen in shock. She stretches out her hand for a shake.

"Are you serious? Fine. Whatever."

She clasps my hand in a tight grip despite her smaller one, sealing our deal.

Finally. It's about d*mn time she did!