Page 38

It’s been three weeks since Ellie and I decided to keep this thing between us going.

I’m not sure if we’re friends with benefits, coworkers with a secret relationship, building something real, or all of the above.

All I know is, I really hope it’s the latter.

Ever since our first night together, everything seems to be getting better.

I’m not just talking about things between the sheets, although it has never been this good in my entire life.

Things on the ice and behind the bench seem to be clicking better than ever.

We’ve had a good season so far, but we’re on our longest winning streak yet.

The press and fans online keep questioning what’s behind the magic that’s happening.

Only I know the answer, though.

Ellie.

She’s the answer to all the magic happening in my life right now.

With every game that passes, she becomes more badass.

New power play ideas, penalty kill setups, she even had a unique face off idea that has worked three separate times.

The team is buzzing.

I am buzzing.

I am drunk on all things Ellie Montgomery.

We just finished up our pregame skate and all of the players except for Jefferson exit the ice first.

Ellie and I hang back as Hunter finishes up going over some defensive zone coverage with our rookie.

The kid can fly out there and is an offensive powerhouse, but he’s still struggling sometimes in our own zone.

Ellie skates over to me where I’m hanging out by the bench.

She nudges me with her shoulder before hopping up to sit on the boards.

She’s awfully close, closer than she normally is during work situations, but I can’t find it in me to care.

“My place or yours before the game?” she asks while fixing her hair and putting her Bobcats hat back on.

A woman has never looked so good in a ball cap before.

I can’t help but stare.

We have a game day ritual now that consists of Ellie, me, and many orgasms.

We haven’t lost since making this a thing, so it’s not like we can change it up now.

Hockey players are superstitious in nature, and that doesn’t change when you become a coach.

She waves her hand in front of my face.

“Earth to Lincoln. You in there? Or are you just trying to think up an excuse to blow me off?”

This outrageous accusation gets my attention.

I lean in until I’m so close, the breath I see leaving her mouth because it’s so cold at ice level, whispers against my lips.

“The only blowing off that will be happening tonight is you, sweetheart.”

My perverted comment earns me a smack to the shoulder.

“Just for that, you’ll be giving before receiving, Coach.”

The nickname does something to me, specifically in my pants, and I look over my shoulder to make sure no one is watching as I adjust myself.

I chuckle and move back the slightest bit because Hunter seems to be done working with Jefferson, but I don’t leave Ellie’s side.

“Is that supposed to be some sort of threat, Montgomery? ”

She bites her lip, and I turn to hide the situation happening in my wind suit so Jefferson doesn’t see it as he skates by.

Ellie hops off the boards and follows Jefferson toward the door of the bench.

Before she steps off, she looks back at me and shouts, “Maybe. You up for the challenge?”

She’s off the ice before I can answer, and I’m left standing there like some lovesick fool with a goofy grin on my face.

Hunter shakes his head as he comes to stand next to me on the bench.

“You are so far gone for that girl.”

I mean, I can’t argue that.

But I’m not sure I want to admit it just yet.

Especially because I know as soon as I do, Hunter will report back to Sadie, and Ellie will know before I’ve even had a chance to tell her.

“I wouldn’t go that far. We’re having a good time, that’s all.”

Hunter snorts, not buying a damn word.

“Right. Is that why you basically look like a heart-eyed emoji every time she walks into a room?”

I scoff.

We make our way off the ice and start walking down the tunnel toward the locker rooms.

I need to end this conversation before anyone hears Hunter chirping me about Ellie.

“You’d have heart eyes too if you’ve seen Ellie the way I have.” I waggle my eyebrows, and thankfully the comment makes us both laugh and drop the conversation.

Just when I think we’re in the clear, I hear someone clear their throat.

I look over my shoulder to see Niko, half dressed, leaning against the wall by the players’ locker room.

“You got a minute, Coach Scott?”

Hunter gives me a worried look before disappearing into the coaches’ room as I make my way over to Niko.

I do my best to act normal, but the uneasiness I’m feeling is hard to ignore .

Putting my gloves on top of my stick, I lean against the wall next to him.

“What can I do for you, Captain?”

Niko looks a far cry from the confident leader he normally is.

