Page 7 of Pucking Christmas Triplets Surprise

Caleb scoffed, shaking his dirty blonde hair in his face. "The boys are skating over; tear your eyes away from the jail bait before they notice."

I dart my eyes back to the ice, muttering in a low tone. "She is perfectly legal."

"Oh, I know, but is it perfectly moral?"

"Shut up." I scoff, letting out a low chuckle before averting my attention back to the players lining up in front of me.

"Well, boys, you aren’t complete disappointments.” Caleb laughs, but I narrow my eyes on the players, school my face tolook uninterested and grab the clipboard I've been writing notes on all practice off the bench.

"Isaiah, your left is always open!" I bark, watching the kid straighten up, his face flushing with frustration. "Every damn time, you're leaving a gap wide enough to drive a truck through. Fix it, or next time you're benched."

Conner shifts nervously next to him, already sensing he's next. "And you, Conner," I say, not bothering to lower my voice. "How many times do I have to tell you? You're hesitating on the puck. Hockey is not the time for second-guessing. You see an opening, you take it. Not tomorrow. Not when you're ready. Right now."

He nods stiffly, but I can see the doubt in his eyes. I roll mine, turning to the next player. "Hunter, stop skating like a damn ballerina. This isn't a dance class; keep your stance low. You're going to get wrecked if you keep gliding around like that."

Hunter opens his mouth, probably ready with some excuse, but I cut him off with a sharp wave of my hand. "I don't want to hear it. If you don't start skating like you have a spine, you'll be sitting in the stands next time."

I ignore him, moving on to the next. "Mason, your stick handling is sloppy as hell. It's embarrassing. If you can’t keep the puck under control, what the hell are you even doing out here?"

I catch movement in the corner of my eye—Josie’s still sitting on the bleachers, adjusting her leg warmers, a faint smirk on her lips. My chest tightens for a second, and I grit my teeth, forcing myself to focus back on the team.

"Thomas," I growl, "You're dragging ass. If I see you skating that slow in a game, you'reoff the ice. Period."

Thomas’s eyes widen, and I see the panic settling in. Good. Fear works.

"And Kelsey," I add, turning toward the forward who’s been barely keeping up with drills. "You're behind. Again. Pick up the pace, or I’m sending you to run laps until you puke."

I roll my shoulders back and fold my arms over my chest, signaling to Caleb that I am done.

Caleb claps his hands, stepping forward. "Alright, that’s enough for today. Hit the showers, all of you."

As the boys shuffle out, I lower my voice so only Caleb can hear. "Keep them out of the rink."

"Got it, boss. Make sure she's not too loud. I can't really make the boys cover their ears." Caleb jokes, and I push him so hard out of the penalty box he almost falls on his face.

"Josie!" Mason, a brown-haired, hulk-looking boy, smiles, waving at her as he makes his way from the locker room and closer to her. A wide grin splits his face, and I feel my heart drop as she looks up at him, her smile brightening like a damn sunrise.

She shifts her book off her lap, focusing entirely on him.

"Hey, I was wondering?—"

"Mason!" I bark, my voice reverberating off the walls, a visceral snarl slipping through clenched teeth.

"Coach, come on!" He pouts, gesturing toward Josie as if she were a prize to be won, his expression a mix of annoyance and disbelief.

"Now!" I snap, gripping the clipboard in my hand so tight I feel like it is going to snap. My heart races, the primal urge tostake my claim overwhelming. "Or you’ll be doing suicides until you vomit."

Mason’s eyes flashed with irritation, but my glare hardened his resolve. He opens his mouth to protest but catches my deadly stare, the muscles in his jaw tightening. After a moment of hesitation, he exhales sharply, turning on his heel. His massive frame stomping away, the ice echoing under his heavy boots as if the rink itself were protesting his retreat.

As he disappears around the corner, I feel the tension in my shoulders ease slightly, but my focus remains fixed on Josie, who is staring at me with a knowing grin on her face.

"You're a real charmer, do you know that?"

I ignore her question, calmly crossing the ice in my boots. "Why aren't you in your skates?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't have time. Someone dragged me out of Econ."

"You have a pair in your locker." I narrow my eyes on her, crossing my arms over my chest.

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