I hold her gaze, trying to figure out what this is about, but Savannah claps once, stealing her attention. “Let’s get these questions answered. You really don’t want to say four or five times a week? Camden works me over at least that many times aday.”
Bray scowls. “What kind of questions are these?”
I grind my teeth hard, grasping for all the control I possess.
“Important ones,” Josie says. “Sex is an important component of any relationship, and though our little Addie is quite virginal, we don’t want her to stay that way forever.”
“I’m not a virgin,” Adeline grits out.
“Christ,” I mutter, clutching the back of my neck. I’m going to throw up. “Can I talk to you alone?” I ask her.
“No,” all three of the women say at the same time.
“Come on.” Brayden grasps my arm. “We’re going to grab dinner. Girls, have a great time. Jose, I’ll see you at Mom and Dad’s tomorrow?”
She blows him a kiss. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Coach,” Bray says with a dip of his head. “This is cool. Good luck.”
Adeline’s eyes light up. “Thanks, Bray.”
My best friend drags me out of the kitchen.
The second we step out into the fresh air and the door shuts behind us, I turn on him. “What the fuck was that?”
“What the fuck was what?” he parrots, brow arched.
“You just told Adeline that you think what she’s doing is a good idea. It’s an awful idea.”
Jaw working, he gives me a pointed look. “You can’t be with her. What about that don’t you understand? She’s your coach andyou’re married. It doesn’t get more off limits than that.”
I can barely catch my breath. I’m too angry. And so damn scared. Because it’s happening again. I’m going to lose her if I don’t stop this. Ican’tlose her.
TWENTY-ONE
ADDIE
“JJ seemed pissed,”Josie says.
“More like stressed,” Savannah muses, sliding a wineglass her way.
I grab the one she pushes in front of me and take a sip, buying myself time to think. He was surprised, yes. And overprotective. But that’s JJ. I don’t think of him as a brother. That’d be gross. But to a degree, that’s how he’s always treated me. Like a little sister he has to watch out for.
I set my glass down on the counter and grab the questionnaire. I have no interest in discussing JJ or his feelings, so I might as well get to it. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” I say aloud.
“Head coach of the Boston Bolts, of course,” Josie says with a smirk.
Exhaling loudly, I shake my head. “A female head coach in the NHL? Even my family isn’t that open-minded.”
And it’s not what I want. I like being a goalie coach. In my current position, I still have the freedom to coach the way I want. To get on the ice with the guys and run drills. A head coach has to oversee practice, control the staff, and do all sorts of other bureaucratic bullshit that I don’t have the stomach for.
“Okay, then where do you see yourself?” Savannah asks.
My mind betrays me, and it makes my heart twist. Because myinstinct is to say that I’ll be playing hockey. Running drills with the guys has been good for the team, but it’s also wreaking havoc on me mentally. Making it difficult not to doubt the decision I made when I left the PWHL.
While keeping up with them during practice is one thing, playing in an actual NHL game would be another. I doubt I could cut it. Which is why I’m coaching.
“Still coaching. Hopefully not living here.” I look up at the ceiling and huff.
