Page 9 of The Coach

“Yeah, you’re right.” I smile at her, and she lifts her beer up, tapping it against mine. “Now, let’s watch the Vapors kick some Tiger ass!”

The crowd around me cheers, hearing my declaration, and I relax into my seat.

This was all I needed right here.

The Vapors have one of the coolest intros in the league, and the fans eat it up. Everyone from school was here to cheer on the team. Whether they were hockey fans or not when they decided to come to this school, they sure were now.

Whoever was in charge of the intro put out a smoke, or “vapor,” machine so the players would skate through it as they came out. The announcer was loud and had the perfect booming voice for calling out the players’ names as they skated onto the ice.

Cassie stayed seated while this was happening, trying to pretend she didn’t love every second of it. But I was up and out of my seat, cheering loudly for my brother when he came out and some of his friends that weren’t total assholes.

The crowd was deafening for a moment before finally settling down.

“And let’s give a big Vapor welcome to our new head coach, Coach Mitchum!” the announcer’s voice rings above the screaming, and I look down onto the ice, trying to see around the people in front of me that block my view.

I’d heard from Linc that he had a new coach, and so far, he was really happy with him. He was the kind of coach who got out on the ice with the team and worked hard. I was thrilled it was working out because Lincoln was heartbroken when his last coach had to retire due to heart issues.

The crowd in front of me settles down, and I can see again, but the coach is already behind the bench, and I can only see the back of him. From what I can tell, he’s tall and broad-shouldered, his brown hair is on the longer side but slicked back in a professional style. I also knew he was the youngest head coach the Vapors had ever hired. They had a whole welcome thing for him a couple weeks ago, but I had to miss it due to work.

I find Lincoln, and he waves at me; I give a big wave back and stand, shaking my jersey at the shoulders and turning to show him the back. It was a little tradition we’d done ever since he started playing in college, and I loved it.

The first time we’d seen his name on the back of a Vapors jersey, he’d gotten emotional, and I went straight to the shop and bought one to wear.

I turn back around to see him laughing, and my eyes move to the player’s box. I feel eyes on me, and when I realize who’s staring at me, my smile drops, and so does my stomach.

Because the man glaring at me from the rink, wearing a suit and tie that fits him oh so well, is Tanner.

My brother’s new head coach.

four

TANNER

My heart rate skyrockets in my chest as my eyes connect with the beautiful brown ones that I had been staring into all night just two days ago.

I frown at her and turn back to my team, my job.

I can’t believe she’s here. Then again, I shake my head at myself. Of course she is. She is a huge hockey fan.

So how come she didn’t know who I was? If she loved hockey, if she came to the games…she had to know.

I grit my teeth until I’m sure I crack a molar. Fuck. When I’d looked up into the stands, I was just taking it all in, letting the excitement rush over me and giving myself a little adrenaline rush to get my head in the game. Then I’d seen the Ellis jersey, mainly because she was only three rows behind the bench and to the left, and I had watched her do a little dance.

When she turned around and smiled at someone on the ice, my heart stopped as I took in her face.

Mick, wearing one of my player’s jerseys.

Mick, who was with me just two nights ago.

Fuck.

“You ready, Coach?” The ref comes up to me, and I nod my head, turning to my coaching staff and getting my head in the game.

“Yeah! That’s how we do it!” Lincoln Ellis screams above the rest of us in the locker room after the game.

We won 5-3, scoring again in the last few seconds of the period. It was a great fucking game, and I was proud of my guys for getting their shit in order and working hard.

They yell and celebrate for a moment, and I find my place in the center of it all, standing tall and waiting for everyone to quiet down.

---