Page 109 of My Brother's Enemy
Heading out, I looked for someone who could tell me where Rain’s office was. Why had I never known she had an office in the first place? It hurt to think about all the desk sex we’d missed out on.
64
RAIN
When I saw Tyler heading for the shower with the press surrounding his locker, I quickly knocked on Coach’s office door. Once he told me to come in, I jumped inside before the press saw me. I sagged against the door.
Coach Hines looked up from behind his desk. Unlike most nights, the other coaches weren’t in his office with him.
“No debrief tonight?” I asked as I took a seat.
“Not much to debrief. It was a shitshow, but we’ve got a holiday tomorrow, and I’ve got a feeling the guys will bring their A game on Friday.” He let a little gleam show in his eyes. “A certain player on that team has pissed some of the guys off. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
I winced. “Coach, I?—”
He waved me off. “I’m teasing you. Now, I need you to listen to me. The only thing you did wrong was engage in a personal relationship with one of my players and not disclose it. We’ve already talked about that. He’s not your patient. This ain’t that sort of thing. You are not full-time staff, and as far as I know, there are no policies saying anything about a personal relationship with consultants. That’s what you were hired as,and that is what you have been doing for this team. I know Benoit pulled something out of his ass for some sort of loophole, but I asked to see your contract, and the morality clause is vague. Missy went through the Grays’ policies, and she’s the one who said there’s no mention of temporary positions or consultants.”
“Missy?”
“My wife.” He leaned back in his chair. “She’s a lawyer.”
“She is?”
He nodded. “A damn good one. All my girls take after her. Did you know I mentioned to her that I’d seen a girl skating with the Connors boy, all those years ago?”
“You did?”
“I did. I thought the whole thing was odd. You looked like one of them. Skated like them, but they acted like you were their equipment manager. And not in a respectful way. It never sat well with me, and I made sure to mention it to Missy.”
My throat went dry. “What did she say about it?”
“She got mad. Right mad. She got on the computer and did all this research on the Connors family. She had a friend who worked the front desk at your high school, gave her a call. The two went out for martinis and when she came back that night, she was in a tizzy like I’d rarely seen.”
That took my breath away. “So you knew who I was this whole time?”
“I knew, but I didn’t know how to handle you. I fumbled a bit in the beginning, if I’m being honest, but I let Missy know you were back. I hope that’s all right with you? She got back to work, researching you and following your career.” He pressed his lips together before continuing. “She didn’t share whatever she found. I asked if I needed to know anything, and she said she’d share when the time was right. She’s been keeping an eye on you, and, Rain, she let me know today that if I don’t officially invite you to Thanksgiving tomorrow, I best not come hometonight. You may have your own plans, but half the guys usually drop by. Missy would be tickled pink if you showed. And another fair warning, she’s going to try to mother you.”
My heart lurched.
“She’ll try to hold herself back. She won’t want to scare you away, but I know my wife. If she could adopt you, even at your age, she’ll try. And she’s not the type to let you go once she’s got you. You hear me?”
She wouldn’t let me go. That’d never been the case, not for the ones who got into my heart space.But this time is different, I tried telling myself. People knew about me, and they hadn’t cast me out.
“Thank you, Coach.”
He nodded before gesturing to the door. “I believe there’s a celebration tonight to attend, and a certain person lingering in the hallway out there waiting to have a word with you.”
I felt a little raw, but I stood. “Thanks, Coach.”
“Rain.”
I looked back.
“Should I expect you on Friday, or are you taking that game off?”
As far as he was concerned, it was business as usual. I had a job to do, and I needed to do it.
I shook my head. “I took today off. That means I’ll be here on Friday and for the game that night.”
