“Yeah, well, I think he underestimates the star power on this team. Guys like West and Vik aren’t going to play any kind of mind games. They’ll go with the flow for now, but if he makes their lives complicated, I get the feeling they’ll push back. West could literally go anywhere in the league.”
“My dad is a difficult man and, from what I’ve seen, an even more difficult coach. He does get results, though.”
“I think that’s what we’re all counting on.”
“His methods are questionable, in my opinion, but they wouldn’t have hired him if they didn’t think he would be good for a new team.”
“I’m just trying to do the best I can and not take anything personally. Sometimes you have to suck it up. This is part of life. Lots of people don’t like their boss and they make a hell of a lot less money than I do.”
“That’s very true. It’s just a little harder for me because he’s my father and every time I’ve tried to push back, he makes me feel guilty.” She pauses. “I think he was always overbearing but my mom knew how to manage him. Things got harder when she died, and then once he married Lourdes, she made everything a million times worse.”
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“None of this is your fault. I’m just trying to navigate things most people have already figured out by the time they’re twenty-three.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You’re already doing it. Being here for me. Introducing me to your awesome sister. Inviting me on this epic trip.”
“Yeah, a trip where you got to spend more time with my sister than me,” I pretend to complain.
“Don’t worry, big guy,” Billie yells out, “I’ll let you play with your friend too.”
We all laugh.
“Drive safe,” I say. “See you when you get here.”
“Can’t wait,” she says before hanging up.
I’m excited that she’s staying longer and spending the night with me again, but I’m also a little nervous about her coming to L.A. when her father seems to be on the war path. The season just started. It’s way too soon for him to be freaking out and berating players. He needs to work with us, figure out a way to tweak the systems he’s putting in place so that we’re all on the same page.
Yelling and curfews aren’t helpful at this stage.
But I’m not getting paid to be a coach—I just have to get out on the ice every night and play my ass off.
And try not to get caught sleeping with my coach’s daughter.
I’m pretty sure I know which one of those things is going to be harder.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Jayne
The drive from Las Vegas to L.A. is a little under four hours, and Billie and I talk the whole way. She tells me about her job learning the ropes at the restaurant, about Rome and how she thinks he’s going to propose soon, and how far her relationship with Bodi has come.
“I’m so proud of him,” she says. “He’s been in therapy for months and is sticking to it.”
“I’m glad he got the help he needed. I think it’s hard to admit that you need help.”
She glances at me. “Is it?”
“I never thought I needed more therapy, but I’m starting to think maybe I do. After so many years of emotional abuse and isolation and all the things we’ve already talked about.”
“Did you have any kind of grief counseling when your mom died?”
“A little, but once my dad met Lourdes, everything stopped. And honestly, I don’t know how receptive I would have beento it. You know how it is when you’re a teenager—you know everything.”
