Page 74 of See You at the Finish Line

I’m keeping myself busy, helping the organizers get set up. More spectators came out this year because of the team’s involvement, so the crowd is steadily growing to exceed the capacity limits.

Players are signing autographs and posing for selfies with participants and spectators alike.

“You look like you’re about to shit your pants,” Mateo says by way of greeting. The medical teams have just arrived and sureenough, there’s the swinging ponytail I’ve been dying to wrap my hand around. I barely pay attention to Mateo, stalking Paige with my eyes.

“I might, you never know.”

He scrunches his nose. “Gross.”

“Like it hasn’t happened to you.”

“Sure, it’s happened to every runner at some point.”

“Then why is it gross?” I’m not sure why I’m dying on this hill.

“Because normalizing something doesn’t mean it’s not disgusting.”

“Why are we talking about shit?”

“Because you look like you’re about to shit your pants.”

“Right,” I say, too distracted to keep this conversation going. I watch as Paige brings up the rear behind the other massage therapists. She’s laughing and talking with Connor when Nate spots her. He turns on his heel and jogs over to her, but she hasn’t seen him yet.

I watch as he tries to hug her, but when she backs up he doesn’t let her go. Instead, he pulls her in and kisses her as she struggles to get away. I freeze. She clearly doesn’t want him touching her.

Nate doesn’t know the new rule from HR yet. The news vans are here to do a story on the team and the charity the run is benefiting. Saying nothing to Mateo, I quickly make my way over to Paige, coming to stand a little closer to her than necessary. Nate drops his arms, releasing his hold on her and sizing me up.

“Can I help you, Coach?” he sneers.

“Yeah, you can get the hell away from her,” I say with a smile.

“I’m trying to talk to Paige, can you give us a minute?” He’s teetering on the edge of anger but knows I can make his life hell on the ice.

“I said everything there was to say on the phone. I don’t want to talk to you,” Paige says calmly. He reaches out and grabs her wrist. “Let me go,” she demands. He doesn’t listen though and pulls her into him.

“Let her go,” I say, stepping in close, all politeness gone. I let him see the violence in my eyes.

“Or what?” he hisses, paying no attention to the woman struggling in his grip. I see Paige’s eyes widen, still trying to break free of Nate’s grasp.

“You don’t want to make a scene, do you?” I say under my breath, aware of the sizable crowd around us. With Nate’s broad back facing the onlookers, and mine blocking the view of our staff, we’re relatively hidden from prying eyes. But this could escalate quickly, and it’s already gone further than I’m comfortable with.

“Just think of the publicity. This is a charity fundraiser for a women’s shelter and you’re currently holding a woman against her will,” I say through gritted teeth.

My hands are shaking with restraint, and if he doesn’t let go of her within the next three seconds, I’m going to slam my fist into his face.

I don’t get the chance because out of nowhere, Paige yanks her arm forward, catching Nate unaware. She rears her head back and smashes her forehead into his face.

There’s an audible cracking sound. Nate drops his hold on her, bringing his hands up to cup his face where the blood begins to pour out.

“Bitch,” he manages to spit, a little of the blood splattering both of us. I look around to make sure no one saw before leaning into him.

“If you touch her again without her consent, I will personally help her bury you in the ground,” I whisper so only he can hear as someone yanks my arms back and drags me away.

I let them because Paige broke his nose, and it won’t do either of us any good to start beating the shit out of him. It might make me feel better, but I don’t want to make the situation worse for Paige.

“Close call, Coach. Let’s get you out of here,” a voice says from behind me and the other reason I let them drag me back is because it’s Julien. Dude’s a beast, no wonder it feels like I’m being manhandled by a giant. Julien manages to get us out of the crowd swarming around Nate.

The fact that the reporters didn’t catch the whole thing is a blessing. Hopefully Nate has some kind of brain and stays quiet.

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