AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Bit drastic, but nothing was really getting through to them, huh?” His lips stretch into a little smirk that makes my toes curl.
“Sorry if you were expecting something more romantic for the grand reveal.” I chuckle.
He shakes his head. “Nah, I know by now you’re unpredictable.”
I lift one shoulder.
“What the hell is this?” a Bolts’ alternate captain asks, jaw hanging open.
Max clears his throat, and to the larger group, he says, “Yeah. While you were busy fighting like kindergarteners, we started dating.”
“Wow, that’s the hottest thing that’s come out of your mouth,” I say low enough so only he hears.
Max looks down at me, perplexed. “This? Really? Not when I said?—”
I cover his mouth with my hand and clear my throat. The amusement in his eyes means I’m not quite off the hook yet, but I need to bring this back full circle.
Even the coaches look shocked.
“Anyway.” I step outside the circle of Max’s arms but hold on to his hand. “I’m sick and tired of this toxic environment. So if you’re not gonna change it, I will. We will.”
“Damn right.” Max tugs at my hand. “Hey, let’s leave the kids to fight among themselves. How about we go visit your friend instead?”
“Great idea.”
And since both coaches seem to need another moment to make some sense of these events in their heads—or that’s what I glean when they don’t call out and order us to stay—Max and I walk out of that mess. Together. Hand in hand.
CHAPTER 35
MAX
Luz has been playing with my hand for a while. In silence. We sit side by side in the small conference room located in the office area. Usually, this room is used for one-on-ones or for staff meetings only, which makes this feel weird. Like maybe Coach Green and Coach Young are banding together to boot Luz and me as captains.
Maybe that’s why Luz’s lips have remained zipped. And even though it’s warm in here, her hands feel like icicles against mine. She runs a finger down the lines of my palm, the other hand cradling mine.
Trying to break the ice, I ask, “Are you trying to see if our love lines are compatible or something like that?”
She blinks up at me. “Actually, no. I was just seeing how much bigger your hand is. But you have a good point. Maybe I should check.”
A small smile creeps over her face as I lace our fingers together. Shit, she feels freezing. I shift to cover both her hands in mine instead.
“What’s going on, Tinker Bell?” I tilt my head to observe her expression. I can see she’s trying hard not to show whatever it is. “I’m nervous too, but… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this quiet.”
Her shoulders shrink just a bit, but the moment she opens her mouth to speak is when both coaches enter the meeting room. I pull our hands under the table but don’t let go of her. Something’s up, and I want her to know I’m here for her every second.
“Sorry we’re late.” Coach Green pulls up the chair across from me and plops down with a sigh. “Those guys from the board would not stop talking.”
Coach Young follows suit, taking a seat across from her captain. “The good news first. The program is not getting suspended.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” I say, and I think Luz may have just said the same beside me, but in Spanish.
“Boucher is getting a two-month suspension,” Coach Green adds. “So I guess both teams are down a man.”
“A player.” Coach Young corrects him with a sidelong glance. “We’re both down a player.”
“Right.” He clears his throat, but it doesn’t mask the steady rise of red up his neck and face. “So, uh. That’s another thing we have agreed upon. Some education. We’ll have a professor from the Women’s Study department come give Bolts and Strikes a special class on inclusion topics. Staff included.”
For the first time this afternoon, Luz perks up. “Oh, that sounds great. And Frankie Boucher will take it too, right?”
