Page 55 of Unsteady

“Actually.” He smirks. “You’re the one on my ice time.”

As if planned, the stern-faced hockey coach I’ve seen around a few times comes from the tunnel with a frustrated sigh. His hand taps lightly on Rhys’ shoulder as he steps past us to talk with Coach Kelley, who is blatantly attempting to ignore him.

“Give me five and we’ll be off,” my coach finally snaps, thundering over the surprisingly soft voice of Rhys’ coach. He doesn’t argue with him, only comes back to us.

“Koteskiy.” The coach nods, scratching at his beard. “And?”

“Sadie,” I offer.

I take a sip of my water and nearly spew it back out when his coach asks, “Girlfriend?”

Rhys blushes and I find myself suddenly aching to sayyesand tackle him to kiss his heated skin. My fingers twitch because just the thought is so intensely overwhelming—to see Victoria’s face of shock, Coach Kelley’s fuming at my disgusting, unprofessional behavior.

To feel him again… suddenly my cheeks are the ones heating.

“A friend,” Rhys corrects. “Her brothers play. They, uh, practice at the foundation.”

My stomach churns, the implication of my brothers as charity cases shines like a flashing sign announcing every shame I carry every day. I hate it.

The girl who kisses his sadness away and needs help with her little brothers.

Pathetic.

“Actually, I have to go.” I jump up from the bench with my guards on my blades. “See you around, hotshot.”

I don’t need him or his help.

Or his stupid dimples.

I’m barely through the tunnel, heading towards the girl’s locker room, which is a ridiculous distance away from the ice—mostly because the hockey team gets most of the arena space, when he catches me, grabbing my arm.

“Listen, Rhys—”

“How humiliating,” a different voice sneers into my ear, fingers curling into my bicep. “My office, now.”

He jostles me hard, and I duck my head following behind the lean body of my coach as he strides forward. Victoria passes me, flickering her gaze over me sympathetically.

When he turns into his office, I pause, but only because Victoria is reaching for me.

“Your practice slot is over.” She clears her throat, looking at me a little hesitantly. I don’t blame her; not only are we not friends, I don’t think I’ve ever been nice to the girl.

She looks around again, before dropping her voice. “You don’t have to follow him in there. He’s our coach, not our parent.”

He’s been more of a parent to me than my own father, I think but don’t say.

Instead, I shrug off her concern with an eye roll.

“I can handle Kelley. Worry about yourself.”

I straighten my stance, like preparing for a battle march, before entering his office and closing the door behind us.

“I’m sorry I was distracted—”

“Who’s the boy?” He cuts me off harshly. I turn and watch as he strips his skates off and shoves his feet into overly expensive sneakers, tossing the black skates into his bag.

“What?” I blanch, my face burning.

He sneers at me. “Who is the hockey boy you’re wasting time by making passes at in my practice?”

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