Page 209 of Skate the Line

I pull open my phone, and there are two texts waiting for me.

My finger shakes as I open the first.

Unknown: What a coincidence. I had no idea you were in Chicago.

My heart breaks when I open the second.

Rhodes: I wondered where you went. Stay in bed. I’ll take care of you when I get home. If you need anything, text me and I’ll pick it up on my way home.

If I need anything?

What I need is to tell him the truth.

But what I’m going to get is something so much worse.

Sixty-Two

RHODES

“Apparently,that nanny of yours is our good luck charm.” Kane sighs, throwing his glove to the ground from the loss.

He took a hard hit to the face, but unfortunately, it didn’t knock any sort of restraint into his system, because shortly after, he found himself in the penalty box, and he’s still bound with aggression.

“That’s what you guys think you need? A good luck charm?”

I glance at Nicholas Tarvo, irritated by the sound of his voice.

He was awfully fucking quiet during the game, half the time searching in the stands more than looking for ways to tighten our offense.

I’m antsy and irritated.

Sometimes we lose. It’s hard to accept, but it happens.

I stand up, ignoring our new coach because I’m not a fucking fan of him.

“It seems like you all have forgotten what it feels like to lose. It happens.” I glance at Kane and his flexing jaw. “Get the anger out of your system, however that may be, and get back here inthe morning to review tapes. The only way forward is to fix our mistakes and keep going.”

Coach Jacobs takes over, talking about our next game and how we need to come together and figure out the best way to beat them instead of finding ourselves in another situation like this one.

I’m dressed and ready to go before he’s even done talking, worried about Sunny and eager to grab Ellie.

It makes sense why the ones in relationships are always the first to leave the locker room. I now know what it’s like to have someone waiting for you at home, despite a loss or win.

Emory and I walk out together, knowing Scottie is going to meet us in the parking lot with Ellie. Crew Hart, the new guy who only dressed for the game instead of playing, bumps fists with Emory, walking in stride with us.

“You guys played hard,” he says. “I’m impressed. I can’t wait to get on the ice for the next game.”

Unable to keep quiet about our new coach, I scoff. “You know what I’m not impressed with? Tarvo.”

Emory is the goalie, so he doesn’t have to deal with anyone but his own line of coaches, but even he noticed. “Yeah, what was up with that? Is he a silent participant and will go heavier during practice tomorrow?”

Crew seems level-headed, and I know he’s played against Tarvo’s past line of offense. I lean forward and raise a brow.Got anything to add?

He shrugs and slings his bag up onto his shoulder. “I’ve heard some weird shit about him through the chatter.”

“Like?” Emory pokes.

“Well, I heard that Washington was forced to fire him because of some legal obligation. He and his wife got divorced, and I’m pretty sure she put a restraining order on him.”

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