Page 88 of The Coach

“Okay, I’m fine with it, but not that fine with it.”

Tanner looks at his players, his smile polite. “Grow up, Ellis.”

“Aye, aye, Coach,” Crew answers for Lincoln. “We’re going to leave you two to it and drag these lovely ladies to the bar with us.”

I raise my brows at my girlfriends. “You’re going to the hockey bar?”

Vic shrugs, and Cassie glares. “Vic is my ride.”

“And Cassie needs to live a little. We won the motherfucking game! Time to party!”

I laugh at my friends as they leave with my brother and his teammate. I turn in Tanner’s arms and wrap mine around his shoulders.

“Congratulations on the win, Coach.”

He raises a brow at me and places another kiss on my lips. “Thank you. You know, this jersey looks pretty damn good on you.”

“Let me guess,” I say, nipping at his bottom lip. “It would look better off of me?”

“Hm, you read my mind.” He slaps me on the ass and says, “Come on, let’s go home, and I’ll show you what a triple deke really means.”

I throw my head back and laugh, lacing my fingers with his and letting him lead me out of the arena.

thirty-seven

TANNER

Today was going to determine whether I was going to remain the head coach of the Vapors or not. I was nervous, I was anxious, and I had a lot riding on the conclusion of the meeting I was about to enter.

Mick knew I was nervous and had offered to come along with me, missing her morning class, but I felt that was probably going to cause more problems considering that would be something they would use against us.

I was confident that no matter what happened, we could figure out what to do with our lives. I know she doesn’t want to be the reason we have to leave, but she isn’t. I made my choices, and I’m happy with them.

We were on great terms with Mick’s family and had brunch with her parents, her brother, and Crew on Sunday. Apparently, he was basically adopted into the family.

It had gone well, and I was able to have a conversation with her father about my intentions. He wants to take me on a fishing trip over the summer and asked me to invite my dad along, which I think is going to end up with a lot of bonding time.

I feel good about the direction we’re going.

I also had already made plans to book a trip to Florida, keeping my promise to Mick. I’d picked our resort, made tentative plans, and was going to call to confirm when we would be coming after this meeting. This meeting would tell me if that trip would be just the beginning of our transition out of Colorado or a brief vacation before hockey practices pick back up again.

“Coach Mitchum,” a receptionist at the front desk calls for me, and I glance up. “They’re ready to meet with you.”

I stand and button my suit jacket, taking a deep breath before I enter the conference room where we’re meeting.

I send up a quick prayer that it will go well and enter the room.

When I enter, I see the dean of the school, along with Lee, and a pretty woman I don’t recognize sitting at a conference table. I nod at each of them politely and take my seat, unbuttoning my suit jacket as I do so.

“Tanner, thank you for meeting with us this morning,” the dean says.

Mr. Triller was a fairly straightforward man. I had only met him one time before I was hired to coach the hockey team, being that he wasn’t in charge of hiring, and he’d told me he was pulling for me.

I hope that translates today.

“No problem,” I reply, my eyes ticking to Lee’s, who gives me an encouraging nod.

“Coach, this is Scarlett Hynes, our new director of hockey.” She gives me a nod, and I return the gesture, masking my surprise. Where was Ed? “Ms. Hynes, this is our coach.”

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