Coach Barney stands, pulling Noah in for a hug before walking out of my office. His face is grim when he turns to face me, brown eyes heavy with sadness.
“I’m sure I’m the last person that should be telling you this, but treat him right.”
“Excuse me?” His words have taken me aback.
Noah nods. “Nick is one of my best friends and one of the best people I know. He hasn’t always had it easy, and I know being in the spotlight like this isn’t going to be easy for him.”
I soften at his words because I know exactly what he’s talking about. My sweet, sweet man has never taken a shine to the public spotlight. Ever since he was a kid, he’s hated it.
“I know. I love him, Noah. It might not look like it from the outside, but I do.”
“It takes a special kind of woman to love him. And I know if he loves you back, you’ll be the luckiest person in the world.”
I stand, walking over to Noah and giving him a hug. “Thank you for taking such good care of him all these years. I promise, I’ll look after him now.”
Noah returns the hug. “Thanks. Now, wish me luck because I’m going to need it since you’re sending me to play with my archenemy.”
I laugh, pulling back from him. There’s a playful look on his face now. “I’m sorry. Just keep your head down and play hockey and you’ll be okay.”
“Thanks, Ms. Hart.”
I wave him off. “Please, call me Bex.”
“Thanks, Bex. I’m sure this won’t be the last time we’ll see each other.”
Giving me a warm smile, Noah is out the door.
I collapse onto the couch. That went better than I thought, but it still wasn’t easy. My phone chirps from my desk and I ignore it. Nothing good will come from picking that up.
Now back to the matter at hand.
Figuring out what to do about my relationship with Nick.
Chapter Twenty-Six
NICK
“Nick! What do you have to say about your relationship?”
“Did Bexley coerce you into a relationship?”
“How long have you two been sleeping together?”
“Nick! Do you really think you deserve your position at goal? Did you steal the job from Anderson?”
“Did your relationship with Ms. Hart contribute to Noah’s downfall?”
Gritting my teeth, I ignore every single shouted comment as it comes my way. Normally, I smile and wave to the press that lines the entrance to the locker room. They’re always here to catch us coming into the games. The pregame swagger, as they call it.
Except today, there is no swagger. Only anger. So much of it, that I feel like I could explode on the first person that looks at me the wrong way.
Because of a late practice, and then Bex in meetings all afternoon, I haven’t gotten the chance to see her. If they’re shouting these kinds of comments at me, I can only imagine what she’s suffering through.
This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.
The noise of the locker room does little to help calm me down. Especially when I take in the empty locker now next to mine.
“Troy.” I grab his arm as he passes by me. “What’s with this?”
