Page 96 of Must Love Dogs… and Hockey

“What is your problem? You need Snickers?”

I choke out a laugh. “Yeah, that might be it.” I shake my head.

“I know this is bad.” He pats my helmet. “Is okay.”

“Thanks, man.”

We resume the practice, luckily before Coach strokes out, telling him we were just joking around.

I’m done earlier than the others, so I grab lunch from the spread in the players’ lounge. I make myself a bowl from the offerings—quinoa, sweet potatoes, edamame, chicken, avocado, and greens. I help myself to a bottle of water in the big fridge that holds nothing but beverages, mainly water and Gatorade.

I pull out my phone, then realize I’m looking for a message from Lilly.

Fuck.

It’s only been a few hours, but somehow I don’t think I’m going to hear from her ever again. My stomach roils and I gaze doubtfully at my food. Then I make myself eat.

Cookie joins me when I’m about half done. He sits at the small table with me and sets his bowl down. “Okay.” He picks up his cutlery and points his knife at me. “Who crapped in your granola this morning?”

“Ha ha.” I shrug. “You expect me to be happy after watching the game from the press box last night?”

“You hungover?”

“Nah.”

He forks up some pasta and chews. “Okay, we know you’re pissed, but you don’t need to be an asshole. This isn’t Barbie’s fault.”

“Jesus. If you’re gonna ride my ass, at least pull my hair.”

Cookie barks out a laugh. “So that’s what you like, huh?”

“Do you like to be spanked too?” JBo asks as he takes another chair at the table. “No judgment here.”

“I feel I’ve been spanked enough,” I say dryly. I blow out a breath. “Lilly and I had a fight last night.”

JBo nods. “Youreallylike it rough, huh?”

“No! Not like that.” Well, I do like it rough sometimes and so does Lilly. I swallow another sigh at that thought. “I mean, we argued. I think we broke up.”

“Huh.” Cookie frowns. “Like things aren’t bad enough.”

“Tell me about it.” I poke at a piece of avocado. My gut feels like a rock. I shouldn’t have eaten this stuff. I set down my fork and lean back in my chair. “On the bright side, at least I’m not addicted to cocaine.”

“Look, Coach isn’t going to bench you forever. He can’t. We need your goals.”

One corner of my mouth lifts. “Sure.” But I realize that’s not really what I’m worried about. He’s right. This can’t last forever. Either he gets our GM on board and they trade me away, if they can find anyone who wants me after they let it be known I’m “not coachable.” Kiss of fucking death. Or Coach plays me and keeps insulting and abusing everyone.

I rub my mouth.

“You look like you’re going to puke,” Cookie says. “You sure you’re not hungover?”

“Maybe that’s it.” I make a face. “Maybe I should go home and go back to bed.”

“Too bad you’ll be alone,” JBo says.

“Thanks for reminding me.” My tone is as sour as kombucha.

“What did you fight about?” Cookie asks. “Hopefully not birth control.” He glances at Russ, sitting over on one of the couches.

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