Page 56 of Pucked and Pregnant

“It’s not going to be a problem again, sir,” I say.

Dimitri and Aiden nod their assent.

“Good.” He leans in closer. “But just so you’re aware, if youeverpull that shit again, it’s not going to be a nice little timeout in the box. You do this again I don’t care that you’re my top players. Your asses will be riding the bench for three games. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Coach,” we say in unison.

“Great. Now get back out there. We have a game to win tomorrow.”

15

LIV

“Ican’t believe this. Less than a minute left and it’s still a shutout. The Black Diamonds are doing everything they can but the Blades just aren’t having it today. Almost every play the Black Diamonds are throwing at them has been shut down.”

“They are in rare form today, Red. Between you and me, I think they’re showing off for somebody special.” Anger burns just below the surface at Travis’ words.

Don’t punch him on live TV. It’ll just add fuel to the fire.

“You just might be right. Governor Chavez and his family took some of the team out to dinner after the last game. I think the players are trying to prove their hockey skills are better than their table manners.” I laugh.

Thankfully Travis runs with it. “You know, I think I can see their box from here. Yep. There’s the Governor with his Black Diamond’s jersey and, uh oh, what’s this? The First Lady and First Daughter of Nevada are decked out in head-to-toe Blades gear. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in that room.”

“You and me both.”

“I wonder if?—”

“Hold that thought. Keller is making a beeline into Blades territory. He’s shaken his cover. He’s gotten around O’Brian, but here comes Volkov. Ouch! That check has to have Keller seeing double.”

“The race to the Black Diamond’s goal is on,” Travis says, jumping in. “Volkov gets a clean pass to Winters. Winters to O’Brian. Nice evasion there. O’Brian back to Winters. Flawless pass. Getting close now. It’s back to O’Brian but Granger is hot on his heels. It’ll be too risky to try but looks like he's going for it anyway. No! It was a ploy! Unbelievable! Aiden’s in the clear and… yes! GOAL!”

The buzzer blares, signaling the end of the game.

“Ladies and gentlemen, what a game!” Travis says. “The Blades win three to nothing. And if you liked our breakdown in the booth, be sure to catch me on the postgame show.”

“And… we’re off the air,” says the cameraman.

“Nice work, Jimmy.” I smile. “It was lovely to work with you.”

“Kiss my ass,” Travis mutters.

“What was that?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

I don’t have the energy to deal with both his passive aggressive comments and the press today, so I decide to save my energy and leave. As soon as I step out the door, Brent’s there with the numbers I need.

“The game overview statement and the stats from today’s game are the top two pages. Underneath that is an overview of the entire season so far. And below that is the data you asked me to include from the past three games and,” a flush creeps over his face, “I know you didn’t ask for it, but I added an extra page with my take on things. You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to, but there were some things that jumped out at me that I thought you’d want to know about.”

“That’s some real initiative, Brent. I’ll be sure to look at it. Let’s plan a meeting to discuss what you noticed more in depth once we get back on our own turf.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you.” I clap him on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t be able to get through the press conference without this.”

As I walk to the other side of the arena for the press conference, I flip through the packet of papers he handed me.

When I get close enough to hear the chattering of the press, I feel my hands getting clammy, and I’m shaking like I did at my first ever conference. I hate how afraid they’ve made me.

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