Page 133 of What If I Knew You

Everyone’s heads turn toward me with looks of confusion on their faces.

“Dude,” August frowns. “That’s not what you just sa?—”

“I know it’s not what I just said but each and every one of you seem to think before the game is a bad idea so I changed my answer.” I turn my body while continuing to peddle. “Where the fuck is Bear?”

Oliver shrugs. “Goalie warmup. Why?”

I shake my head. “No reason.”

“So, if you do it after the game, and we lose…”

“We’re not going to lose, Ollenberg,” I scoff, passing Griffin a scornful look.

“I’m just saying if that were to happen, Coach will be in a pissy mood and that’s not going to do you any favors.”

Ugh. Obviously.

“But if I do it before the game?”

“I mean…” Ledger’s head bobs back and forth. “The guy’s in game mode. He’s going over plays and all the regular gameday shit. Is he going to have time for this?”

“Yeah,” Harrison adds. “Do you think before is a good time?”

A little irritated if not overwhelmed by all their concern for my timing I throw my arms up and shout, “Is there ever a good time to tell a man you’ve been fucking his daughter privately for months and now you want to date her publicly?”

“ROCHE!” a stern voice calls from the gym door.

The very wide-open door.

Fuuuuuuuuuck meeeeeeeee.

I’m dead.

He heard me, right?

He had to have heard me.

All the averted eyes in the room tells me yes, yes he heard every word.

“Coach?”

His nostrils flare and his jaw clenches and then I watch as he takes a steadying breath before he demands, “My Office. Now.”

“Sure thing, Coach.”

Oh fuck.

Shit.

Hell.

I might be a dead man.

Yep. That’s me.

Dead man walking.

I spring off the bike careful not to smash my nutsack though it’s all but shriveled up and died at the moment anyway. Then I reach for my water bottle and towel, wiping the sweat off my face. Everyone’s heads begin to rise as the guys and Ella all stare at me.

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