Page 61 of Coach Me
“Ahh, it all makes sense now. Do you think we should tell Callie and Will that they’re our scapegoats?” The need to say “we” and “our” has been an ongoing battle also. Even though Lucie never seems to catch it, I know I’ve got to stop.
“Oh no, it coincides with their fun aunt and uncle thing they have going.” Lucie shrugs. “I’ll work on that and meet you at the truck?”
Clearing my throat, I nod. “Yeah, meet you there.”
Same as I did with Miles, I watch Lucie walk all the way over to where Callie and Will are standing. Her long blonde hair is pulled up in a ponytail, and while yellow is still my favorite, I think her in any of the Blues merch is second best.
“Hey, I got Miles’s suitcase. I think yours and Lucie’s are over on the far side.” Beck comes up next to me, his words pulling me from my lingering gaze. I know he saw what I was doing, and while we’re good after I apologized for being adick on the shuttle, Beck hasn’t brought up the topic of Lucie again.
“Thanks. If you want to leave Miles’s here, I’ll be?—”
“It’s luggage, not a big deal, asshole. I’ll take this to your truck while you get the rest.” Beck doesn’t give me any time to argue before he starts to walk off.
I take one more look at Lucie and Miles before grabbing our suitcases from the far side of the plane.
“Oh, hey, Dex, do you have a second?” Shannon stops me.
The need to say “no” is strong. I definitely see why Miles likes to hide from Shannon, but, unfortunately, as a coach, I’m no longer qualified to play the game. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“I wanted to offer that if you need someone to help keep Lucie in line, you can ask me.”
What the fuck? That’s what I really want to say, but professionally, I go with, “Excuse me?”
Shannon flips her black hair behind her shoulder. “You know, make sure her and Miles aren’t causing any trouble on game days. I know she’s young, but if her being here isn’t helping?—”
“It is helping,” I cut her off. “Last time I talked to Olsson and everyone else on this team, Lucie hasn’t caused any issues. Not that theiror youropinions matter becauseIdecide if Lucie’s working out or not.”
“Dex, she’s just young?—”
Fucking hell. “You know what will actually help? Calling the hotels for the season. I’m going to need a suite for the rest of our away games. The conjoined rooms in Pittsburgh weren't as functional, and thanks to your oversight in Phoenix, I know that now.”
Shannon straightens her spine. I can see her jaw tighten for a second before she grits out, “Fine, I can do that.”
I really have tried to give Shannon the benefit of the doubt. I thought her shit attitude came from our last GM, but it seems like she worked so well with him for a reason.
“Great, thank you for the help.”
Turning, I head to my truck, grumbling in my head and this time I really do say, “What the fuck?” when I look up.
Jordan is standing by my truck, watching as Lucie gets Miles in. Beck hovers beside Lucie, and I can tell he’s saying something to Jordan but I can’t make out what.
“…So what you’re saying is you have the day off,” Jordan says as I walk up behind him.
“Jordan, can I help you?” I clip.
Turning around, Jordan has a smug smirk on his face. “I just came to talk to Lucie for a minute.”
“He apparently thought that minute needed to be while she was buckling in Miles,” Beck explains. His tone is just as tense as mine. Damn it, I’m going to have to be nicer to him.
Lucie closes Miles’s door with a sigh. “Okay, Jordan, what’s up?”
“I thought since it was your day off, you might want to have a little fun. A couple of the guys are going out tonight, you should come with.”
Say no, say no, say fucking no.
A soft smile comes to Lucie’s face, and I swear my heart’s in my stomach. “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m going to pass.”
Thank God.
