Page 23

My teeth start to hurt and I realize I’m grinding them as I watch Bruce and Andie laughing together. It’s not jealousy, I have no reason to be jealous. I focus on the game instead, not wanting to dive into whatever I’m feeling.

The rest of the game is okay, Freckles seems too intent on winning to bug Noah today, and the two of them don’t cause any unnecessary drama. In the end, it’s a pretty uneventful game and we win 1-0.

* * *

We exit the locker room after Coach Aaron congratulates the boys on a job well done. When I walk out the locker room door, I’m hesitant, worried my teammates will be there waiting to raz me and drawing a huge crowd. But they’re not anywhere in sight. My shoulders relax, happy to have avoided an overwhelming scenario, and also glad the guys didn’t take the attention away from the Wombats after their win.

But I don’t make it out of the arena before Freckles’ mom sidles up next to me, a little too close. She bats her lashes as she says, “Great game, Coach.”

“Uh, thanks.”

She giggles in an obviously flirtatious way. “The strong silent type. I like it.”

She’s not an unattractive woman, her red hair is pretty, I guess. And although she’s older than me, her skin is nice, she has freckles along her nose just like her son. But I like to be the pursuer and not the pursued. Maybe that makes me old fashioned, or maybe women throwing themselves at me all the time just gets old.

I nod my head once toward the woman, a dismissal. Hopefully an obvious one, then walk out to the parking lot. I spot Andie as she and Noah are getting inside her car, and she glances up and catches my gaze. She pauses before giving me a faint smile. I bring a hand up and give her a salute. My people skills are top notch, as usual.

When I look toward my car, I spot my teammates and roll my eyes. Remy, Bruce, Colby, and West are all grinning and leaning against my Tesla.

“What the he—” I stop myself from swearing in case any kids are nearby. “What the heck are you guys doing here?”

They chuckle and I roll my eyes.

“And did you really think the sunglasses would do anything?”

Remy takes his sunglasses off. “The shades were Colby’s idea.”

Colby shrugs. “You didn’t have any better suggestions!”

Bruce steps forward and pounds a fist into my shoulder. “Dude! Great job tonight.”

“It was cool seeing you coach the kids, man,” West adds, his face serious, like complimenting me is painful.

“Uh, thanks. But you guys really don’t need to come to the games.”

“We got back early from the road and thought we’d come show our support,” Colby says, tugging on the brim of his Wombats cap. “But who decided on the team name?”

I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, that was my first thought too.”

Bruce stares at the cuddly, furry wombat on the front of his jersey. “They could’ve at least made them look more tough. Like razor sharp teeth or something.”

West studies the wombat. “Oh yeah, you’re totally right. That would be a huge improvement.”

“Have their people call my people,” Bruce says to me. “We’ll get it taken care of.”

I roll my eyes again.

“Hey, which kid is the one who likes high-sticking like you?” Colby teases, earning another glare from me. He cringes and adds, “Too soon?”

“Number 55 is an incredible player,” Remy changes the subject. “Sweet power skating.”

The guys nod their heads in agreement. Bruce whistles. “Yeah, I loved watching him.”

“That’s Noah,” I tell them, then turn to Colby, “the high-sticker, actually. I’m going to work with him one-on-one a bit.”

They all stare at me with blank expressions.

“What?”