Page 122 of What Are the Chances
Riley reared back the stick, though before she followed through, she abruptly stopped. “If I make this, the guys get out of Sunday morning dryland too.”
Coach looked amused. “We’re bargaining now?”
“Uh-huh. And no suicides next week.”
Coach laughed.Properlaughed, which I’d never heard before. Not even when we’d been celebrating our championship last year.
“You’ve got tickets on yourself, Riley.”
She shrugged. “It’s in my blood after all.”
She held Coach’s gaze until he conceded and nodded.
“Is it bad that I’m turned on by your girlfriend putting Coach in his place?” Tripp whispered in my ear.
Yeah it fucking was. If that’s what was doing it for him these days, the guy needed to get laid.
Satisfied, Riley readied herself again. Unlike most girls who were out of their element on the ice, Riley evidently knew enough of the basics. She held the stick with the right grip and positioned her body perfectly.
Along with my teammates, we held our breaths once she reared back her arm and unleashed the shot. It looked good. It lookedrealfucking good.
And it was.
The puck hit the back of the net.
Acting like we’d just won in overtime, the team skated onto the ice and surrounded Riley, throwing their helmets and gloves. Even Levi headed across with a shit-eating grin. From where I remained by the boards, I could only just make out the top of Riley’s head as everyone crowded her.
As the wild cheering of the guys echoed in the arena, Coach skated out of the way of the celebration with a proud smile on his usually stoic face.
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
A date with my girlfriend
RILEY
With my bag secured over my shoulder I headed for the exit. Unfortunately to do so I had to navigate a number of hallways, and one of those included passing my dad’s office. Usually he was too backed up with meetings, one-on-ones with players, or game tapes to stop me. Today, I wasn’t so lucky.
“Riley,” he called out. “Come in here.”
Nodo you have time?Orcan I quickly catch you before you go?
I edged into the doorway, subtly checking over my shoulder to make sure there weren’t any suspicious bystanders.
“Are you heading off for the night?” he questioned.
I gestured to my packed bag. “Looks like it.”
Dad, on the other hand, seemed as though he was only just getting comfortable.Typical.A Friday night and he had nowhere else to be. I wondered what his girlfriend was up to. Probably counting her lucky stars that dad was hanging back at work.
“Marcus Lak called me. He mentioned Tanner went to lunch with the Bobcats GM.”
I nodded. “He did.”
There was no point denying it. The hockey world talked.
Dad’s eyes glimmered with hope. “Do you think he’s considering going down that path?”
I didn’t know for sure, but for the first time in my life the answer wasn’t a definite no. That alone was promising.
