“I’d play for you in a heartbeat,” he grumbled out, and the weight of his statement made me nod. There was no higher compliment coming from a laser-focused guy like J.D.
“Thanks, man.” I coughed to clear the feelings creeping into my voice. “Hey,” I asked, nerves exploding in my gut. “Back when you were with… my sister and were afraid to tell me and the team, what made you change your mind?”
He sighed, and I pictured his dark eyes widening in panic. We didn’t discuss this stuff, ever. I talked with Ryann about it, but J.D. and I had a mutual understanding that if he hurt my sister, I’d hurt him. However, the parallel of their relationship and what I had with Naomi was too similar to ignore.
“Picturing life without Ryann wasn’t something I ever wanted to do. That meant… well, when you found out before I could talk to you, it scared the fuck out of me.”
“What would’ve happened if I said I hated it and didn’t approve?”
“I wouldn’t have cared, Reiner. Ry would’ve been upset, and we would’ve worked through that together, but it was about us. Ryann and me. Look,” he said, his tone shifting to a softer one that I hadn’t heard before. “Whoever she is...because let’s be honest, this isn’t about me and your sister. Don’t let someone else determine what the two of you want.”
“Right. Thanks,” I said, emotion clogging my voice, and my face burned. Despitehowwe got to this point, I trusted Jonah. He was a part of our family now. Even if he and Ryann never decided to get married, he was part of our circle. “Just have Ryann call me later, please.”
“Sure thing.”
We hung up, and something hard and sharp formed in my heart, like an icicle. Piercing, cold, and painful. Jonah’s words repeated, and the meaning of them took root. I wasn’t the problem with Naomi. It was her dad. Her baggage with hockey. She was the one letting the past determine us being together. Only, it was my new job. She never once mentioned her dad in her reasoning.
It seemed that I was more invested in her than she was with me, and it stung because I knew better. I told myself to not get too involved, but it happened so easily. Effortlessly, even. The way she understood me and talked to me about life. The way she laughed and smelled.
Fuck.
“You always such a dick?” Cal asked, moving to stand next to me.
His sudden appearance had me snort. I shrugged. “Don’t you have something better to do than bother your assistant coach?”
“Not really. My roommate’s an asshole, and what else could I do on a Friday morning?”
“Not bother me,” I said, laughing to take the sting out of the words. “Come on, if you want to continue annoying me, let’s make use of the time. We can watch some old games and discuss your ego on the ice.”
He groaned, andthatmade me cackle for real. “No need to be a bitch about it since you’re in your feels.”
“Oh, I’m not. This is for the team, Cal. It has nothing to do with getting back at you.”
He could’ve walked away, but he followed me to the rink, talking about nonsense. The number one thing I learned since that night in the bar was that Cal wasn’t as shy and quiet as I thought. What I mistook for arrogance and attitude was, in fact, a kid struggling with his life and not knowing what to do.
He wanted attention—which I understood.
But sweet Jesus. The kid liked to gab, and I refused to be legit annoyed by it. I had a handful of mentors who helped me when I was younger, and it was not only the right thing to do but also something that mattered to me. Giving back to the hockey community. Paying it forward. And hell, if guiding Cal was a part of that, I’d see it through.
We approached the block the rink sat on, and I stopped, dead in my tracks.Naomi.
The sight of Naomi walking with her dad and sister felt like a punch to the sternum. I hadn’t seen her since Sunday when she decided being with me wasn’t worth the risk. This had to be heartbreak.
I’d heard about it. I’d seen teammates go through it, but fuck. It was worse than I thought. My stomach cramped when she smiled at Cami, and then her gaze moved toward me. We had to be at least a hundred feet away, yet I felt her stare in my soul.You ended this. You did this.
Cami stopped walking and elbowed Naomi, the two clearly whispering.
Cal cleared his throat. “Is there a reason we’re in a mini stare down with Coach’s twin daughters? Which, can we talk about the fact Coach has twin girls? Like, what the fuck, man? Twins! They don’t even look like him.”
“Shut your mouth.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and took a deep, cold breath. My heart hammered in my chest, and everything got hotter. My neck, my face, my fucking palms.
“Coach, good to see you again,” Coach Simpson said, his voice loud and cheerful. He held out his hand, and I shook it as I forced a tight smile.
“You as well. You heading out?”
“Sure thing. Naomi crashed my standing lunch with Cami, and I lost track of time. Gotta run to my condo.” He put his arm around Cami in a hug and did a watered-down version on Naomi. “See you in a few hours, Reiner. Tonight’s your debut, officially.”
Shit. I didn’t even think about that. My first night as the assistant coach on the bench. My tongue felt too large for my mouth, and he must’ve known.
