Page 46 of Must Love Dogs… and Hockey

Lilly picks up her menu. “Hmm. What should I have? I love their salmon and spinach salad, but I always have that.”

“Have what you love.”

“I should try something different.”

“We’ll order different things and share.”

She tilts her head. “Okay.”

“I’m going for the roast chicken, avocado, blue cheese, and bacon on ciabatta. With fries.”

She moans. “Their fries are so good.”

He grins. “We can get extra if you want.”

“That would be perfect.”

“Easy.” I set down my menu just as our server approaches. We both request coffee and place our orders.

“Okay,” she says, fiddling with a fork. “Why doesn’t your coach like you?”

Now I’m facing her, I’m having those doubts about sharing this stuff. But hell, I’m already into it. “I don’t take his shit. He gets pissed at stupid things, and I’ve tried to tell him they’re stupid, and that just makes it worse.” I shrug and drop my gaze to the table. “I’ve been trying to keep my mouth shut, but it feels like it builds up inside me and I’m going to explode.”

Jesus. I can’t believe I just told her that. I glance up at her.

She nods slowly. “That’s what happens when you don’t deal with your anger.”

“I try to deal with it other ways. Working out. Punching things. Fucking.”

She coughs. “Well. Those are all excellent. I was thinking more along the lines of communicating how you feel.”

“Yeah, that’s what gets me in trouble.”

“I mean, in an assertive, nonconfrontational way.”

“I’ve tried that.” I lean forward, capturing her gaze with mine. “I’m not a dick. I tried meeting with Coach and telling him when he yells at us and kicks things across the room it de-motivates us.” Okay, yes, there have been times I didn’t communicate in a calm way. Like when he called one of the guys a little bitch. I blew up at that in front of everyone. Big mistake.

“Oh.” She nibbles that sexy bottom lip. “That’s good, then.”

“Yeah, and then he makes me watch four hours of video.”

“Okay, he’s just a bad man, then.”

I laugh and lean back. “You just hit the nail on the head.”

“But that’s not right! He’s in an important position. How can he still have a job? Who’s his boss?”

“The GM. Mr. Julian.”

“Doesn’t he know what goes on? Or is he terrible too?”

“He’s not terrible. I don’t know how much he knows.”

“Well, someone should tell him.”

“I don’t think going over Coach’s head is a good idea.”

She slumps back in her chair, looking as defeated as I feel some days. “That sucks.” Then she straightens. “Don’t you have some kind of whistleblower protocol?”

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