Page 17 of Press Your Luck

I wasn't too happy with Max either. He had the worst timing in the world to step in to defend me like that. But also, the fact that he felt the need to defend me only made Pierce's comments seem true.

I didn't need Max to defend me, but as I made an attempt to defend myself, it was clear the damage was already done. The photographers barked out questions asking about our first date... what happens if I fail as a coach... will Max dump me if I bench him... and on and on.

I gathered all my strength and smiled at the photographers. I even managed a condescending laugh. "Oh, my God, and they say women are terrible gossips. You want to know one of the things I've learned most about being in your so-called man's world? You love scandal over truth as much as everybody else."

Feeling that was the best I was going to get for a last line, I excused myself. Max started to follow me, but I held my hand up. "If you're smart, you won't come anywhere near me for the rest of the night."

Why hadn't it occurred to me to refuse his friendly gesture to walk in with me? I should have guessed that people might have read more into it than my needing a little support from a teammate as I walked into a charity event filled with rich people in an area where I didn't know anybody except my team.

He gave me a nod, and I continued on, making a beeline toward the bar. The glare of camera flashes still danced behind my eyes as I shoved through the crowd at the charity gala, their incessant clicking triggering a headache that hammered against my skull.

I wanted to leave, but I knew Todd would be angry if I did. Worse, he’d probably like what just happened with me and Pierce and the press. If he found me now and said so, I’d slug him. I was willing to play his publicity games a little bit, but I had my limit. My limit was having the press think I was sleeping with one of my players.

I suppose the only thing that would be worse was them thinking I was sleeping with Todd. I wondered how long before they’d jump to that assumption even though there was no evidence of that.

Before I could reach the bar, two women stepped in front of me, both with suspiciously perky smiles.

"Bravo, Coach Withers. I love the way you handled yourself against Pierce," the pretty, curvaceous brunette said. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t place her.

The woman next to her with the strawberry-blonde hair was nodding. "What you did to the press wasn't too shabby, either. I wish I could think of comebacks like that."

The brunette looked at her friend. "Your tongue is very sharp, Ruby."

She shrugged. "Yeah, but not when the press is around. I’m like a deer caught in headlights when the press is staring at me."

The brunette thrust out her hand toward me. "I'm Analyn Hampton, and this is my good friend, Ruby Tyler."

It took a second for all the gears to click in place, and when they did, my eyes narrowed and I took a step back. "You're Reed Hampton and Bo Tylor's wives. I'm not sure why the wives of the rival team’s coach and owner would be congratulating me. Unless this is some sort of stunt?" I glanced around for Todd.

Both their expressions dropped. Analyn shook her head. "This is no stunt. This is two women recognizing another woman with great feminine power."

"I'm just a fan. I have followed your career," Ruby said.

They both looked at me. I didn’t trust them, but at the same time, they appeared sincere. “I’m heading to the bar if you want to join me.”

They smiled. “Sounds perfect.”

We exited the ballroom and made our way to the hotel bar. I made my order for a vodka tonic before dropping onto a stool with a heavy sigh.

“Seltzer for me,” Ruby said, sitting to my left. She rubbed her belly. “Baby doesn’t get booze.”

“Congratulations.”

“I’ll have wine. I just finished nursing, so booze is back on for me,” Analyn said, taking the stool to the left of Ruby.

The bartender set my drink in front of me. The cool glass was a relief as I took a long sip, letting the alcohol burn away the anger simmering in my veins.

It was a miracle I’d managed to keep my cool with the photographers. All those invasive questions, their blatant disregard for my accomplishments, and then having to deal with Pierce's stupid comments... it was infuriating. But now, sitting at the bar nursing my vodka tonic, I felt a small measure of peace.

"Please don't think of us as rivals," Analyn said. "What you're doing as a female coach in this industry is incredible. We're fans."

"Thanks," I said. It wasn't often that I received compliments. Mostly, I was an oddity.

"Seriously," Ruby chimed in. "You've got nerves of steel going up against men like Pierce."

It felt a little dangerous to trust these women, and yet, I couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with them.

Our conversation flowed easily as we talked about hockey. They didn’t ask dumb questions about my being a woman. They said they admired my guts in benching Big Ed. Ruby said she’d once wanted to play pro hockey, but she’d ended up pregnant.

---