Apparently I’m on everyone’s shit list today.
Duncan smirks back at me as we start the drills. Pushing my body this way is about the only thing that can clear my mind. It’s hard to focus on anything else when your legs are on fire.
No matter how many times we do these wind sprints on the ice, it always hurts. But in the best way. Because building my strength now means we can go the distance as a team.
Hopefully straight to the playoffs this season.
The whistle blows to end practice as I skate past the line, nearly crashing into the boards. I’m gassed and needmore than a minute after practice before I have to head to Cassie’s office.
Hitting the showers, I let the water sluice over me as I take the time I need. Cassie is going to be pissed at me no matter what I do, so I might as well give my muscles a chance to relax.
I have no doubt by the time she’s done with me, her mission is going to be to turn me into the team teddy bear. It’s the last thing I want to be.
Teddy bears didn’t get you anywhere when I was growing up.
Finishing my shower, I wrap a towel around my hips and head back into the locker room. Half the team is already gone, and I drop down into my stall, relishing in the relative quiet.
I know I can’t put off the inevitable much longer. Steeling my spine, I slip into a pair of athletic shorts and a Black Diamonds T-shirt, then step into my gym shoes before heading down to her office.
The door is wide open. But Cassie isn’t the first person I see.
No.
It’s Piper.
What in the fuck is she doing here?
“Cash, please take a seat.”
“What’s going on?”
I don’t take a seat as asked. My senses are on high alert. Why am I in here and why the hell is Piper here?
This can’t be good.
Cassie’s smile is sweet. Too sweet for my liking.
“Cash, as you know, we have a bit of a problem with your reputation.”
“My reputation is fine,” I grunt out.
“Do you really need me to read that article to you again? I can read more.”
“No,” I bite out, now dropping into the chair next to Piper.
Her blue eyes flit between Cassie and me, as if she doesn’t quite know what to make of her presence here.
“What’s going on?” Piper asks from her seat next to me. She’s wearing her team polo and khaki pants. It does nothing for her. Not that I should be paying attention to her, but she’s cute in a princess sort of way. It wouldn’t surprise me if she had birds flying around her head. She’s that sweet.
“Like I said, Cash, we have a bit of a publicity problem with you. And I, for one, don’t want to keep having to deal with these articles about how you’re not a team player and that you shouldn’t be a Black Diamond. Do you want that?”
“No.” This time there’s a little less force behind my words. “I don’t want that, Cassie. I like my spot on the team.”
Actually, I love my spot on the team. The Black Diamonds have been my life since I was drafted. I don’t want to have to change teams at this point in my career. I’m almost thirty. Who’s going to want to pick up an aging hockey player at this point? Hockey players’ careers aren’t that long, and I’m definitely on the tail end of mine.
“Good. So, you are going to start dating Piper here.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
