Page 50 of Tutoring Mr. Hotshot

Maybe this little outburst will help them see it.

“You don’t need to worry about him,” I say carefully. “He is mine. If you have a problem with that, then we can settle it in another way. Not here and now. This isn’t hockey related.”

He scoffs. “It is related. How am I supposed to play with you now?”

“What the fuck does it matter? It’s not like we’re fucking on the ice. What I do with my boyfriend has nothing to do with you. Not unless there’s some other reason you keep bringing him up.”

Liam backtracks so fast it’s almost funny. “Date who you want. I don’t care.”

I nod while throwing my gear in my bag. “Then there’s nothing left for us to talk about. Now, if you’ll just get out of my fucking way, I can get to my boyfriend’s place for dinner. He’s expecting me.”

Shoving past all of them, I ignore the murmurs of confusion and the noises that sound a lot like someone throwing a tantrum. Whatever his deal is with Rodney, he’s going to get over it. And fast.

I won’t have him upsetting my boy.

My job as Daddy is to keep him safe in all ways. I won’t hesitate to fuck Liam up if he can’t take the hint.

The next few practices I attend are mostly the same. We start off rough, with the guys trying to keep me out of the action. Coach has to chew them out before they decide to play fairly. Even with him pulling some of the guys to skate laps to show he’s serious about punishing them, they’re still trying to fuck with me.

After the fourth practice like this, Coach pulls me into his office. “Rykov!”

“Yes, Coach?” I ask once I drop into the empty chair across from him.

Rodney is waiting for me at the library for a study session, and I haven’t showered yet. Whatever he has to say, I hope it’s quick.

“The team is a fucking wreck. You’d think we were the Rainer State Lumberjacks or something with the way everyone is acting. Can you tell me why Liam is trying to work against you so hard?”

It’s the second time he’s mentioned a team that’s not doing too well this year. Clearly, he’s comparing us to everyone else in the league. It’s going to be exhausting hearing this shit for the rest of the season.

I nod, my gaze holding steady with his. “He doesn’t like my boyfriend. Well, actually, I think he likes him too much.”

“Are you saying there’s some confusion and jealousy?”

“I can’t speak about someone’s sexuality, Coach. That’s not fair. What I can say is that he’s decided to target me, and he constantly says I can’t have him. It’s like he’s fixated on my partner when he’s done nothing but harass him for years.”

Coach bristles at my words. “He’s bullying him?”

Nodding, I run my hands down my thighs to stop from forming fists. Just the thought of the shit Rodney’s been through makes me violent in ways I can’t let come out.

“My boyfriend has made it clear he hates hockey players because the guys on this team have made his life difficult in the past. They haven’t done anything since I’ve come along, but I’m not stupid enough to think everything is over now.”

He pulls his laptop over and begins typing something. I wait him out despite wanting to rush out of his office.

If I had my phone, I could at least text Rodney to let him know I’m delayed. I don’t want him to think I’ve stood him up or anything.

When he’s done, Coach turns the screen my way. “Read this and tell me if anything needs to change. I’m filing a report about this now. I want it on record in case anything happens. Not that I’m saying I condone anything. I understand wanting to protect loved ones though.”

The look he gives me says a lot. He’s not giving me permission to beat the shit out of the others, but he’s going to have proof of the history behind it all in case trouble finds me.

“Thanks, Coach. I appreciate you taking the time to do this. Everything here is right. I can get more details from Rodney if you need them.”

He nods as he pulls the device back. “I’d like to meet with him soon. My players shouldn’t be pulling this bullshit. Hopefully me showing he’s not a target will have them changing their ways. If nothing else, it might relieve the tension I’m seeing on the ice.”

I couldn’t tell him the truth — nothing was going to end it. Nothing except me coming to blows with Liam. Guys like him only understood brute strength, which means I’ll eventually have to show him I could back up my words.

Honestly, I couldn’t wait for the day.

CHAPTER18

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