Page 28 of Your Pucking Mom

I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s a fucking couch.”

“I don’t fucking know. The designer said that this couch was a talking couch and there were other areas in the house for watching TV.”

“Weird, man.”

Coach sighed. “As I was saying, management thought that bringing on the best youngest player in the League would be good for our socials, get people to the stadium this year.”

“Is that a problem?” Truthfully, when I was on the ice, I had no idea if there were ten people or tens of thousands, and I didn’t care. I played for the sport, for the adrenaline, and for the bigger team aspect.

“Yes, it’s a fucking problem. Who pays your bills, Cole?” Coach snarled.

“Valid point. So the team decided to pick up the rookie for social aspects, but if they find out about this, it will tank any thoughts of him having this young, wholesome persona?”

“Now you’re putting the pieces together.” I leaned against the couch and was met with an uncomfortable squeak from the leather. Fuckin’ A.

“So, if you’re not going to tell upper management, then what’s this plan you want me wrapped up in?”

Coach leaned in toward me. “I know this is one of your last years?—”

“The last,” I corrected him.

He rolled his eyes but continued with what he was going to ask me. “I need you to mentor the kid.”

“Right, because he’s literally a child.” I sighed, looking at the twinkling lights of the city and wondering if Auburn had gotten to her family member’s house already and was safe. I was a fucking idiot for not getting her number.

As I grew up, my mama taught me respect was one of our greatest weapons as humans, though many people didn’t see it that way. I was always taught to treat people with kindness, but that part of me had hardened over the years. I was no longer warm and kind, and was tired all the time.

“Are you listening?” Coach asked.

“No. Sorry, will you repeat that?”

“I need you to mentor him, Cole. I need you to show him what it’s like to be a skater but also what it means to be on a team. Those are the skills he doesn’t have.”

“For you?”

“For me.” Coach was everything to me. He gave me an entire career I wouldn’t have had without him. After my injury last year, he offered me a lifeline, a second chance I wouldn’t find elsewhere. He fought tooth and nail to keep me on the Ravens roster.

With a resigned sigh, I relented, recognizing that I owed it to him to follow through with his plan. “Okay,” I conceded, though every fiber of my being resisted the idea.

“But…I won’t be held responsible for coddling him on the road or before games. I have my own pregame routine that I can’t afford to disrupt because of superstition.”

“No.” He leaned back on the couch and looked at me as he splayed out. “I have a plan for that.”

15

auburn

By the time I got to Austin’s door, I’d had plenty of time to stew, my anger at boiling point at his stupidity.

My hands shook as I pressed the key into the lock and turned the handle. “Austin Hart!” I bellowed into the quiet apartment.

Ledger’s apartment had a warmth that this one lacked. Despite the posters and rented furniture, it felt sterile, missing that welcome-home energy.

“Mom?” Austin called from the loft, his footsteps soft as he came down.

“Get your ass to the living room.”

After tossing my purse onto the island, I settled onto the couch. I struggled to maintain my composure, so I knew pacing again would further enrage me.

---