Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” he agrees. I turn to walk over to the table, pulling out the chair that faces the restaurant and the front door. This is pure torture for me, seeing her laugh with someone else, wanting it to be me, but knowing I shouldn’t fucking go there with her.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask him and he looks around to make sure no one looks like they are listening to us.
“I was going to talk to you on Monday,” he starts to say, and I can tell he’s nervous.
“Yeah, well, no time like the present.”
“I know that you are switching around the lines and stuff.” He looks down and I hate that he’s nervous to talk to me.
“Woods,” I call his name and he looks up, “whatever you say to me stays between us. My door is open, but you have to know that you can trust me.”
“It’s just that—” He leans back. “I would like the chance to play on the first line,” he starts to say, “my game has gotten better.”
“Your game has gotten a lot better.” I give him the encouragement because it has. “You went from a minus three to a plus one.” I give him his stats, even though he knows them. “And you are spending lots more time on the ice doing one-on-one with Eric. It shows and it shows how determined you are to get better for yourself and the team.” I point at him. “It is also going to help you with your confidence.”
“I am, and he’s the best.” He quickly covers that up. “I mean, obviously you too.”
“Obviously me too.” I joke with him to not have him feel bad. “I see nothing but good things for you this year.”
I laugh with him and then motion catches my eyes. I look up, seeing her get up but then my view is obstructed when Jaxon comes over to us. “We’re heading out,” he says and I look up and hold out my hand to shake his.
He shakes my hand and then looks over at Woods. “Good game out there.” He slaps his shoulder. “Coming into your own.”
“Trying to.” He laughs as he looks at me.
I look beside Jaxon at Ariella, who is standing beside him, holding his hand as I give her a nod. “Good seeing you,” I tell her, being polite. “Hope to see you again soon.”
“Come by anytime.” She smiles at me and then the two of them walk out and I can see Victoria standing with Elliott. He puts his hand on her back, and I have the sudden urge to get up and go over to her and break his hand for touching her.
“What is this little meeting?” Owen asks, pulling up a chair to the table and my eyes fly back to Woods.
“No meeting,” I say. “Just talking about the game today.”
“It was good,” Owen states. “We got fucking lucky there with the last goal.”
“It wasn’t luck. It was a rebound shot,” I tell Owen as he looks at me. “It’s what I’ve been telling you guys all along. You take the shot and then someone will take the rebound.”
“No offense, Coach,” he says and the hair on the back of my neck tingles, “but you can’t say that.”
“Why not?” I ask. “Last game, Lane took the shot off the crossbar.” He looks at me. “Went out of play. We got a face-off in the zone and then we scored. I’m saying that you have to take the shot. Don’t sit back and second-guess yourself or your team.” He doesn’t say anything. “Everyone on that ice wants to win. But you can’t win at it alone.” I don’t say anything more when a couple of the rookies come over and sit at the table.
“How did you guys think the switching of lines went tonight?” I look around the table.
“I went from the second line to the fourth line,” Owen grumbles. “I fucking hated it.”
“Thanks,” One of the rookies who is on his line says and it makes us laugh.
“No offense,” Owen says to him, no doubt feeling like a dick or maybe he doesn’t give a shit.
The rookie just looks at him and then back at me as he brings up a couple of plays that he thinks he should have been better at.
We sit around and talk about the game, and I finally get up about forty-five minutes later and look around the table. “Tonight has been fun, boys.” I look at each of them. “Monday it’s back to the grind. Maybe I’ll switch up the lines some more,” I say and Woods silently nods his head. “Rest up,” I tell them as I look around, seeing that most of the team has left, so I walk out the door.
I start my SUV and driving home fills me with dread. Walking into the house alone, the quiet of the night is deafening this time. The light’s on in the kitchen as I head toward the stairs and to my bedroom.