EVE
When I stopby campus for my usual lunch with Dad two days later, the rink is empty. I find the team gathered in a room near the coaching staff offices. I squeeze through the guys standing at the back and decline with a smile when Theo offers me his seat.
They’re wrapping up their final team meeting of the semester by reviewing game tape to break down their season performance. A projector screen shows a hockey arena. It looks like they’re up to their Frozen Four win.
“See this rebound?” Cole points to the play when it pauses. “Here. This moment.”
It doesn’t matter if I’ve watched Dad coach my whole life. Cole’s passion for this fills me with delight.
He notices me, lips twitching up at the corners for a split second. I give him a subtle wave. Dad thinks it’s meant for him.
Cole clears his throat. “Higgins gets it to Adler, but it was luck. If this was controlled and fluid, more windows of opportunity open up.”
“We scored a goal right after that,” Brody says. “Nice one, rookie.”
He bumps fists with Easton across the table.
“Don’t let it go to your head. The minute you do, your game gets cocky,” Dad warns. “The next win is never guaranteed. Wins mean nothing if you’re not doing the work it takes to earn them.”
“Keep yourselves loose over break,” Cole says. “Your individual conditioning regimen recommendations are on the table. Make sure you grab it on your way out before you clean anything you need out of the locker room. We’ll see you back here for training camp in August.”
The team jumps up in high spirits with their summer upon them. In their hustle, Cole slips through the room and snags my wrist without making eye contact. I bite my lip around a smile and sneak out with him while Dad’s busy talking with Steve.
We follow the flow of players, falling behind. Then he pulls us into the equipment room and locks the door.
“No one should need anything in here,” he says. “Hi.”
I step into him, resting my hands on his abdomen. “Hi.”
He cups my elbows. “That’s it. That’s all I brought you in here to say. I had to steal you away for myself for a minute.”
Husky laughter leaves me. “You’re not gonna kiss me?”
“Risky.” His brow lifts.
“That’s an interesting way to say fun,” I sass.
He grasps my waist, walking me back against a shelf. His head dips, lips meeting mine. It heats up from sweet to passionate, neither of us able to slow down.
“Eve,” he says reluctantly against me.
I don’t respond, kissing him until his composure fractures. His grip flexes on my waist.
“We shouldn’t be doing this. Not here. We could get caught.”
He’s right. He’s so right, and yet?—
“Fuck it. I don’t care.”
If I don’t touch him in the next minute, I’ll combust. My palms slide up his chest, bumping the whistle hanging around his neck.
Cole groans, dragging me back in for another filthy kiss, fingers digging into my hip while I clutch his coaching jacket. His words come out ragged and hot against my lips.
"You drive me insane.”
“The feeling is absolutely mutual.”
A laugh that’s more of a gasp escapes me as his mouth moves down my throat with rough, branding kisses that could easily leave his mark of what we’re doing all over my sensitive skin. I tilt my head back to give him better access.
