I drop my head, nodding along with his assessment like I’m just as stumped as him. Suddenly, my head pops up, and I pull my right hand out of my pocket to snap my fingers. “I have an idea!”
Coach’s gaze zooms in on mine. “What is it?”
“Why don’t you pitch to the board that Graham will come to the game if he can use one of the boxes? It’s private and low profile.”
He nods along like he likes my idea, then he stops. “What about the press? They aren’t going to be happy if Hart U doesn’t get any publicity from his visit.”
I pretend to contemplate the situation before saying, “What about the school reporter? We can offer an exclusive interview.”
Coach’s eyes practically light up. He slaps me on the shoulder. “That’s brilliant, son.”
“So you think the board will go for it?”
He chuckles, “They would be stupid not to. I’ll set up a meeting this week and get back to you or Aiden on what they say.”
“Thanks, Coach. I know how much Aiden will appreciate it, and so will his dad.” I feel like a schmuck for lying to Coach.Maybe lying isn’t the right word, but definitely leading the witness fits.
“No problem. Tell the boys I’m adding a practice Sunday. We need our head in the game and not out partying or celebrating before we’ve even won the cup.” He levels me with his gaze. I feel like a toddler being scolded for putting his hand in the cookie jar before dinner. In other words, Coach is saying nothing in hockey is guaranteed. We’ve got to put the work in if we want the reward.
And we still have a lot of work to do to clinch the division and make it to the championship.
“Yes, sir.”
“Now get out of here. Go get something to eat and get to bed early. Best you boys live like nuns for the next four weeks.”
I choke on my laughter as I watch Coach walk away. “Nuns it is, sir.”
His hand goes up in the air in a goodbye as he turns the corner, and all I can do is shake my head. The boys will get a kick out of that one. Nuns. The whole team celibate? No freaking way that will ever happen.
I pull out my phone and text Aiden that Coach is going to talk to the board but sounds like we’re on. He responds quickly and says he will start working on his dad. Our plan is one step closer to fruition, and for that, I’m relieved. Even if I did have to fib a little to Coach, it was all done with the greater good in mind.
Aiden is essential to the team; tonight’s assist on the ice proves that. I need him focused, not worried his half-cocked father is going to do something stupid. We’re the closest we’ve ever been to making it to the championships, and it’s going to take every single one of us at a hundred and ten percent to get us there.
As I walk to my car, I think more and more about what Coach said. Maybe he’s on to something. Then, an image of Millienaked and spread wide under me pops into my head, and nuns are the last fucking thing I’m thinking about.
Chapter Sixteen
Rowan
The boys are loud and rambunctious, all of them still coming down from the high of our win tonight. We’re at Jack’s, our favorite small-town diner that is filled wall to wall with hockey players, their girlfriends and other friends that wanted to come out and celebrate with us.
This is how it is after every win, we gather here, eat, laugh, and bask in all our glory. Then most of the time we go off to a party or some of the guys go with their girlfriends to celebrate in private.
The thought has me picturing a certain curly haired beauty. I pull my phone out of my pocket figuring the boys won’t notice. Nash is in a pretty animated display of how one of the Wolverine’s defensive player’s started talking some mad smack towards Beau after Beau blocked his shot. And how Beau shut him down with some stupid your momma joke.
I hear the boys hoot and holler with laughter as Beau jumps in to help tell the story.
I look down at my phone and quickly pull up our messages.
Me: What’s next on the list, Daredevil?”
Before I can close the screen I see three little dots that she’s typing. Her response quickly follows.
Daredevil: Depends on how serious you are about this.
The left side of my mouth tilts up.
Me: Very serious, like the most serious. Lay it on me, Daredevil, I can handle it.
