Page 34 of One Good Puck
It takes a second for me to understand what he means. He’s talking about post-game press and how that reporter questioned him about McCoy.
“I hope it’s okay for me to say this, but I think it was really out of line, how that reporter gave you a hard time about getting rid of McCoy,” I say.
He looks up at me, his brow lifted in surprise.
“I heard about that awful thing he did. To share private photos of his ex on a revenge porn site is unforgivable. He probably ruined her life doing that. He deserves to be in jail,” I shake my head, feeling sickened by what he did. “You were right to kick him off the team. And I’m sorry that you’re getting pushback from reporters about it.”
Gavin is quiet as he looks at me. He blinks, then clears his throat. “I should head to bed.”
I stand there, taken aback at how abruptly he ended our conversation. “Oh. Of course.”
He gives me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thanks again for dinner, Abby.”
“Sure thing.”
He walks off and heads upstairs while I stand there and wonder what I said to make Gavin run away from me.
Chapter 15
Abby
“Guys, no more writing on each other with chalk.”
I walk over to where a handful of kindergarteners from Dakota’s class are playing during recess.
“But Miss Taylor, it’s so much fun!” a little boy says.
The little boy standing next to him nods along. “Yeah, so fun!”
I take in the chalk scribbles all over their t-shirts and shorts and sigh. “When you’re at school, chalk is for drawing on the sidewalk or for playing hopscotch. You can draw all over yourself with chalk at home, but not at school. Okay?”
They nod, then crouch down on the ground and scribble with the chalk on the pavement.
I do a lap around the playground to make sure the rest of the kids are okay, then walk up to Dakota, who’s standing by the water fountain.
“That’s the third time this week I’ve had to tell kids in your class or my class not to draw on themselves with chalk,” I say.
Dakota laughs. “Kids’ ability to turn any activity into a mess is legendary.”
I chuckle. “You’re right about that.”
She swipes her hair over her shoulder. “I should have brought a hair tie today. I didn’t know it was going to be this hot at the end of September.”
I yank off the hair tie from my wrist and hand it to her. She beams. “You’re the best.”
“You can always count on me for hair ties.” I hold up my other arm and show off the three hair ties on my wrist.
She ties her hair into a ponytail. “So how do you like living with the hot hockey coach?”
“It’s been great. Emma loves living there. She’s been using the pool almost every day after school.”
She gently elbows me and wags an eyebrow. “Any sexy run-ins with your new housemate? Have you caught him shirtless yet?”
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you said that.”
Dakota giggles. “Oh, come on. I can’t help it. That’s how Sam and I got together, remember? We started living together as housemates, and then one thing led to another. And look at us now.”
I smile and shake my head. “You two ooze cuteness. It makes me sick,” I tease. “And you’re weirdly spot on with the shirtless thing.”
