Page 18 of No Pucks

He sets our drinks down in front of us. “You both got so quiet. Were you talking about me?”

I flick my gaze up to him. “No, we wrapped that up real quick. We do have lives too.”

The waiter stares for a second then bursts out laughing. “Touché. I like you.” He walks away before Krista or I can get a word in.

Krista giggles. “I like him.”

“I’m undecided.” I pick up my drink and sip it. “He makes a good martini. I like him for that.”

“Stop stalling. You have a drink. Now, spill.”

I sink lower in my chair, muttering over my glass. “So demanding.”

“I have to be at the hospital in an hour. I don’t have all night.”

“I’m getting to it!” I am stalling, but not because I don’t want to tell her. I don’t know how to explain out loud how I fucked up this bad.

“That bad?” Krista pulls her feet onto the chair, getting comfortable.

“That bad.” Where do I even begin?

“You can tell me.”

I sigh. “You need to hear me out, because I think saying it out loud is going to sound worse than it is.”

Her brows raise, but she doesn’t say anything.

“I had a one-night stand when I was here interviewing for the coaching spot. I only knew his first name and—” I exhale heavily not sure how to even say this. Thankfully I’m interrupted by her before I can admit it.

“He? So you took the plunge?”

“Shhh.” I glance around. “Yes, he.”

“And this is the first?” She is the only other person in my life who knows I’m bisexual, and that I never acted on it because of my career.

“Yes.” It feels a little better admitting it to her, like I didn’t have a secret keeping me from my best friend anymore.

“Is he, like, threatening to blackmail you? Do you care?”

“Worse.”

Her eyes widen as she tries to work through what could be worse.

“He’s on my team, as a freshman—” I hold up my hands before she can get a word in. “No judgement! Let me finish. He’s an adult! And I didn’t know. But that’s not the worst part,” I mutter the last bit.

“That’s not the worst part?” She whistles.

“His dad is Cox.”

She gives me a blank look.

“The asshat who ruined my career?”

“The one who’s been giving you hell since college?”

I nod.

“That fucking douche is his father?!” She sticks her tongue out. “But it’s a little funny you fucked his son. Didn’t Cox Sr. play for the Monsters in college? Why is his son playing for the Gods if he’s a legacy there?”

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