Page 26 of Dirty Pucking Player

Traveling and flights always mess with my body and leave my muscles achy and sore afterward. Even the short one is enough to leave me begging for relief. And I’ll continue to blame my sleeplessness on the shitty mattress and pillows and not on the fact that I could still smell Bash with every breath I took in that room last night.

I glance over my shoulder toward the back of the plane. Bash shoulders his way past anyone in his path in the central aisle. He never so much as glances my way as he passes and stalks off the plane, his small bag slung over his shoulder.

Yep, he’s still pissed, too.

Though I don’t understand why. He’s the one who fucked up last night. Not me. I’m not the bad guy here.

Maybe what I said was harsh, but it’s the reality of the situation he has put himself in. I don’t deserve to shoulder the blame for him feeling shitty about the consequences of his own actions.

I just hope he doesn’t drive like an asshole and hurt himself or someone else just because he’s mad at me. It’s already going to be bad enough having to meet with Bob and discuss this entire situation without wondering if Bash is out doing something stupid off the ice, too.

The guys all file off the plane one by one, but I stay in my seat. Instead of sleeping, I took the time on the flight back to Vegas to figure out how to handle the Bash situation.

It’s time for me to man-up and draw a line in the sand, but I hate having to do this. I’ve been dreading this conversation with Bob. I hate being at such odds with the man who gave me every opportunity in this sport, the man who taught me how to coach, but he’s also the person who brought Bash into my life, knowing it was the last thing I wanted. It makes me love Bob and hate him at the same time.

That peculiar mix of feelings isn’t one I want to experience any longer.

I sigh and grab my bag from the empty seat next to me, prepared to be the last one off the plane.

Lebedev steps in front of me and holds up his hand. “Wait for a second, Coach.”

“Dimitri, what’s going on?” It’s highly unusual for one of the players to want to discuss anything in this setting. Everyone’s exhausted and ready to head home for a while before tomorrow night’s game, me included. The late return today means no practice and extra time with their families—and me with my bathtub once I’ve sorted things with Bob.

Dimitri glances around to make sure no one else can hear us, but the cabin is empty, and the flight attendants and crew are busy with their post-flight checklists.

A tiny chill rolls through my spine.

What the hell could he have to say that no one else can hear?

He gives one final look around us before focusing his attention on me. “We need to talk about Bash.”

I sigh and set my bag back down on the seat next to me. “Bash isn’t going to be a problem anymore. I’m going to talk to Bob.”

There’s no way I’m going into any details with Lebedev, but I don’t think anyone on the team doesn’t know Bash is going to get raked over the coals.

“Fuck.” He runs a hand over his stubbled jaw. “I can’t believe I’m gonna say this. Because you know how I feel about that asshole. He walked on this team like he owned it and took my spot. So, you know he’s not my favorite person in the world. That’s why saying this hurts even more.”

“Saying what?”

What the hell is he getting at?

He sighs and leans forward to rest his arm on the back of the seat in front of me. “We all saw what went down last night during the game. But you don’t know the whole story.”

“What do you mean the whole story?”

“What I mean is, you don’t know why Bash went after Berglund.”

I snort and roll my eyes. “Bash goes after whoever he wants, whenever he wants.”

Lebedev chuckles and nods. “That’s true. Most of the time. But, there was actually a reason this time. One I think might change how you feel about the situation.”

I scoff. “I highly doubt that.”

If there were, Bash would have told me himself last night in my room, but I certainly can’t tell Lebedev that.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “You need to give Bash a little more credit.”

Strong words coming from the man who’s essentially his biggest enemy on the team.

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