Page 129 of Whiskey Wednesdays

I crossed my arms. “Three things–I’m moving back to my apartment, you can’t beat up Coach Bailey, and I’m up for being fucked senseless. But right now you have an appointment with Zeke, and I need to go to the arena.”

“Meet me for dinner tonight then,” he sighed. “If you’re moving out, I want to see you every day. We’re also doing dates, and sleeping in the same bed as often as I can manage it.”

I stared at him. He was an excellent negotiator, and my panties were getting wetter by the second. “We don’t have to rush this. I want to make sure it’s right, and what we both want.”

He curled his hand around my neck. “Say yes.”

“Yes. We’ll date, and I’ll come over. But I’m meeting Abigail for dinner tonight. I need to check on her.”

“Okay, tomorrow night then. And Bella?”

“What?”

He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Game on, little girl.”

When I got to the arena in the morning, I went looking for Titus. “So? How’d it go with Abby?”

He scowled and pulled on his workout jersey. “Fine.”

I waited for him to say something else. He didn’t. “Fine? Really? That’s it?”

“It’s fucking fine except I want to kill her fucking dad, and Stella is fucking adorable. But she should be talking at her age.”

Based on his scowl, and him using “fucking” three times in one sentence, things were not fine.

“When’s your hearing? Are you guys ready?”

“Soon. And we’re getting there.”

“Abby lied to me. And nowyou’relying to me.”

He stood up and put his hands on his hips. “Speaking of lying, tell me what really happened at Connor’s house in Vancouver.”

“Why is it when it comes tomylife, you have no problem talking? But when we start talking about yours, you suddenly clam up?”

Coach Bailey walked in and spotted me. “Ms. Cruz, haven’t you caused enough distractions? Leave my players alone and stay out of my locker room.”

The low murmur of players talking and getting ready for practice stopped; the locker room went silent.

Titus turned his bad temper on Coach Bailey. “She was asking me about my back,” he lied. “That’s her fucking job. And why don’t you leave her the fuck alone? She’s done more for this team’s morale than you.”

Ooh, damn. This was not good. I didn’t want Titus to get kicked off the team, and I didn’t want to get fired or banned right before I finished my hours.

“Titus, it’s okay.” I tried to pull him back.

Coach Bailey’s eyes went wide. “What did you say to me, Tremblay?”

“You heard me the first time. You’ve been nothing but a sexist asshole to her since she started, and you play fucking head games with the players.”

Jackson walked over and gently grabbed my arm, pulling me away. “Come on.”

I resisted, but he pulled again. “This has been a long time coming, and it’s not just about you. But I think it’d be better if you’re not here.” He pulled me out of the locker room as a few other players walked over and stood behind Titus. Even Wyatt. What the heck was going on?

Outside the locker room, I turned to Jackson. “I’m fine, but Connor will want to know what happened. Go back in.”

He squeezed my arm and stepped back inside. I wanted to be a fly on the wall, but Jackson was right. Something had been brewing with the team and Coach Bailey all season, and they needed to hash it out.

I just hoped I didn’t get blamed for lighting the match.

---