AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I clear my throat. “I can see what you think your dilemma is, Coach. But just because I’ve never had a relationship since coming here until now, that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of fidelity. And I can promise you that Pike and I won’t be fighting about Kylie. We have an understanding.”
Coach laughs. “For now, sure. Listen, I’ve been around hockey players my whole life. Hell, I was one about a hundred years ago. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this kind of thing go down, and it never ends well. You’re a good kid and I don’t want this to blow up in your face.”
“I appreciate that, Coach. But I’m twenty-seven, and I like Kylie a lot. I mean…” I look around Coach’s office, gathering my thoughts. “To say I like her isn’t really enough. I’ve had a major thing for her since the first time I met her, but I kept my distance because of her husband. I’ve got a chance with her now, and I’m taking it. I have to take it. Any woman I’ve been with since the day I laid eyes on Kylie has just been a distraction, and now that we’re dating, I’d never be unfaithful.”
Coach nods. “Just be careful, Pax. What she went through with her husband all those years, and what that little girl has been through, too…it’s a lot. If you wrong her, it won’t just be Pike coming for you. There’ll be a lot of other guys in that locker room right beside him.”
A giant knot forms in my stomach. What was I thinking, asking Kylie to pretend to be my girlfriend? Coach is right—she’s been through enough. And instead of supporting her, I asked her to help me out by faking feelings for me. I’m such a selfish bastard.
“I know,” I say, swallowing hard.
Pike deserves a few free shots at me. A real man would put Kylie’s needs first, but I’m just focused on my own. Maybe I should come clean, apologize profusely, and tell Cassidy I have no interest in being her fuckboy.
“So Coach, about Cassidy Croft…” I say.
He scoffs. “That viper’s a real piece of work, isn’t she?”
Usually, Coach Bear isn’t that frank about people who work in the front office. But Cassidy isn’t like anyone we’ve ever had in the organization.
“She fired one of the marketing interns because she was too pretty,” he says. “Actually admitted it. Said she can’t concentrate when anyone in the office is prettier than she is.”
“Yeah, she’s gonna need to fire way more than one,” I mutter.
“Just try to steer clear of that one.”
“What about her father? How are you getting along with him?”
Coach shrugs. “He’s a micromanager, but he’s not the first one I’ve worked for. We were just lucky our first set of owners trusted us to do our jobs. As long as we’re winning, Croft doesn’t have anything to complain about.”
I nod, then glance at the clock on the wall. “Coach, I’m supposed to meet someone in PR and sign a bunch of pucks for giveaways. If you don’t need me for anything else, that is.”
He waves his hand, dismissing me. “Just be careful, Pax. You’re one of my most solid players, and all that work you put in during the off-season is showing. Remember what all that work was for.”
“I will, Coach.”
I have to keep myself from smiling as I walk out of his office into the locker room, because Coach Bear rarely gives compliments. He’s right—hockey is the most important part of my life right now. I have to give everything I’ve got to being the best hockey player and teammate I can be. Maybe someday that will change, but not anytime soon.
A few hours later, I’m walking out to the player parking lot, stretching my right hand, which is sore from signing several boxes of pucks and Las Vegas Saints baseball caps. My phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket, hesitating to answer the call when I see who it is.
Might as well. He’ll only keep calling.
“Hey, Dad,” I say flatly.
“What’s this I hear about you dating a nursing assistant?”
My gaze turns skyward. When I was a kid, he hardly ever noticed me, but now that I’m an adult who can make my own decisions, he’s hyperfocused on my every move.
“Her name is Kylie, and she’s my friend Pike’s sister.”
There’s a pause, and then, “That’s nice, but Pax…”
“What?”
What could he possibly have to bitch about? My parents have been on my ass to settle down with a nice woman for years, and now that my dad thinks I’m dating someone, he’s still not happy.
“You’re going to make me say it?” he asks, annoyed.
“Say what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t be so naïve, for Christ’s sake. Nursing assistants get paid peanuts. And she’s also a single mom? Be careful, because mark my words, she’s going to end up pregnant in no time and then you’ll be locked into supporting her and being a dad to both kids.”
