Page 9 of Ice Cold Heart

“Please,” Coach said in a neutral tone. He didn’t add anything else.

The air in the room thickened with unsaid words, and I thought for a second Avery would tell him to go fuck himself. The urge was clearly written on her face, but she only took a slow breath instead of letting loose. I didn’t think Coach noticed the white knuckles on the hand wrapped around the strap of her messenger bag, but I did.

“No.” Without another word or a look in my direction, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room with her head high and her “fuck you” attitude firmly in place. As I watched her leave, Reece came into the locker room from the other direction.

She didn’t slow as she strode past him, but Reese’s brows shot up.

“Damn girl, the hockey player you’re looking for is right here.”

She flipped him off without breaking stride, and Reece let out a whistle.

“I love a lady with attitude. Come back and see number nineteen when you want some fun.”

I stole a glance at Coach, and sure enough, he looked pissed. His nostrils flared, and his jaw clenched so tight I wouldn’t be surprised if he cracked a tooth.

“Tanner,” he barked out. “Get in here.”

I gripped the arms of the chair, intending to jump up and chase after Avery, but Coach leveled a glare at me. “Sit.”

Reece sauntered to the door and nodded in greeting. “What’s up, Coach?”

He leaned back in his chair with a loud warning squeal and set his hands on his belly. “Lay one finger on my daughter and I will personally make sure you never play a day of professional hockey. Do you understand me?”

Reece nodded with a smile, completely at ease as usual. “No sweat. Want me to spread the word?”

“Yes,” he bit out. “Spread the word.”

I swallowed hard and shot out of the chair. “I’m going to talk to her. See if I can’t convince her to change her mind.”

Reece moved to the side as I ran past him, and the heat of Coach’s gaze followed me out of his office. His daughter. Avery was his daughter. I should probably back away as fast as possible, but I wasn’t willing to miss this opportunity. Especially when the little scene I’d just witnessed warned me I was already in deep shit.

Avery either hated me, hated tutoring, or hated her dad. None of those options left me feeling optimistic about my future. I rounded the corner of the locker rooms and sprinted down the long hallway leading to the rink, finally catching sight of her again outside the player entrance.

Damn, the girl was fast in those boots. She was also going the wrong way if she was trying to get to the parking lot. I put on a burst of speed and headed her off before she could push through the doors to the rink.

I knew better than to touch her, but I wasn’t sure of the reception I’d get when I blocked her escape. Earlier today in the texts, we’d been on the same team. Now, I was lumped with Coach in whatever was going on in her head.

Despite the inherent danger in spending time with Avery, I wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. Coach would crush me like a bug if I was disrespectful, but he’d also asked me to befriend her. He didn’t have to know I’d already started, as long as his interference didn’t ruin the progress we’d made. My gut told me I had one chance to convince her I wasn’t part of the ambush.

At the beginning, I’d been against the idea of tutoring, but Coach was right. I needed help—no, I needed her.

5

Feet thudded on the ground behind me, and I knew from the goosebumps rising on my arms Cole was gaining ground. I didn’t need the visceral reaction though. Dad wasn’t the chasing type, as evidenced by my childhood. If he’d been at all interested in interacting with me, I might have seen him at some point in the twelve years before I showed up at his door.

But I hadn’t. Dad didn’t want me unless I could be useful to him. As usual.

Cole, on the other hand, was definitely the chasing type.

Too bad for him I wanted to be alone. I was frustrated and angry enough to feel unsafe driving home, but with Dad here, the arena would be unlocked. At this hour, no one used the ice, and I craved the frosty quiet.

“Avery, wait.” Cole caught up to me in the hallway outside the rink.

I slowed my pace but didn’t stop. “Now’s not the time, farm boy.”

He ignored my warning and dodged in front of me. I tried to skirt around him, but he shifted into my path again. When I focused on him with a glare, he held up his hands.

“I’m here as a friend.”

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