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I palmed my forehead again, clearing away another line of sweat, and turned the car off. A rush of cold air swept over me when I opened the door, and I welcomed the cool draft to calm my temper before I lashed out and told Liam where he could shove his job. I wasn’t doing any of this for him. I coached to help the kids. No one else. What Lucy and I did in our spare time was of no concern to Liam or anyone else. The fact that the world suddenly wanted a play-by-play of her life—and mine—infuriated me. “Bye, Liam.” I ended the call with a savage smile and threw the phone into my duffel. Bastards. What right did any of them have to try and dictate who I slept with?
I understood Coach Ashley’s stance on protecting his daughter. I could even respect it. But I couldn’t help that I’d fallen in love with her. The knowledge pressed into me, stealing my breath and setting my skin on fire. I loved her. Damn it all, I loved her and Abigail, and I wasn’t about to let anyone stand in my way.
Grabbing my duffel, I slung it over my shoulder and hurried across the lot. If I changed quick, I might be able to grab a minute with Lucy before practice started. I had to tell her. She needed to know that I’d stand with her through everything the world threw our way. I yanked the glass door open and broke into a jog, racing down the low corridor until I burst into the locker room.
Justin and Lennox sat in front of their lockers, heads together and whispers drifting across the room. We were the only ones in the room, but they stopped talking as soon as I entered.
Lennox’s head snapped up. Something that looked like grief passed over his face. He palmed his cheek and reached for his skates. “How’s Lucy?”
I lifted one shoulder and let it fall. I’d been the last to leave the night before, with Justin waiting in the car to drive me home. If I’d had my own car, I might have talked Lucy into letting me stay until daylight. She’d needed comforting, but nothing we said or did made her feel better. She’d fallen into our arms and fought like hell not to cry. Even now, the image of her reddened eyes burned hot as fire in my veins.
No one would ever upset her again if I could help it.
“This story is out of control.” Justin fumed. His hands clenched and released, his knuckles popping. “What can we do?”
I opened my mouth to answer him, but the creak of the door slammed my lips shut.
Coach Ashley walked in, his face twisted in a furious scowl. “Zachary, my office. Now.”
“Coach?” I indicated my bag. “Practice is about to start.”
He pointed a slim finger at me. “Now.” Without a word to anyone else, he turned and stormed away.
“Shit.” Justin breathed out the single word with a shake of his head.
Lennox eyed me. “You think he knows?”
“No.” I shook my head. “About me, maybe.” I sucked air through my clenched teeth. “Maybe Lucy told him about the paternity test.” I dove for my bag to see if she’d tried to call me. She’d promised to wait to tell him, but if things went south, she might’ve let it slip. She was close with her dad. I wouldn’t blame her for telling him before we knew for sure. My pulse kicked hard and fast, adrenaline rushing through me with a whoosh that made my ears ring. “I’ll be back.”
They stood and moved like they planned on following me. “Be careful, man.” Lennox clapped a hand to the center of my back. “He’s pissed, so watch what you say.”
No shit. I rolled my lips together and forced my hands to relax as I palmed the metal bar to open the door and stepped outinto the hallway. The walls felt even closer than before, the low ceiling pressing down on me until the hairs on the back of my neck prickled with alarm. I hated small spaces like this, but there was nothing I could do about it but keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Coach Ashley’s door stood open, the man himself pacing back and forth. The sight reminded me so much of Lucy that my stomach clenched painfully.
I lifted my hand and rapped my knuckles on the frame. “Sir?” My voice came out with the appropriate amount of respect. It took effort, but I managed not to scowl when he flicked two fingers at me in a motion that drew me forward.
“Shut the door.” He sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his thick arms over his chest.
I did as he ordered and waited. It wouldn’t do me any favors to poke at him, so I kept my mouth shut and my body relaxed.
“There’s a photo of you and my daughter going around.” He spat the words with precision and no shortage of scorn.
I nodded. “Yes, sir. We met up at the gala. I introduced her to a few people who I thought might be interested in helping her advocacy.” That was all true. And it was what I’d told Liam. I couldn’t let my story get tangled up in all the garbage going around. “I met your granddaughter. She’s a wonderful little girl.” And maybe my daughter. I pressed my tongue to the back of my teeth and forced the words back down where they belonged. They’d only infuriate him right now. And I needed him calm. I hoped the mention of Abigail would help.
He scowled hard enough that wrinkles formed on his forehead. “My granddaughter is none of your concern. Neither is my daughter.”
“Sir, I was just trying to help.” Also true. How much did I tell him? “She’s advocating for girls hockey at the rink whereI coach. I knew several women at the gala who would love to support her cause.”
“And that’s the only reason you were looking at her like that?” He snapped up a printed copy of the sports paper and smacked the back of his hand over the photo.
Heat crept up the back of my neck, and I barely resisted the urge to clear my throat and rub my neck. Those were the signs of a guilty man. Instead, I angled a look at the photo and shrugged. “She’s a beautiful woman.” I wasn’t sorry for looking at her like that. I wasn’t sorry about any of it except that it was hurting Lucy.
“You’re looking a little too cozy with my daughter.” Fury rolled off Coach Ashley. He leaned toward me, his eyes flashing. Coach’s throat worked up and down several times. He chewed on nothing while looking me over. “I’m going to ask this one, and you’d better tell me the fucking truth.”
I’d never heard him this angry before. I rolled my shoulders back and faced him square with my hands behind my back. I knew what was coming. I’d known there was no way to hide this from him forever. “Sir?”
His nostrils flared and he pushed off from the desk, not stopping until we stood nose to nose. “Are you having sex with Lucy?”
