Page 31 of False Start
“Thank you, Coach. I appreciate your support and if anything happens, I’ll let you know right away.”
Coach nods, then hugs Emilia before walking off to join the team. We follow after him, passing the players on the way out of the room and to the front of the line with the rest of the staff.
“So, Jake talked to my dad? I guess things are looking even better than I thought.” She side-eyes me and waggles her eyebrows, a smirk painting her face. I smack her arm as we both burst into laughter that catches the attention of some of the guys.
“What’s got you ladies laughing like that?” Beckett asks as we pass him.
“Oh, just the thought of your face, Becks,” Emilia teases over her shoulder.
“This face is a glorious piece of art.”
“Keep telling yourself that, maybe someone will fall for it, but not us,” she claps back at him and he laughs. Even aswe continue our walk down the hallway, I notice that he continues to stare after us, a smirk painted on his lips and what looks almost like lust filling his eyes.
I’ll have to ask her about that later.
I come to a stop when I see Jake and walk up to him. “Hey, you talked to Coach for me?”
“Yeah, I wanted to make sure your mind was at ease and that Coach knew how you felt. I’m sorry if I overstepped, though.”
I walk in front of him, hugging him in his full kit, his arms coming around me and hugging me tightly.
“No, I appreciate it. Thank you. It really does put my mind at ease a bit knowing he’s got my back.”
The way his hands wrap around me brings me so much comfort, reminding me of how safe he always made me feel. All I want to do is sink into his embrace and never let go, but I know that we both have a job to do tonight.
I go to take a step back, to start getting everything together, when he tightens his hold on me. Looks like he wants this hug just as much as I do.
“Coach is a great guy, so I didn’t expect anything less from him. Speaking of, what did you decide?”
“I’m going to help this game, see what’s in store, and then give him my final answer after we get home.”
“That sounds like a smart decision."
With a tap on my shoulder, I see Emilia gesture over her shoulder, signaling that we need to get a move on.
“Thanks, I got some great advice today that really helped.”
“Well, then that person deserves an award.”
I laugh as I reluctantly pull myself from his hold and start to back away, turning around with the image of his full smile on his face.
“In your dreams, hockey boy.”
Just as I’m about to turn the corner, there’s a faint whisper of what sounds like “in your dreams” and boy, if I heard him right, he has no idea how right he is.
Now, I just have to make it through tonight’s game and hopefully not crash and burn.
Chapter 12
Kailyn
It’s been an intense couple of months since the season has started, and I’m glad to be home again after a series away that has been nothing but brutal. Four games in one week with a two-to-two record, and I’m ready to have a couple days off to rest and relax.
I knew this was the life I was choosing when I made my career decision. I grew up in a hockey household. I’m used to the schedule and demands, but sometimes, a girl just needs a break and to finally see her best friend in person for the first time since the beginning of summer. With the weather cooling down to a nice sixty-five degrees—shocking for Florida—I knew today was a perfect day to get together. I also decided to invite Emilia and Lainey, so they can all meet in person.
Of course, me being me, I’m always early everywhere I go.
It’s something my dad instilled in us from a young age. He would always say: “early is on time and on time is late.”
