Page 76 of One Timer With A Wingman

“He was talking about Briar. The mother of my baby. I was not going to allow him to run his mouth about her,” I say, and Coach deflates.

“Word is out. They’re going to use that against you. We’re headed to the Frozen Four in a week. I won’t allow this team to lose a championship because you’re letting emotions get in the way. I don’t care what any of those fuckers say out there. You keep your head in the game.”

“Sorry, Coach. It won’t happen again.”

“Good.” He nods. “Off the record, Murray. You socked him good. He deserved it. Hope you got it out of your system now.”

“I did, sir.”

Coach nods again. “You’re dismissed.”

I head back to the locker room to shower and change. The guys are talking about going to Black Jack’s. They say they’ll wait for me outside because the girls are out there. When I leave the locker room, I see Briar. Her hair is down in waves. She’s wearing my jersey and seeing my name and number on her makes me want to claim her right here and now.

I walk up to her. “Hey.”

“Good game.”

“Thanks.”

“Bro, are you going out with us?” Cade asks.

I look at Briar. “Do you want to go to Black Jack’s on your night off?”

“I can go.”

“Cool. We’ll meet you guys there,” I say to the guys since I have my SUV parked in the lot.

I throw an arm over her shoulder. “Did you enjoy the game?”

“I got into it.” I nod. “I still have some rules to learn, but it’s an exciting game.”

We head into the car and she shivers. I turn up the heat and back out of my spot.

“What was that fight about?” she asks.

I feel my body tense. “Just an asshole player running his mouth.”

“Yeah, we had some girls sitting behind us who were running their mouths too,” she shares, throwing me off.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“There was some girl named Scarlett sitting behind us. Annie said she is Cade’s ex. She was making all kinds of weird comments and then one of her friends mentioned I’m the girl who got knocked up by you.”

I hiss, “People should mind their own business. I’m sorry.”

“It isn’t your fault. These girls need to get a life,” I retort. “What did the player say to you?”

“Huh?”

“The one you fought with?” she clarifies.

“Daniko said something about you. It was a shitty move on his part.”

We reach a red light. I turn to look at her. She looks so pretty with her hair falling over her shoulders in soft waves. She’s glowing and seeing her in my jersey does something to my insides. “You look hot in my jersey.”

She squirms. “Thanks, but don’t change the subject. We are both being bullied because of my pregnancy. It’s insane.”

“We are not being bullied. I put Daniko in his place. I don’t give a shit what he says or what anyone else says. I’m happy about this baby and I want his or her mama real bad. People will be haters, but whatever. We shouldn’t care what they think.”

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