Page 133 of If You Love Me

“First of all, Lexi ismy wife. Not some bunny I decided to have a good time with,” I grind out.

“She said you met three years ago, and she didn’t think you would remember her. So what was that about?” Vander Zee asks.

“It’s none of your fucking business, Coach.”

“It is when my assistant coach is suddenly married to my goalie! Do you have any idea what the heat is going to look like coming down from the top? This isn’t just about the two of you breaking every fucking rule we have.”

“The team lawyer is married to a player, and two of the PR staff are involved with players,” I point out. Again.

“This isn’t the same. We’ve been over this already.” Vander Zee slices his hand through the air. “Every time something like this happens, who do you think gets to deal with the team owner? It’s not you who will end up on the chopping block. It’s me and Fielding. I bring Lexi to the team, and you can’t find the self-controlnotto go after her until the season is over? What do you think this will look like, Roman? Like bringing Lexi on wasn’t enough of a risk without this?”

“Lexi was an excellent choice for assistant coach, regardless of her gender.” I hold up a hand. “And my relationship with Lexi has nothing to do with her effectiveness in her role.”

“To you, maybe. What do you think it looks like to those guys out there? To the fans? To the people who have been waiting for something like this to happen? You think she won’t be called a bunny? Or that they won’t question whether this was her motivation from the start, like Donnie did?”

“Watch your mouth, Vander Zee. That’s my wife you’re talking about. Our being married doesn’t change all the positive things she’s done for this team this year.”

He scoffs. “Get your head out of your ass, Roman. Alexandria just married a twenty-year veteran player during her first season as assistant coach. It doesn’t matter what’s true and what’s not. She could be the best assistant coach out there, but all of that is eclipsed by this.” He motions to me. “You might havesaved her job by marrying her, but how will you protect her from the media? Are you ready for the backlash, Roman? Because I’m not.”

I suppose he’s right. Gaining the support of the team will be hard enough. But the rest of the hockey-watching world is a whole different beast.

CHAPTER 41

LEXI

Bright

We’ve got your back.

Madden

Seriously. If it weren’t for you, Grace and I probably would have unalived each other by now.

Palaniappa

We’re on your side. Shilps too, even though she can’t tell you right now.

Hendrix

The team is rallying for you.

Ryker

Miss you at practice, Coach.

Stiles

Can’t wait for this shit to be resolved so we can have you back on the ice.

Grace

Practice is a bag of balls without you. Thanks for having faith in me as a player. You’re more important to this teamthan you know.

Messages from the players have kept me afloat the past few days. Not being able to attend practices, see my players, do my job, is a horrible kind of torture. I worked so hard to get here, and now I’m in limbo. But Roman has been a rock through it all. And the outpouring of support from the team has been humbling. So has the support from the Badass Babe Brigade. Dred has been a constant, and the rest of the girls have been so good about daily check-ins. Well, except for Shilpa, but that I understand.

Today Roman is meeting with the Hockey Academy staff, and because I’m not at work, it means I’m very available for Callie and her hockey practices. I’m grateful no one seems to have clued in as towhyI’ve been here the past few days. Still, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world finds out. I’m preparing for the worst, but I honestly have no idea what I’ll be up against.

I refocus on the rink. Callie is having an off practice. She’s let in three goals, which isn’t like her. She usually has more energy. Maybe she hasn’t been sleeping well either. I’m sure my stress is rubbing off on her.

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