Page 131 of Gloves Off

“Here we go,” I whisper, heart lifting, eyes on Teddy as she kicks the ball at the net.

The goalie leaps for it, arms outstretched, but the ball sails right past.

I whoop and clap and cup my hands to my mouth. “Nice work, Teddy!”

The girls surround her, hugging her and congratulating her, and even from the sidelines, I can see her ear-to-ear grin.

“Come on,” Tash yells at the sky, falling to her knees in defeat, but she’s smiling, the competitive part of her activated.

See?I mouth at Teddy, pointing at Tash and then making a smile gesture. She nods and smiles back at me.

“How did you know to do that?” Alexei asks. He regards me with a curious, searching expression, like he’s seeing something new in me.

I shrug. “I didn’t. But Teddy has a heart of gold. Helping others and contributing to the team motivates her, so I used that to get what I want out of her. Every athlete is different. They’re all motivated by different things.”

His eyebrows lift. “Very impressive, Coach Georgia.”

Warmth spills through me at his approval.

“Are we going again?” one of the girls asks, and I check the time on my phone.

“That’s all for today.” I point at Teddy. “Nice goal, Teddy.” I list off some more pointers before turning to Alexei. “Anything to add?”

He shakes his head. “Great work, girls.” He sends me a questioning look. “Want me to lead them through the stretch?”

“Uh. Sure. Thank you.”

While I make notes about today’s practice and start cleaning up the field, bringing in the pylons, I listen to the girls ask him questions about recovery, his diet, his training, and the answers in his low voice.

Later, Alexei and I are walking to the car, carrying the equipment, when Teddy catches up to us.

“Wait,” she says, handing something to Alexei. It makes a clinking noise.

“We made you these.” She drops them in his open palm and I start to smile, heart squeezing.

Friendship bracelets, just like mine, with the cheap plastic beads strung on elastics, with letters arranged into silly sayings.

My first thought is that he’ll make fun of them, or say something dismissive.

“I love them.” He nods at her. So handsome in his serious, stern way. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Bye!” She grins again and sprints to the car waiting for her.

TOUGH GUY,one bracelet says, with skulls and crossbones.

“Very manly.” I nod with a serious expression.NO MULLETS,the other one says. “What’s with that one?”

He snorts. “They asked why I don’t have hockey hair.”

“A mullet?”

We get to my car and he opens the trunk, reaching for my bag and hoisting it in the back. “Apparently they’re back in style.”

“Oh no.” I cringe. “You’re never getting a mullet. Wife’s rules.”

Our eyes meet and there’s a funny flop in my stomach. “I mean, no one would believe I’d marry a guy with a mullet.”

His mouth twitches. “True.”

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