Oh. Yes. He needed to actually answer the kid’s question. Clearing his throat he bought himself an extra second or two to mull on the question. “I think one of the hardest—yet most important—things in hockey is to recognize when you’re getting outplayed and outcoached. I think my refusal to make line changes and in-game adjustments for the first two periods almost cost us the game.”
The kid’s mouth dropped open, like he wasn’t expecting Elliott to own his mistakes.
He heaved out a sigh. “It was inexcusable, really.”
The reporter scribbled like his life depended on it, his brows high and eyes wide.
“It was clear the forward lines weren’t working, and I should have changed them sooner. It was almost too late. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results isn’t going to work. It’s a rookie mistake. I think I just needed to get out of my own head and trust my gut.”
The man nodded. “You’re saying you had way too many passengers up front?”
Elliott arched a brow. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I stand by my team. They did what I asked of them. I’m saying the buck stops with me. I’m the guy calling the plays, and I should have switched it up earlier in the game. Not to mention, any other team who went down by three so quickly would have folded the tents.”
The pen continued to move at speed across the paper as the kid snorted. “I’ll say. Not your Snow Pirates though. They didn’t quit.” He paused and tapped the pen on his chin. “I can’t recall a time when I’ve seen such heart on the ice that wasn’t a playoff game. They left it all out there. Those special teams are impressive.”
The awe in his voice made Elliott puff out his chest. Damn straight his boys were impressive. He nodded. “We have great coaches working hard with the guys, and some exceptional talent on the roster. It’s shaping up to be an excellent season.”
The reporter gnawed on the end of his pen. Elliott wanted to snatch it from his hand and thwap him on the nose with the damn thing.
“I really thought y’all’d suffer with Mo, Obi, and Morgan graduating and moving on.” He murmured it as though he was talking more to himself than to Elliott, but he couldn’t fault the assumption. The trio of seniors leaving had hit the team hard, but thankfully there was still plenty of talent and heart left to more than pick up the slack. He just needed to utilize their skills in the right way.
The kid flicked his pen against the notebook and tucked it into his back pocket. “Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, Coach. My readers love when I go a little further with the visiting teams.” He produced a card. “If you want to read it, or…” He shrugged and rubbed at the back of his neck, his face turning pink in the corridor. “Feel like commenting on the interview on our social pages… That’d be cool.”
Elliott tucked the business card into his wallet and nodded. “I’ll do that. Thanks for the interview.”
The kid’s face lit up like the Empire State Building and his head threatened to fall from his body as he nodded and walked away. “Oh!” His shoes squeaked on the floor as he turned back to Elliott. “If you like Italian food, try Nonno’s. Best in town.” He flicked a wave and left.
Italian it was. As he waited for the team to get their shit sorted and get to the bus to go the hotel for the night, he pulled up the menu for Giulia back in Minnesota. It was a double header weekend, so they were in Madison for the duration, but that didn’t mean he and Clare couldn’t have a virtual date.
Before he ordered food for her, he needed to double check she was still going to be home. It had been two weeks since their first kiss. Theironlykiss. They hadn’t managed to steal any alone time to repeat it, or do anything else for that matter.
And fuck he wanted to bury himself between her thighs and make her tremble and whimper his name. Once he got back from Wisconsin, he would be home for a while, and he was determined to turn that first kiss into more of a habit. Then he’d make her come undone on his dick.
Her soft, plush lips pressed against his tortured his dreams still. He wanted to repeat it. He needed to repeat it. And then some.
Elliott: Are you still staying home tonight? Nothing’s changed?
Clare: Why? You magically back early and want to hang out?
Elliott: I wish. I’m going to guess you haven’t had dinner. Wanna eat together?
Clare: Correct assumption. I’ve been buried under a pile of laundry today and attempting to get the house in order. What did you have in mind?
Elliott: I’m about to head back to the hotel. Wanna pick a movie for us to watch together and I’ll take care of dinner?
Clare: You really want to let me pick the movie?
Elliott: I’d rather you picked a shit movie than used ‘eenie, meenie, miny, mo’ to find my dinner. I’m too fucking hungry to risk a dubious meal. I got a rec from a local and I already know where to get yours.
Clare: Sounds good to me.
Clare: Oh, hey. Shit.
Elliott: ????
Clare: Great game, Coach!
He couldn’t stop the smile from splitting his face.
