“Are you going to the family skate and fundraising gala?” I pivot the conversation, not wanting to get ahead of myself, and because he seems to be thawing slightly.
He hesitates, his mouth opening before he seems to think better of something, and simply says, “Yes. Are you?”
“Mhmm.”
“I didn’t think the team participated since it’s over winter break?”
“They don’t. Only two seniors are usually asked to be there as representatives for the team, so Aubrey and I were asked to be there this year.”
It’s a great event for the school. It draws in members of the community with a family skate at our hockey rink, allowing free ice time for anyone who comes. Then later in the evening, at the Dean’s house, which is more like a mansion, there’s a charity gala. Haulton has some wealthy alumni, and typically each year whatever money we raise for the charity, they match for our hockey programs for putting it on.
The tradition started long before I was a student here, but it’s Coach Maver’s pride and glory.
“So you’ll be around for the break? I’m asking because I was planning on giving you some time off of our practices, since Alice says she gives you guys three weeks.” He sounds disgusted at the rest Coach grants us, and I stifle a smile.
“No,” I tell him. “I’m only going home for a few days for Christmas, but otherwise I’ll be here. So if you’re around, I’d like to keep up our workouts.”
He nods once. “I thought you might want to spend the break with yourboyfriend.”
This is the second time he’s insinuated that. “Why do you think I have a boyfriend?”
He gives me a dull look. “They may have their issues, but my eyes still see enough.”
I cross my arms, growing irritated. “And what exactly did they see?”
“You celebrating with him after the game,” he says evenly and shuffles a few papers around on his desk.
It clicks. Mason and his teammates coming to our last game, and him kissing me afterwards. It took me by surprise, mostlybecause we hadn’t been physical in any way for awhile, but I was too excited to say anything in the moment to him. Plus, surrounded by our friends, it wasn’t the right time. I was able to brush him off afterwards, which then led to his little breaking and entering stint, but obviously, Luke doesn’t know that. Why would he?
“It’s really none of your business.” The pen in my grip strains as I grip it tightly.
“It’s not,” he agrees, but his expression is pinched.
A sliver of something tickles the back of my mind. Maybe it’s delusion, or maybe it’s hope. Either way, I feed into it as I ask carefully, “Are you jealous?”
Wrong thing to say.
Luke’s eyes narrow on me, and his lip curls slightly as he spits, “And why exactly would I be jealous? I’m your coach.”
“I—”
“I don’t know what sort of ideas you have in your head after I let you use my guest room, but let’s get one thing straight. I broke the rules once for you, but it’s not going to happen again. If you want to report me to Alice, fine, go ahead. But unless you’re going to, you need to forget that even happened. I’m your coach, and nothing more. So I don’t give a fuck what orwhoyou do in your free time. Got it?”
It would’ve hurt less if I got smacked in the face with a puck. The venom in his voice burns my skin like all my nerves are exposed. I sit in stunned silence for a moment, just staring at him, unable to form a response.
He looks back down at his desk and busies himself with something on his phone. His clear dismissiveness of me adds salt to the wound, but I refuse to sit here and let him see the way his words affected me. Tears burn at the back of my eyes, but I blink them away.
Forget about watching the rest of the game. Standing, I shoulder my backpack and stride toward the door on unsteady feet. “See you later,Coach.”
Without even bothering to look up, he says, “You’d do good to remember that.”
22
Lennon
“Good luck!” I tell the anxious student bouncing on her toes in front of me as I slide her coffee across the counter. She accepts it with a weak smile and dashes off. The caffeine probably isn’t going to do her exam anxiety any favors, but who am I to judge?
Krista leans one hip against the register with a heavy sigh. Our afternoon rush has finally died down to a slow trickle, and we’re closing early today since it’s the last day before winter break.
