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- CHAPTER SEVEN -
Miles
“Here’s the Money Man,” Parker Phillips shouts out across the locker room.
I roll my eyes, throwing my stick to the floor. There’s a mix of jeers and cheers around the room, and until Coach Best walks in and demands the team’s attention, I’m shrinking under the spotlight.
The guys have been at it all day. Despite all my efforts, the news has broken out in the locker room about my talks with other teams around the league. I’ve tried to keep it under wraps until I had made a decision.
And for good reason. The boys are pissed and they’re letting me know it.
I haven’t signed anything and already the hockey world is a crazy mess of rumours and made-up figures about my ‘massive salary’.
All the offers haven’t been filed yet. My agent is still talking to Boston and Washington. Toronto think they’re still a chance to snag my signature, but they’ve got more chance of winning the Stanley Cup than they’ve got of me pulling on one of their jerseys.
Fucking Toronto dickheads.
“Listen up!” Coach Best slaps his hands together and glares at the team from the front of the room. “I don’t know what the hell you call that out there, but you all trained like dog shit tonight.”
Coach Best paces in front of us, clicking a pen in one hand while the other points at us with every word he’s yelling.
“Phillips. Your passing stunk tonight. My dead grandmother can pass a puck better than you did…” Parker Phillips’ smug grin is quickly wiped from his face. “Jamie. Don’t laugh, you sucked, too. And don’t even get me started on you, Mason.”
Mason Miller nods and his youthful expression is as stiff as steel.
I yank on the tape around my gloves, pull them off, and throw them in my bag. I’m waiting for my turn. A scorching blast from Coach Best is incoming any second now. Get it over with, already. If Parker Phillips had a horrible session, then Coach is saving his best insults for me.
I couldn’t keep up with the lads today... And as the news of my contract filtered around the rink between the boys, the pressure built around my body like a steam train dropping on my head.
I wanted out.
All I wanted to do was nestle in bed with Ellie. My new favourite place…
That tasty teaser before training wasn’t enough. Quickies are great and all, but with Ellie, I want to take my time. I want to taste every inch of her soft skin. I want to tend to her every need and bow to her every wish or command. It doesn’t matter what it is, I’d do anything for her.
Coach Best continues to scream inside the locker room, his face growing redder and redder with every ear-splitting yell he throws across at the team. His crew of coaching staff are rested back against the wall, nodding and grunting confirmations of everything our Head Coach says.
But I’m not listening.
All I can think about is the way I left things with Ellie.
My revelation that came out of nowhere rings in my ears more than Coach Best’s insults. ‘I fucking love you, Ellie.’ I didn’t even get to see the look in her deep, intoxicating green eyes as I revealed my true feelings for the first time. I blew my load and startled her to a finish; I could tell. I’ve never seen a girl pull their pants up and get dressed so quickly.
She didn’t even say it back…
“Now, whatever is going on in the media is out of our control. Miles isn’t going anywhere right now. Nothing has been agreed-” Coach Best pins me with a look that is begging for a confirmation. I nod, confirming I’m not going anywhere. Yet. “So it’s all speculation at this stage. If anyone, and I mean anyone-” He pins Jaxon King with a pointed look – he’s always talking to the journos. “Says anything otherwise to the media, you’ll have me to answer to. Got it?”
A grunting murmur satisfies Coach Best, and he steams ahead towards his office and slams the door shut.
Several of the boys head straight for the showers, and as they pass, a few whispered comments about me being a ‘rich boy’ or a ‘money grabber’ find their way across the room. Ignoring them, I fumble around to find my phone in my bag and when the screen shows a message from Ellie, a happy flutter makes everything OK again.
Until I open the message and read the text flashing before my eyes.
Ellie: Please tell me what I’m seeing isn’t right… You’re not leaving, are you?
My fist tightens around my phone.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Hey man,” Noah stoops down on the bench beside me and I fake a crooked smile. “So, everything went alright last night then?”
It takes me a second to catch up. My head is a messy fucking hurricane with everything whizzing around in there right now.
“Yeah,” I shrug. “Fine, bro.”
Noah looks at me, his eyes focused intently on my face. “Listen…” He shuffles on the bench seat. “I just wanted to say thanks for giving me a heads up about you and Ellie. I really appreciate it, man.”
Noah slaps me on the back, and I can only muster a tight smile. I’m gripping my phone so hard in my sweaty palms. I can’t help but feel the wrong twin is sitting by my side. I want Ellie. I need Ellie.
“It’s all good, bro,” I say, doing my best to kill the conversation quickly.
Normally, I’ve got all the time in the world for Noah Edwards. He’s a top guy, and an even better hockey player. But right now, the only Edwards I want to talk to, is freaking out about what those damned journos are saying in the tabloids.
“No, it really means a lot. A lot of guys out there wouldn’t do what you did.” Noah slaps me on the shoulder again. “I do have to ask though… What’s with this deal? Ellie loves it in Vancouver. If you’re planning to move, you need to tell her before you break her heart.”
My throat pulses hard against my Adams apple.
“You don’t think she would move?” I ask timidly.
Noah shakes his head and winces. “I can’t see it. I mean, I could be wrong, man. But she’s always said she’s ‘a Vancouver chick through and through’.”
A loud shout from down the hall has Noah jumping from the seat, and as he goes to move away, he looks down at me, drawing a swallowed breath.
“Just talk to her. If it’s something you’re seriously considering, don’t beat yourself up by not talking to her about it.” Noah smiles, and another scream has him wide-eyed and ready to sprint to seek out the source of the noise. “You’re going to the charity dinner, right?”
