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Oh, shit.My muscles tensed so hard I was surprised I could walk as I sat across from him. His office wasn’t big, no larger than a typical bedroom, but there was something ominous being called in here. Like your dad had just busted you for sneaking out.
“You wanted to see me, Coach?”
He scanned my face and rubbed a palm over his mouth. He was a heavyset man with salt-and-pepper hair, and even in his sixties, he could intimidate the fuck out of the biggest players. “You came a long way last season. It’s paid off on the ice—your defensive line had the fewest goals scored last year.” He pointed at the championship banner we’d earned.
The warmth of pride grew in my chest but was wiped out by his next words. “But you don’t play with the team. You hog the puck, take risky shots, and get into unnecessary fights. You’re a liability on the ice. I see you working out there, on the rink before everyone, then off last. At first, I thought you were dedicated, but now I’m worried it’s more, and I’m not letting you get lost in this game when you could be one of the best.”
My stomach twisted until my guts felt like they were going to climb out of my throat. “Sorry, sir. I’ll fix it.”
“You’re damn right you will.” He steepled his fingers in front of him and leaned forward. “Hodge’s decision to move up has removed him from the roster.”
“Shit.” My eyes went wide. That was a huge blow to the team. Hodge was the best captain I’d ever played under. He knew exactly what to say and when to say it to keep his team focused. Hell, he’d given me several pep talks that I could admit made my gameplay stronger.
Coach’s eyes met mine, daring me to talk back. “I’ve decided to pass his captaincy to you. Let’s see if a little added responsibility is what you need to pull yourself together.”
“What?” I barely got the word out as my heart stuttered, then pounded in my chest, and sweat formed at the base of my neck. I didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else. Hell, I didn’t want to be responsible for myself. “Sir, with all due respect, I think that would be a mistake.”
I sure as fuck do.
His brows pulled together, and his skin wrinkled in a deep frown. “Son, I know what happened with your friend was hard, but you’ve got a career ahead of you. One that you need to protect. You need to show you’re out there being a team player and not just taking matters into your own hands.”
“I know, and I will, but I…” I cut myself off, not wanting to tell him that I fucked everything up. If people knew what I did, what I was responsible for, they wouldn’t trust me again. “Give it to Alex. The guys love him.” I stood from the desk, and he followed suit.
“You’re going to be the captain, or you’re benched.” I searched his face for the bluff, but he looked dead serious.
All the air was sucked from my lungs, and I struggled to take my next breath. I needed hockey. I needed the burn in my legs and the sheer numbness that playing brought me. It was a fast-paced sport, no room for intrusive thoughts, just head in the game and focus on the play.
I ground my teeth together to stop myself from losing it. I couldn’t lose hockey—I’d have nothing left. “Fine, but full disclosure, I think I’m the wrong person.”
He sat back in his chair and sucked on his front tooth.“I want another championship. Don’t fuck it up.”
* * *
I pulled up to the back of our place and took the steps three at a time. The sky had turned gray and sticky with humidity, seconds away from a downpour. The two-story house was designed with renters in mind, and it was the perfect setup for the four of us. Each bedroom had its own attached private bathroom, and there was a large open-concept kitchen overlooking the living room. The place was fucking mint.
River’s, our center, and Jax’s rooms were upstairs, leaving Alex and me to take the two down here.
I made my way into my room, grimacing as I stripped off my shirt that stuck to my skin with hours’ worth of sweat. Turning the shower on, I looked at my reflection while letting it warm up. With all the hours I’d put in at the rink and in the gym, I’d put on several more pounds of muscle. I was already a big guy, but now the rigid lines that split my muscles gave me a hardened look. Which was a good thing as a defenseman—I wanted the opponents to be terrified. I wanted them to screw up the second they saw I was on the ice.
The mirror steamed over, blurring my reflection, and I chucked my pants, climbing under the near boiling spray. I dug my fingers into my sore neck, loosening the muscles, and groaned at the sweet ache.
Fall semester hadn’t started yet, and my life consisted of prework for school, practice, gym, and then passing the hell out from exhaustion just to do it again the next day.
The scent of apples filled the air as I lathered a cloth and washed down my body. A flash of blonde strands appeared behind my eyes, but the thoughts were cut off by the ringing doorbell. Fuck. I wrapped a white towel with the Huskies logo on it around my waist and secured it in the middle, calling to whoever it was, “I’m coming. Just a second.”
I swung open the door, and the air was knocked out of my lungs as a stunning pair of blue eyes stared me down.
I was so fucked.
TWELVE
PIPER
My chest cavedin with the force of my exhale when Lucas Knight answered the door in all his perfect glory. Completely ignoring my common sense, my gaze tracked over him, taking in every detail. I swallowed hard, following a droplet as it traveled from his neck through the valleys of his muscles and disappeared into the towel wrapped around his hips. The bright white of the fabric showed off the warmth in his brown skin. Where I was pale and near see-through, he looked like he was lit from within by a freaking sun god. He shifted, and the new tattoos curving around the side of his body flexed. I closed my fingers into fists to stop myself from tracing each one.
Thunder in the distance told me to get inside, but I was frozen in place, barely noticing the rain soaking into my clothes. My therapist and I had prepared for this moment. I swallowed hard, internally slapping myself for drooling over him, and lifted my chin. He’d broken my freaking heart, shattered it into a million pieces when I needed him most, and I wasn’t that naive little girl anymore with a stupid obsession.
Lucas filled the doorframe, blocking my way. He practically towered over my five-foot-seven frame, forcing me to tilt my head up to see his face. His eyes darted over me, mouth slightly open. Brown eyes rimmed in honey gold met mine, and my feet cemented firmly in place.
