She shrugs, her lips turning down into the cutest pout, like whatever she’s about to say is the most obvious thing in the world. “Personally, I wouldn’t have let the goal in. He was clearly hungry for the shot. You misread his hips and let your version of the play direct your reactions versus actively watching and reacting.”
Okay, what the fuck? That’s … fair.
Tucking my bottom lip between my teeth, I stow away any snarky come back. My gaze flickers over to Andy, who’s sitting with his jaw on the floor, staring at Shay, shocked that she just said that to me. I would be equally aghast, but the thing is, she’s right.
I followed the play I assumed was happening instead of reacting to what was actually in front of my eyes.
Nodding slowly, I cock my head to the side and blow out a breath. “Damn, Rooney. You got me.”
Proudly, she grins, sticking her nose up. “Told you.”
That sass of hers—goddamn, what has gotten into her today? More confidence? Did something good happen with her arm? Regardless, I love seeing this energy on her. It’s refreshing.
“You got me.” I lift my hands, palms facing her. “Seriously though, great call. Thanks.”
A pulse of vulnerability gleams in her eyes, like she wasn’t expecting a real compliment from me. Her cheeks warm, and her shoulders soften slightly. She has so much armor around her all the time, and seeing her shed a single plate has my heart doing backflips in my chest.
“Of course. That’s what I’m here for,” she mutters.
I hang on her words, immediately replaying them in my mind because it feels like there’s more than one meaning in her tone.
She’s here to be my coach. She’s here for the team. And I can’t stop thinking about how much I’m falling for her.
Jesus, Matt, get it together.
A thousand words hang on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t form a single sentence, especially with Andy watching and Huang approaching.
Carrington blows his whistle, and I breathe out, letting the possibilities drift into the air. It’s time to get back to my crease.
“Thanks, Coach.” I two-finger salute Shay, meaning what I said with absolution.
She rightfully called me out, and it’s going to make me reevaluate my game this second round of scrimmaging. There’s a line between predictability and using it as a crutch, and sometimes, goalies can get stuck in the latter. But I won’t any longer today, and that’s because of Shay. Andy—granted, he was studying film—didn’t say shit to me about it. She’s a good coach, and we really are so goddamn lucky to have her.
The rest of practice goes by in a breeze, and I immediately implement Shay’s recommendation. Kos manages to score on me, but that’s because our boys were playing like one fluid man, their passes and moves in perfect alignment.
Huang did incredible today, too, and I don’t know how we got lucky enough to snag him in last-minute trades before the deadline last season, but we are better off. He’s young, but he’s a quick learner. It doesn’t hurt that the bastard is six foot five before adding skates on his feet.
After a quick huddle and practice recap by Carrington, we’re dismissed. I can almost feel the warm water hitting my back, the locker room showers shouting my name.
But when we get to the locker room and I take a quick peek at my phone, my heart drops. I have four missed calls from my mom and a slew of texts.
Fuck.
I read them as fast as I can, skipping over words to grasp the most important parts. Long story short, my dad had a fall, and they’re at the hospital right now. On top of it, he’s confused and fighting with the nurses. Thankfully, nothing’s broken, but he’s bruised up and having a hard time accepting what happened.
And my mom is all alone to deal with this by herself. Fuck. All because I want to play my fun, stupid sport. I know without a doubt that I should be at her side, holding her hand through this.
“You good?” Kos’s voice cuts through the noise in my head.
I nod, tightening my grip on my phone and hiding it from view. “Yeah. I’ll be right back. I forgot something out there.”
I doubt he believes me. He’s a smart guy, and that was a dumbass excuse. But he lets me go anyway, and for that, I’m thankful.
I’m not heading to the ice but to the one room in here that everyone else seems to forget about. My secret place. Even though Shay knows about it too.
Thankfully, she’s not occupying it when I burst inside, sealing the door behind me. I don’t want to be near anyone right now—at least not for a moment. I need this place to myself, to my swirling thoughts and relentless fears.
He fell? He fucking fell.
