Page 17 of Penalty Shots
Her eyes flick back to me. And it feels like a Mexican standoff between Jenny, Rina, and me. I suddenly feel like I’m right back in college.
Coach steps up after a few awkward seconds. “It’s good to have you here, Ms. Cobbs. And thank you, Ms. Lopez for the introduction. So as I was–”
“First thing’s first,” Jenny says, stepping in front of Coach and Rina like she’s now in charge. “I’ll be working firsthand with the team photographer to make sure we’re catching candids notjust on the ice during games but at all times. We’re doing an entire social media revamp–”
“Uh, Jennyfer,” Rina interrupts.
“Second,” Jenny continues.Oh boy.“We’ll be doing a reshoot of the calendar Rina's been working on next week. You guys look great, don’t get me wrong," she reassures us as if we care how we look in a calendar meant for the fans to enjoy. "But we can dosomuch better. I’ll be reaching out to schedule those new dates soon.AfterRyker and his bride come back from their honeymoon, of course.” She winks at Ryker.
He shifts uncomfortably next to me. The last thing Ryker wants is to be stuck in the middle of this old rivalry—the one we thought was long and buried.Apparently not.
“And third, I’ll be sending out a list of upcoming events that I’d love for you to attend as a team. That way we can get ahead before the holi–”
Rina steps up. “Um… no, that would be in my realm. So… disregard that,” she says to us.
Jennyfer looks at her with a smile. “Of course. My apologies. I didn’t mean to step on toes.”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” Rina murmurs.
The guys are volleying between Rina and Jenny—no doubt, trying to decipher what the hell is going on right now.
“O-kay,” Coach Murray says. “So, are we good here?”
“All good,” both Rina and Jennyfer say.
Ryker gives me a look. “Still think everything is fi-ine,” he asks under his breath.
“Shut up,” I say from the side of my mouth.
The women both step aside and are at another stalemate, insisting that the other walk out first. Like they’re both trying to seem like the more considerate one.
Once they’re gone, Coach reviews some of the plays we need to take advantage of in the second period in order to secure a few more goals and get ahead.
And when it’s time to go back out, the two women are standing next to Izzy again. This time, they both have arms crossed over their chests and are facing away from each other, like acknowledging each other’s presence might cause them to physically combust.
“So much for team unity,” I say to Ryker, who shakes his head when he sees the two of them. He skates up to Izzy and taps on the glass a few times. She smiles and snaps photos of her soon-to-be-husband.
Tomorrow, my sister and my best friend get married. Two people I would never have imagined would hit it off. I feel a pull to look up, and Rina's eyes are on me.
Her face hardly ever gives anything away. But that look. I knowthatlook.
Rina Lopez is scared.
Chapter 5
Rina
18 years old | Spring Break
“Ma, are you serious? We're supposed to be going on break, not worried about another project.”
My mom sits back in her desk chair and stares me down.
“I don’t know why you think Spring Break should be any excuse for you not to work on getting ahead, Katarina. You want to pass; this is what it takes. Work.”
She then proceeds to mutter to herself, mostly in Spanish, about how she can't believe kids these days and that we all want things handed to us on a silver platter.
"Si supieras," she says now loud enough for anyone walking into her class to hear. "If you only knew the things your father and I had to endure to get to what we have today." She scoffs. "You'll never understand. But I won't let you get entitled, Katarina. I won't let you get lazy. When you're older, you'll thank me. Even if it means you hate me now."