Page 53 of Slapshot
“It’s a steep learning curve, but I feel like I’m getting the hang of a lot of it. Are you sure you don’t want to stick around for another season before I take the training wheels off and apply? They’ll probably find a better candidate if they open up the interviews.”
“Blair.”
The look she shot me spoke volumes.
I sighed. She was right. I’d kept her updated on my therapy sessions, and she seemed genuinely happy to hear the progress I was making.
Confidence is the most important part of the job, she’d told me time and again. And while sometimes I felt more like I was running withfake it ‘til you make it, I had promised myself I would, in fact, try to ‘make it’.
We took our seats shortly after and, much to Cian’s annoyance, our allocated seating had us on different tables.
My phone buzzed as our starters were served and I grinned at the sight of his name.
Cian: You’re too far away. Switch seats
You’ll survive. Eat your food
Cian: I’d rather eat you *wink face*
Behave, and you can later
I put my phone down and tried to engage in the conversation around me. Remy was talking to Dante about a charity idea for the team.
“Are you talking about Austin Animal Allies?” I broke in at the mention of a shelter.
“Yeah, have you heard of it?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been there before. It’s a really great space, and the animals are well cared for.”
He gave me a smile of acknowledgment and turned back to Dante to continue his pitch.
“They have a few different locations around the city. It’d be really cool to support them to upgrade some of the older facilities.”
My phone buzzed again. I opened the chat, then slammed the device face down on the table, my cheeks radiating heat. Cian’s chair was empty at the other table. Of course. Because you couldn’t take a photo like that in company.
I slid my phone into my lap, ensuring my table mates wouldn’t be able to see, and tapped out a reply.
You’re missing your meal
Cian: I’ll eat later. Play with me.
I scrolled up to the photo he’d sent and my belly swooped with arousal. Wherever he was, the lighting wasn’t the best, but I could still make out the vein I liked to run my tongue down, as well as his swollen purple head. The low light glistened off a bead of precum on his tip, and I wondered if he was taking care of things himself while I sat with his teammates.
What do you want me to do?
Cian: Part your thighs and take a photo up that skirt of yours
Around the table, people were engaged in conversation. Some were animated, others somber as they picked at their food. I was nervous about playing the game Cian proposed, mostly because there was something he didn’t know about my outfit. Sliding to the edge of my chair, I thanked whatever event coordinator had decided to use floor length tablecloths as I hid behind the folds of fabric and snapped a photo. Before I could second guess myself, I hit send and deleted the evidence from my gallery.
Cian: WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOUR PANTIES?! Fuuuuuuuck *eggplant emoji* *squirting emoji*
I hid a smile and put my phone aside to focus on the conversation around me, praying no one questioned the flush in my cheeks.
It couldn’t have been more than ten minutes later when Cian appeared at my shoulder.
“Excuse us,” he said to Dante as he cupped my elbow. “I need to borrow her.”
I laughed as he grabbed my bag and towed me out of the room. As soon as we were outside, he pinned me to the brick wall and took my mouth in a fiery kiss.
