Page 155 of The Girlfriend Zone

And this time, I can hear her above the beat as I spin. Turns out she’s a pretty good instructor after all.

50

I’VE BEEN BUSY

Miles

A little earlier

Morning skate is brutal.

Coach works us harder than usual—sprints, extended drills, endless shots on goal. It’s punishing, especially for an out-of-town practice. And I can’t help but feel like it’s my fault.

When it’s over, Coach blows his whistle and sends us to the locker room. He paces as he reviews this afternoon’s game plan, cool and methodical as ever, not once looking at me. When he finishes, he gives a curt nod and walks out.

I don’t know if this is the start of a “you’re dead to me” relationship or if he’s treating me like someone he’s about to trade. I called my agent thismorning, and I’m waiting to hear back. But honestly? The trade isn’t what I care about. The captaincy isn’t either.

It’s her. Just her.

But before I can figure out what to say to Coach, Rowan and Tyler pull me aside as we leave the locker room, their faces grim.

“Dude,” Tyler begins.

“What the fuck?” Rowan seconds.

We understand each other perfectly with very few words. I scratch my jaw, blow out a breath. “Yeah. It’s all kinds of fucked up.”

And I’m no closer to knowing how to handle it than I was last night.

“I’ve never seen him like this,” Rowan says, dead serious. “In all my years playing for him.” Then he winces. “I heard some of what went down in the hall.”

Ah, shit. That sucks, but of course, that’s the price to pay. “Well, at least I don’t have to tell you what’s going on then.”

“Right, but if he’s pissed, you need to get this straightened out,” Rowan says, all business. “No one likes an angry Coach.”

“You gotta man up,” Tyler adds.

They couldn’t be more right. “But how? He already knows. I tried to say I’m sorry. What do I do? What would you do if this happened to one of your daughters?”

Tyler cringes. “I don’t even want to think about my nine-year-old dating.”

“Yeah, dude. Mia’s seven, for fuck’s sake,” Rowan chimes in.

“You get my point though.”

Tyler curls his nose. Rowan growls. They both sigh.

Then Tyler says, “First off, no man is good enough for my daughter.”

“What he said,” Rowan adds.

“But if anyone ever is, all I’d need to know is that she’s his first priority. Always.”

And all at once, I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. But I’ve thought of it now.

“That’s perfect. Thanks,” I say, then head to find Coach right away. It’s not hard. He’s fifty or so feet away, down the corridor right outside the visitors’ coaches’ room, head bent over his phone.

I jog toward him. But as I get closer, I notice he’s swallowing, rolling his lips together, then swiping at his cheek.

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