Page 28 of Pucking Obsessed

“My type of activities,” I say, deadly soft.

I know what he’s hinting at.

I’ve heard it before.

It hits me hard each time.

Shay takes a furious step forward. “You can’t say that.”

“He just did,” Kates points out. He’s a preppy looking businessman who looks like he’d prefer to be anywhere but here. “Settle down. Remember your place. You’re only players.”

Only players.

I work so hard to make Shay not feelonlyanything. Then these entitled assholes saythatto him.

“Jude isn’t,” Shay replies. “The team would fall apart without him.”

I would fall apart.I hear what Shay isn’t saying.

Warmth spreads through me.

To my shock, coach grabs a file of his own, which is equally as thick, that’s resting on the empty chair. He hurls it onto the center of the table.

Pages fly out like paper rain in front of the startled board members.

The file lands with a thump.

“This is why this whole thing is bullshit,” coach growls. “So, Jude gets mixed up in some scandals. Who gives a damn? He wasn’t the one who did anything wrong. On the ice, he’s the reason that we’re winning, along with the man who’s choosing to stand at his shoulder right now in front of your firing squad. Shay is our secret weapon. He’s the best new player in the NHL.”

“What’s all this?” Bronwyn pokes the new file on the table.

“Dozens of character reference letters in support of Jude from players and every single staff member.” Coach leans forward, forcing each board member to meet his gaze in turn. Lee cringes back. “Our captain has his flaws but the man is liked, even more so by the fans. If you try to kick his ass out of this team, then those fans will damn well come for you.”

I gape at coach in shock.

Robyn is looking at her dad in the same way.

I never expected him to back me up like this.

Has he really asked the staff and team for recommendations? Or is this a bluff?

It appears to be working.

Lee coughs. “Well, it appears that Mr. McKenna may have a point.”

Kates reluctantly nods.

“What do you think?” Heine turns to Colton. The move is too slick and practiced. “You coach him. What’s your report?”

Colton relaxes back in his chair, looking me up and down.

He’s reveling in building the tension and my anxiety.

Fucking gloating.

I grit my teeth.

Colton smooths over his mustache. “I won’t sugarcoat it. He’s unmanageable. Insubordinate. Doesn’t know his place.”

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