Page 119 of Rule 1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate
Noah is silent.
“Now, I’ve spoken to your agents, but I need to hear from both of you, will this affect your game?”
“No, sir,” Noah says.
It’s the first time I’ve heard him speak, and the rumble of his voice causes my heart to rattle.
“Finn?”
I remember I’m not supposed to contemplate my husband’s—God, we need a divorce before I can call him ex-husband, voice. Even if the voice is spectacular.
I shake my head.
Coach Holberg’s eyes narrow. He’s on to me.
I feel Noah’s gaze on me briefly and stiffen.
“We are both committed to the team,” Noah says.
“The fans will be disappointed.”
“Do you want us to pretend to be back together?” Noah asks.
“That’s an option? We should totally do that!” For the first time, hope moves through me. I lean forward. “You can move back into the apartment, and everything will be like before.”
Noah’s eyes widen, and he assesses me. “That’s...” He licks his lips. His Adam’s apple moves. Then he jerks his gaze away and looks at Coach. “Obviously, that would not be appropriate.”
“Why? We’ve pretended to be together before! And everyone believed it!”
Hurt moves over Noah’s face. “You’re right. Everyone did believe it.”
I blink, unsure why his voice wobbles. Did he want people not to believe we were together? I lean toward him, and I soften my voice. “What’s wrong?”
Noah rises abruptly. “Coach, I assure you that Finn and I will both be professional. We are on different lines on the ice. This will not affect our games.”
Then he leaves abruptly.
My insides slither together, and I draw my arms against my chest. I don’t understand why Noah wasn’t willing to do this. I mean, we got along. And it will help our careers.
“I would have done that,” I say softly.
Coach Holberg sighs. “I’m sorry, Finn.”
I’m silent.
“I can send him away.”
I jerk my gaze to him, my mouth dropping open. “He’s on the second line now.”
“And you’re still our priority, Finn. You’ve been here longer. You have a history of scoring goals. Look, I might not understand everything you’re going through, but I have had breakups before.”
I must look startled because he smiles.
“I know, it’s shocking that I wasn’t always middle-aged with a wife and two children.”
“I knew you were once young.”
“My son is your age.” Coach Holberg flashes his proud dad smile, and I hope he will start talking about his son Oskar and his no doubt various spectacular traits before he remembers to ask me any more difficult questions. “You two married really young. I can’t imagine my son marrying anyone yet. I’m not sure he’s even dated.” He shakes his head, smiling. “I admit, I didn’t understand why you married, but it was clear that you and Noah have remarkable chemistry.”
