Page 88 of Zero Pucks

I wanted him to find himself outside of his ex. I wanted him to feel like he had a place outside of me too. I wanted him to light up for other things besides when I’d tell him he was perfect.

“You good, dude?”

“Yeah.” I passed a hand down my face and took a breath. “Sorry. It’s been a weird-as-fuck day. But yeah, I think he can wait. And if not, I’ll figure it out.”

“I’ve got your back,” Jonah said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “Just say the word.”

I let myself feel the weight of his words. “Thank you. Now.” I cleared my throat. “With that out of the way, I think we should announce the staff changeover tonight so the moms can start shifting all their bullshit toward you.”

Jonah grimaced. “I hate you. I changed my mind. I want the coaching job.”

I quickly clicked through, adding my signature before hitting Send, then grinned at him. “Too late. It’s done.”

“Dick.”

“Yeah, but you love me.”

He grinned at me and shrugged as he leaned back. “Are any of them hot?”

“Yes, but trust me. You do not want to fuck a hockey mom, okay?”

“I mean, you think they take that intensity to bed?” he asked, waggling his brows.

They probably did, but that made my dick want to shrivel up into my body. Only one person knew how to work me the way I liked, and I was seeing him in a few hours. “Experiment all you want, bud. Just don’t come crying to me when it’s all over and you no longer know left from right.”

“Sounds like a smashing good time!”

Whatever floated his boat. I would leave him to it.

* * *

Time felt like it had slowed to a crawl. The kids were out of control, and after the fifth meltdown, I decided to call an end to practice and instead let them screw around on the ice until they got their wiggles out.

When practice was officially over, Jonah and I called everyone forward, and I laid a hand on his shoulder. “Alright, everyone. We have a big announcement to make.”

All the moms were listening, but the kids were in their own worlds.

Jonah nudged me. “Hurry up, dude. I feel like I’m about to piss my pants. I downed like four Gatorades before we got started.”

Christ, why was he like this?

“Uh, long story short, this is going to be my last couple of weeks as your coach. I’d like to welcome your official new head coach, Jonah!”

The few kids who were listening began to cheer, and Jonah did a celebratory whistle before grabbing his stick and shoving it in front of him, taking off for the rink door. Apparently, he wasn’t joking about the Gatorade.

Clapping my hands together, I skated toward the wall where the moms were gathered. I could see Sharon had zeroed in on me, and any hope I was going to get through this smoothly was officially dashed into tiny pieces.

“Tucker,” she said, catching my arm with her long nails.

I smiled at her. “Hello, Sharon.”

“Tell me you’re not running off on us.”

I shrugged. “I got a better offer. What can I say?” She leaned in, and I leaned back. “Sixty grand more a year and the chance to work with adults. The kids will be great with Jonah.”

She couldn’t argue there. Jonah understood her son better than I did, considering her son had been born with a similar condition. But I could see she wasn’t ready to give up. “So, there’s no longer a conflict of interest if I?—”

“Oh, look!” I gazed toward the doors, and though I couldn’t see shit, I could pretend. “I think my boyfriend’s here to pick me up.”

---