“You’re distracted,” Coach barks. “Personal shit is not my forte, but we have a real chance to win the Calder Cup, and I can’t have my best forward distracted.”
“I should have told you a couple days ago when I found out,” I say as I lift my hand and run my fingers through my hair.
Coach watches me for a moment in silence. I can already tell that he is going to have something to say about this, but it’s not something I can keep a secret. His teeth slide across his bottom lip as I tell the story about my new woman and my son.
By the time I’m finished and have announced that I’m going to keep them and move both of them here to live with me, Coach exhales a heavy sigh.
“You boys and your wandering dicks are going to be the fucking death of me,” he snaps.
My shoulders shake as I try to hold back laughter at his words. They are not meant to be funny. I know they aren’t, but they’re fucking hilarious.
“I wish I could say sorry, Coach.”
He snorts. “None of you bastards are sorry for shit. And you know what?”
“What?” I ask when he doesn’t continue immediately.
He reaches out, tapping his finger on the table as he lets out a grunt. “I wouldn’t be sorry for fucking shit, either.”
Placing his palms on the desk, he stands, his gaze never leaving mine. He watches me for a moment. Then he shakes his head a couple of times before his gaze pins mine. He stares at me before he speaks.
“Don’t fuck up on the ice.”
And with that, he walks out of the room. I watch him for a moment, then let out my own heavy sigh before I stand from my chair and straighten. Walking out of the office, I make my way over to my locker to get my shit.
“You good?” Daniel asks as he walks up to me.
I could tell him to fuck off and mind his business, but I decide against it. Instead, I chuckle because I am good. And I’m feeling good. So fucking good. Although I would be feeling better if I were inside of Wrenly right about now.
“I am,” I say. “She’s it.”
He raises his brows as Pavel steps out from around the corner, a towel wrapped around his waist. Pavel’s gaze searches mine, but I can see the surprise in his face at my admission. I know he heard me. Every single person in here probably did.
Nosy fucking bastards.
“Well, we must meet her, then,” Pavel announces.
“Agreed,” Daniel chimes in. “When does she leave town?”
Instantly, my happiness at the admission of Wrenly beingthe onedisappears, and I’m left with a stabbing pain in my chest. She’s going to be leaving. I only have a few more days to entice her to stay. I don’t know how I’m going to do that, but I’m sure as fuck going to try.
Maybe I just need to fuck her so much that she gets completely crazed by my cock and can’t imagine a single night without me. I mean, honestly, that’s the best-case scenario and would be the better choice for me.
That’s going to be my plan, mainly because it’s the most exciting for me. The only other option I have is to woo her, and I have no fucking clue how to do that. Sex is what I know. I can make her feel good. I can provide whatever she needs, whatever Ryan needs, too. Sex and money.
That’s probably about what I can do for her—I can only hope it’s enough.
SEVENTEEN
ELI
Wrenly isquiet as we drive away from Luke and Clara’s place. Ryan is passed out in his car seat, something he did the moment I clicked the belt into place. Instead of driving to my house, I know they need to get some shit, and I’m ready to check them out of the hotel.
“Eli,” Wrenly calls out softly.
Responding with a hum, I wait for her to say whatever she has rolling around inside of her head. Which, considering how quiet she’s been, is something.
“I really like Clara,” she announces.
