Remy and I exchanged a look—one that said everything—and I turned away, already knowing Sullivan’s "speech" would be the equivalent of a "go, fight, kill" and then he'd call it a day.
The room quieted as I stepped into the center, standing over the Guardians' crest. I let my eyes drift over the guys, each face shining with anticipation, their excitement palpable in the air.
"That was a good period," I started, my gaze locking with Teddy's for a split second. It stopped me in my tracks, and I had to clear my throat to shake off the sudden, unexpected weight of his stare. I forced myself to look away. "We’re ahead now, and we need to keep it that way. Gonzo, you’re playing a great game, but we need to give him some more defensive support. Let’s shiftinto protecting this lead. Left wings, I want you hanging back unless there’s a clear chance to score. Keep pushing the puck forward—play north-south hockey, all right?"
Most of the guys nodded in agreement, their focus sharpening as Ryder took the floor. I stepped back, retreating to the sanctuary of my office. Pep talks weren’t my thing—emotional speeches and stirring words were for people who weren’t all about clean plays and hard logic. That wasn’t me.
I slumped into the chair behind my desk, the weight of the situation sinking in. My hands trembled as I pressed my face into them.Fuck. This was going to be a problem. I could barely look at Teddy without remembering. Without wanting.
Here I was, the coach, and one of my players was driving mewild—just by being himself. He wasn’t doing anything different, wasn’t being overly touchy or crossing boundaries. He was just… there. And it was enough to turn everything inside me upside down.
The door to my office creaked open, and I didn’t need to look up to know Teddy was standing in the doorway, watching me. I couldfeelhim, like a current flowing through the air between us. There was a tether now, and try as I might, I couldn’t avoid it.
“Coach,” he murmured, his voice low and familiar, before he stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind him.
“No. Don’t do that,” I snapped, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. “Open the door. Right now.”
He tilted his head to the side, his expression teasing. For a second, he looked like a puppy being told no, a mix of confusion and amusement flickering in his eyes. “Are you afraid of me still, Coach?”
I could feel the heat rise in my chest, fury and something darker mingling. “Yes. Damn you.Fucking yes.Now open that door.”
What I was really afraid of was myself—what I might do, how I might react to him. To the way he had this power over me, without even trying.
He strolled toward me, his movement smooth, confident, his presence overwhelming. When he reached the edge of my desk, he bent down, lips hovering dangerously close to mine. If anyone walked in, they’d probably think we were just in another heated argument.
Teddy’s fingertips brushed against my cheek, sending a jolt of electricity through my skin, before he gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. His voice dropped to a murmur, just for me. “I prefer your hair down. Wild.” His eyes locked with mine in a challenge, daring me to respond. “Take the braid out.”
And just like that, he straightened, smooth as silk, running a hand down his jersey with an almost imperceptible sigh. “See you out there… Coach.”
The door clicked closed behind him, and I sat there, breathless, my pulse still racing. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to let my hands shake as I reached up, pulling out the rubber band from my hair. My fingers combed through the long, copper strands, unwinding the braid until it cascaded over my shoulders in waves. I stared at my reflection for a moment, trying to steady myself before the inevitable.
A few minutes passed before I forced myself to leave the safety of my office. When I joined the team on the bench, Griff's eyes immediately narrowed at me, his gaze lingering longer than necessary.
"You look different," he said, a frown forming between his brows. "Why do you look… different?"
Teddy, who had taken his usual seat in front of me, chuckled under his breath, his back shaking with amusement. I turned quickly, unintentionally elbowing him in the back of his neck.He flinched, his shoulders stiffening, and I caught myself just in time.
I shot a quick glance at Griff, scrunching my nose, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. "Hair tie broke. Female problems, am I right?"
It was a line I’d used more than once—something I’d picked up over the years of playing in a male-dominated sport. The words always made the men squirm, and it was always enough to shift their attention back to the game, away from anything else.
The game resumed, the rhythm of it pulling me back to reality. I focused on the ice, tuning out the fluttering confusion in my chest and the twisted, impossible pull I felt toward Teddy. For now, all I had was the game.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
TEDDY
Ryder grumbled from the passenger seat of my car as we wound through the streets toward the mission district for tacos. "Do you realize how many Mexican places we've passed just to get here?"
I shot him a glare in the rearview mirror. "Just shut the hell up and let me think for a moment."
Rowan leaned forward from the backseat, his voice tinged with amusement. "You know, I could have made us tacos. Mine are?—"
"Better than any we could find in some dive," Ryder and I finished in unison. Rowan was a culinary wizard, more at home in the kitchen than anywhere else, except maybe the ice rink. But today, I hadn't given him a choice.
"I hate you both," Rowan muttered, sinking back into his seat. His scowl in the mirror barely registered with me.
I hadn't explained why I insisted on coming into the city on our day off, why it was crucial to be here. I'd texted Frankie this morning and hadn't heard back. It was driving me insane.
