“I don’t tolerate misbehavior from boys. Or men,” she says in that teacher voice. Jovi helpfully opens the gate for her, then she dumps me on the floor and sets her watch. “Fifteen minutes of deep breathing, then you can rejoin the team.”
Stunned, I sit on the floor. How did she even—that shouldn’t be physically possible.
For the first time, I look at her, really look at her as she skates back to the group. Her legs are curvy, yeah, but that’s all muscle. Her legs are tree trunks. Her ass is huge, and yeah, her chest is big, but there’s muscle there, not just her tits.
I throw my gloves against the wall. “Don’t think about her tits.” She’s a girl, though. How can I not?
A girl who got the upper hand on me. I fume as Ellie tries to corral the hockey players on the ice.
We’re going to lose. I’m never going to get the data I need for Hudson, and now I can’t even burn off my frustration skating.
The rink gate opens. “Fifteen minutes are up.”
“Practice is almost over,” I complain, shoving past her. She skates after me. I snarl at Cookie, who’s in my spot.
“From the top!” Ellie blows her whistle.
I don’t want to sit out the rest of practice. As much as I hate it, I pass to Jovi just like a good little hockey player, slip around behind him, collect the puck from him, then pass it under my leg behind me right to Eddie’s tape.
“Eddie, what the fuck!” I scream at him. He’s not where he’s supposed to be, and the Finn on the other team snatches it and takes off toward Braxton’s net.
Ellie blows her whistle. “That’s it. You all have not been following directions or listening. Therefore, you aren’t getting pizza Lunchables after the game.”
“But you promised!” one of the rookies whines.
“Then act like you’re paid to be here,” Ellie tells him icily.
“I’m not getting real pay, and I’m going to be out of here before I get a real contract.”
“Yeah, who gives a shit?”
I turn on Eddie, slap my stick at him. “What the fuck were you doing?”
“Not her stupid-ass play.”
“You started it, Yankee,” Ren snaps as he skates past me in the oversized goalie padding.
The practice endswith Ren throwing his blocker pad at Ziggy.
“Aren’t you gonna put him in time-out?” I complain.
“You can pick me up anytime, darling.” Ren winks at Ellie.
I rip off my gear in the locker room while Ellie walks through the schedule for Seattle. Her grandmother whistles as I strip off the skintight Under Armour pants. I’m not wearing anything underneath.
I turn to face Ellie, fully naked.
I expect Ellie to blush or something. Maliciously, I want to have the upper hand.
She just looks down her nose at me. “I used to be a preschool teacher. I’ve changed many a little boy’s diaper. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. The plane leaves at six tomorrow morning. Please make sure you pack enough undies.”
15
ELLIE
“Private jet time!” Harlowe crows.
As the PR girl, I hadn’t been allowed to go on the private flights. The team didn’t want to pay for a hotel room for me. Now?
