She laughs. “Oh. Because you’re the best?”
“No, because you are,” I say without hesitation. “Welcome to the team, baby. We are so goddamn lucky to have you.”
Blushing, she averts her gaze. “Thank you.”
The click of a camera cuts through the moment, and the two of us turn.
Savannah’s phone is aimed in our direction and she’s grinning at the screen.
“What are you doing?” Adeline asks, squinting at her friend.
With an innocent shrug, Savannah pockets her phone. “So you’re still on for your date with Scott tomorrow, right?Thiswon’t change that?”
Thethisshe’s speaking of could be the way I’m currently holding Adeline. Or maybe it’s her new position on the team.
But then my mind catches up to the other part of her statement.Date.She’s going on another date with Scott?
My body goes taut. “Date?”
Adeline stumbles back, breaking contact, and forces an awkward smile. “Uh, yeah. Date number two.”
I don’t fight her on it. In fact, I keep my mouth shut completely. Because even if she has a date with someone else tomorrow night, things are looking up. She’s no longer my coach. That means there’s one less issue keeping us from being together.
THIRTY-SIX
ADDIE
The thingabout big moments is that they’re generally fleeting.
After the Olympics, athletes are expected to return home and go back to their regular lives.
Or worse. In my case, after that night with JJ, after we told each other we loved one another, the bubble we found ourselves in didn’t even make it twenty-four hours before it burst.
So despite the feral excitement my family showed in response to my news, when Monday rolls around, I expect things to go back to normal. Well, as normal as they can be when I’m walking into a locker room filled with men who are now my colleagues.
JJ goes first, telling me to wait so he can make sure everyone is dressed. With the door wide open, he yells, “Listen up.”
A few guys grumble greetings, but they all settle quickly. “From now on, there’s no dick in the locker room.”
I close my eyes and groan. He is absurd.
“Ah, Cap,” Bobby Dean whines. “Tell JJ I can’t help it. This thing just wants to be seen.”
If I had to guess, he’s humping the air aggressively. Neanderthals. Every last one of them.
Brayden appears next to JJ and waves me in. “Hanson is right. Our new goalie is here.”
I step forward and give a little wave. The lot of them are all dressed for practice, and thankfully, there’s not a dick in sight. As they take me in, I wait for their faces to drop. For the glowers and concerned mumbles and disappointment.
Bobby steps forward first, and I brace myself.
“Shit,” he shouts. “Addie Langfield is gonna be aBolt?”
“Fuck yeah.” Royal saunters across the room and slaps my hand. “Can’t wait to take the ice with ya.”
“Angles, Angles!”
Bobby starts the chant, but soon the entire locker room is shouting my nickname at a deafening volume.
