Page 33 of The Captain

The memory was actually a good one and had helped me and Tanner come to a better understanding. I know he wasn’t out to hurt my sister. Looking at them for two seconds, anyone would know they were end game.

It was jealousy that had me sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.

Jealousy was making me act on my emotions—that I’d lost someone I love, that I was dealing with so much fucking stress—and Tanner and Mick seemed to get through everything together flawlessly.

Pulling open the heavy door of the arena, I let the smell of it overwhelm my senses. Coming into an ice rink was like coming home for me. Everything about it was familiar, welcoming.

When the university said they needed to hire a coach for the little league guys, Tanner had put mine and Crew’s names in the running for that job.

Crew and I were better than we used to be, and given that our classes overlapped, it was a good thing too.

“Hey, man.” Crew slaps my hand when he sees me coming, and I nod at the clipboard.

“Got everyone yet?”

“Still waiting on Gibson and Meyers.”

I look out at the rink and see most of our students here. I grab my clipboard out of my bag, marking off who has already been dropped off and who hasn’t.

“How’s everything going?” Crew crosses his arms, watching his little guys and gals warm up. We both coached the little league, him with the four to sixes and me with the seven to nines. Watching the little kids skate around with no fear was probably one of the cuter things I’d ever seen.

I sigh and lean against the wall. “Eh, fine, I guess.” Cassie never answered my text, so it could be better.

“That’s convincing,” he says with a chuckle. I feel him looking at me and glance up.

“What?”

He bites his lip, his eyes piercing mine. Creepy blue eyes. “You talk with her yet?”

I know who he’s referring to, mostly because he brings her up every time I see him. “We texted this morning.”

His expression lightens up with excitement. “Really? That’s awesome.”

“It was nothing. She was thanking me for a book I got her.”

“Still.” He shrugs, tilting his head. “Better than nothing.”

“I suppose.”

“Come on, man. You gotta keep trying.” Crew nudges my arm, and I stiffen. I know he’s trying to be a supportive friend, but I wasn’t really thrilled with the pep talk.

“Why? You gonna swoop in if I don’t?”

His eyes harden slightly, and he nods at a parent, smiling and marking off another student. “Fuck you,” he says quietly. “I thought we moved past that.”

I shake my head, running a hand through my hair. “We have. Sorry.”

“I love Cass,” he says, making my head snap to him and his eyes hold mine. “But she won’t even hang out with me anymore because she said I’m your friend.”

“Why are you trying, then?”

His eyes drill into my own. “Because she understands a part of me no one else does. I can talk sports all day with the guys, with you, but not a lot of people want to take the book-loving jock very seriously.”

After I’d found out about him being a secret bookworm, I’d absolutely made fun of him and gotten in trouble with Cassie about it. I hurt both of their feelings with my words and had to apologize.

I sigh and try for light. “You need a girlfriend.”

He chuckles, and I relax. “You’re not fucking kidding.”

---