Page 132 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
Dad looks at me with a soft expression. It’s not one that many other people see while at the arena. He’s usually riding players’ asses, pushing them harder and harder to get the results they need, both on and off the ice. I’m grateful that he can put the coach in him aside for a few moments to be a dad.
“You’re going to kill it, Casey. You’re going to be an incredible coach, and those girls are going to love you.”
I blow out a shaky breath.
“I hope so.”
“I know so. Do you need help preparing for the interview?” Dad offers.
I want to say yes, but then I watch him smother a yawn and I swallow down my request.
They arrived back this morning from the penultimate exhibition game before the season starts.
It was another painful loss for the Vipers. It was a hard watch last night, and I know Dad is reeling from it, trying to figure out how to learn from it and move forward. He doesn’t need to be babysitting me when he has more important things to be doing.
“Nope. I’ve got this,” I say, putting as much confidence into my voice as possible.
“You have,” he says with a smile.
“So have you. The Vipers are going to make the playoffs this season. I can feel it.”
“Maybe we’ll both have teams that go all the way,” Dad counters.
I blow out a slow breath as I allow myself to picture it.
“Is everything else good with you?” Dad asks. “I hate the transition from spending the summer with you to basically living here.”
“I’m good,” I say with a smile.
I’m not lying. Not really.
Everything is great, especially with this new opportunity right here for the taking.
But as excited as I am about the possibilities, there is still something else—someone else—taking up way too much of my headspace.
I still haven’t replied to Kodie’s message.
It sits there in my inbox, taunting me every time I open Instagram.
He also hasn’t sent a follow-up, so I can only assume that he was trying to shed some guilt over the whole thing. That or he got one too many hits in the head courtesy of Rett that night. I could reply, but realistically, where is that going to get me?
He doesn’t want me.
And honestly, that’s for the best.
We can’t date. There is no kind of future for us.
He needs to focus on the season, on his daughter. And I need to focus on my job and hopefully, my new coaching gig.
Dad’s eyes narrow, and my stomach clenches.
His lips part and I hold my breath, dreading what he’s about to say.
Dad prides himself on knowing everything about his team. If he were to find out about me and Kodie…
“You’re coming to the barbeque on Sunday, right?”
I force a smile onto my face. Dad invites everyone to hisannual preseason barbeque—all the Vipers’ staff, the players, and their families.
