I tried to rein in my temper but lost that battle. “How about you spend more time focused on practice instead of flirting with the pretty reporter?” I snarled.
Confusion filtered across Braxton’s face for a split second before he burst out laughing. He was so loud that several of his teammates cast curious glances in our direction, but my stern glare had them turning away quickly.
Braxton sucked in huge gulps of air between bursts of laughter, gripping his side with the free hand not holding his hockey stick. “You think.” More laughter. “Me and Bristol?” He practically howled at the idea.
Every muscle in my body was coiled tight, ready to snap. “Care to enlighten me on what’s so hilarious?”
He calmed down just enough that I could see the mirth dancing in his eyes. “Bristol is Dakota’s best friend.”
I stared at him, stunned. Then the pieces fell into place, and the idea of it being a coincidence that Bristol and I both ended up at Pipes that night was shattered.
“She”—I let out a disbelieving huff—“she’sthe friend?”
“Yup.” Braxton’s head bobbed up and down, a wide grin on his face.
I groaned. “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
Tilting his head, Braxton assessed me. “Why do you care so much about who Bristol flirts with? Not that what she and I were doing was flirting. She’s practically Dakota’s sister.”
“No reason.”
I was a shit liar, and Braxton’s eyes widened. “Wait a minute.” He shook his head. “No. You ghosted our invitation that night, right?” He paused. “But we left Bristol there.” His free fist clenched, and anger hardened his features before he screamed, “Fuck!” so loud it echoed across the ice.
This whole situation was quickly spiraling out of control.
“Keep your voice down,” I gritted out through a clenched jaw.
“No.” He poked me hard in the chest.
I hoped he would understand when I made him skate suicides later to set an example of his behavior. We’d been friends and teammates before I became his coach, but I would have to assert my authority or risk losing control over my bench.
“Do you have any fucking idea what that girl has been through? She’s been to hell and back, and you waltz in and put her career in jeopardy? And for what? To prove to yourself that you’ve still got it? Tell me, Maddox. How drunk was she when you took her home, huh? Because she’s got a history of blacking out to the point where Dakota used to affix a tracking tag to her clothing so she could locate her in the morning after partyingtoo hard.”
Even though I felt like a total ass, I couldn’t bite back my retort. “Actually,shetook me home.”
Braxton pressed his chest to mine, his eyes filled with murderous intent. “Leave. Her. Alone.”
I gave him a non-committal grunt because that was one promise I couldn’t make.
Raising my voice, I shouted so everyone on the ice could hear, “Slate! Give me ten suicides, then hit the showers!” Ten was a bit harsh, but you didn’t disrespect your coach. Ever.
Growling low beneath his breath, he skated away, lining up at the goal line. I stood along the bench with my arms crossed as he made a hard stop at the blue line before returning to the goal line, then to the red line and back, the opposite blue line and back, then finally, the opposite goal line and back.
“One!” I barked, calling out his first completed suicide.
The rest of the team got the message, returning to the drills they’d previously been running before my and Braxton’s argument.
I might have been one of them not that long ago, but I was in charge now. The sooner they learned that, the better.
Chapter 10
Bristol
“Are you excited totravel with the team for the first time?” Dakota’s face filled my phone screen perched on my nightstand as I packed my overnight bag. The Speed had played their first preseason game at home a few days ago and were now headed out on a quick trip to Pittsburgh to play their first away game of the preseason.
“I guess.” I shrugged, sniffing a pair of jeans to ensure they were fresh enough for casual wear later tonight when I went out with Alyssa. “We’re not going to be gone very long.”
“Worried about the plane ride?” she asked.
