Page 172 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
“And that would be why school just called me to say she has a bump on the head but is refusing point-blank to allow them to pull me out of practice to collect her.”
“Shit, is she okay? I can go and?—’
“She’s fine,” he interrupts before I can offer my services. I don’t know what I’m doing. I have a job I should be doing; I don’t have time to play babysitter to Kodie’s possibly concussed daughter. But also, if he needed me to, I’d look after her in a heartbeat. “I’m sure her teammates hit her harder than Adrian ever could.”
I snort a laugh.
“Sutton is awesome. She’s a real credit to you.”
Kodie’s breath catches. “Thank you. We’re both just…trying our best.”
“Is everything okay? Back there, you looked a little?—”
“Everything’s fine. Just the season starting, a stretch of road games. You know how it is.”
“Yeah,” I muse, searching for the lie.
“I should get back. Tomlinson will be on my ass if I’m late for training,” he says, referring to his offensive coach.
“Yeah, me too.”
His eyes bounce between mine before dropping to my mouth.
Without instruction from my brain, my tongue sneaks out and wets my bottom lip.
Desire pools between my thighs as I think of all the things he can do with his mouth.
“Kodie?” I blurt as he takes a step back.
“Yeah?” he rasps, his voice deeper than it was a few moments ago.
“Are we…is everything okay after…” I kick myself the second thewords pass my lips. I sound like a needy girlfriend, and I hate it. I’m just…low-key freaking out, and I need to know there’s still hope here. Maybe not for a relationship or anything serious, but for something. Anything.
I’m not ready to say goodbye to Kodie Rivers yet. Nowhere fucking close.
“I really need to go,” he says, turning around and walking away.
“Fuck,” I breathe the second he’s out of earshot.
Could I have fucked that up any more?
“You’re starting tomorrow night?” Parker asks from the other end of my couch. There’s a giant meat feast pizza between us and bottles of beer on the coffee table.
“Yep,” I confirm as I reach for another slice.
Last night, Dad took me to my favorite Italian restaurant to celebrate my new position, and tonight Parker wanted her turn. Only, I point-blank refused to go out again. I wanted a night in with fast food and beer. Parker pouted for all of two minutes before she agreed. She turned up less than thirty minutes later, already wearing her pajamas for a night in.
“They want me to find my footing before their current assistant coach leaves.”
“Fair enough. Case, I’m so buzzed for you. Those little girls are going to freaking love you.” I don’t realize I react to her comment, but she must read something on my face. “What’s wrong?”
I let out a breath. “You do realize Kodie’s daughter plays on the team I’m going to be coaching, right?” Her mouth opens and closes as she processes.
“I think I knew that. I just…fucking hell, Case. Could you possibly make this any more complicated?” I shrug. “Does he know?”
I shake my head. “I should have told him. He deserves to know. But?—”
“Casey,” Parker warns.