He runs his hands through his sweaty hair before speaking.

“Look, I don’t want to cross any lines here. But as captain of this team, it’s my job to make sure we’re on the right track and not let anything get in the way of our success.”

My expression doesn’t change and I don’t move an inch.

“I agree. I don’t want anything getting in the way of the team’s success either.”

I wait for Niko to tell me what’s on his mind.

He seems to struggle to find the right words.

He mumbles something unintelligible to himself before taking a deep breath.

“Forgive my bluntness but I’m just gonna say it. Is there something going on with you and Coach Montgomery?”

Fuck.

We’ve been so careful.

I mean, we barely say anything to each other that isn’t team or hockey related.

We leave separately, at least ten minutes apart every single day.

We are never out in public together.

Hell, we always stand a good five feet apart if we can help it, which gets pretty tricky on a tiny hockey bench, but still, we succeed 90 percent of the time there too.

What happened on the ice five minutes ago was probably the first time we ever mentioned anything non-hockey related in the three weeks since we started this thing between us.

The players were all off the ice, except for Jefferson, and he was a hundred feet away with Hunter.

How the hell did Niko figure it out?

Niko catches me by surprise by laughing and shaking his head.

“You put this C on my jersey because I can read people, Coach. I’m highly aware of everything going on with every player on this team. But I’m also highly aware of my coaches too.”

I drop my hands off my stick and cross my arms over my chest, trying to gain some self-control.

Do not panic.

He doesn’t seem pissed.

Talk about it.

“How did you figure it out?”

It probably shouldn’t be the first thing I say, but I want to know what we need to do differently to keep this thing a secret.

I won’t risk either of our careers by letting this get out.

Especially Ellie's.

He matches my stance and nods at a couple players as they step out of the locker room. We wait until they’ve made it all the way to the exit before talking again.

“It’s you I figured out. You’ve been less cranky and you stare at her like she’s god’s gift to hockey whenever she’s going over a drill.”

I mutter a few cuss words under my breath before removing my glove and rubbing my jaw.

Bless Niko’s heart because he speaks before I can even try denying it. “Don’t worry. The rest of the guys are oblivious. They’re all too busy listening to Coach Montgomery on the ice to notice their head coach is in love with her.”

I hold my hands up. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, Niko. It’s not like that.”

He raises his eyebrow at me.

“It’s not. We’re just hanging out. We’re adults. We can do that. There’s nothing more to be said.”

Niko grabs my shoulder with his hand and gives it a little squeeze. “I’m just fucking with you, Coach. What you guys do outside of the rink is your own business. But I hope you know, if someone else figures this out, it might become everyone else’s business too.”

He gives my shoulder one last squeeze before releasing his hand from me.

“We’re well aware if this gets out it won’t be good. We don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize or distract people from what’s most important. This team is our priority. I want you to hear my words when I say that. You guys come first.”

Niko pushes himself off the wall and takes a backward step toward the door to the locker room.

“Hell, this team is doing better than ever so I say keep doing what you’re doing. But maybe keep the staring to a minimum, Coach? I think I saw you drooling once.”

He busts out laughing and I throw my glove at him. “Get out of here, Captain, before I kick your ass.”

Niko picks up my glove and launches it at my head before escaping into the locker room.

Well, that went better than I could have expected. It’s not ideal that someone already figured us out three weeks into this thing, but if it was going to be anyone, at least it’s Niko. I’m going to have to pull my shit together and avert my eyes anytime Ellie starts talking. She’s just too damn mesmerizing. I don’t even know I’m staring half the time.

When I finally make my way into the coaches’ room, Hunter is on his way out and Ellie is busy on her phone. She’s already out of her coaching gear and looks ready to leave too.

Hunter shoots us a “goodbye” and then we’re alone.

She sets her phone down next to her on her stall and looks at me with questions in her eyes. “Everything all right with Niko?”

I put my gloves up on the top shelf of my stall and sit down to start working on my skates. Without looking up I answer her. “Yep. He just wanted to see how things went with Jefferson after practice.”

I don’t know why I lie. It’s out of my mouth before I can even think about it. Of course, Ellie being Ellie, she reads me better than anyone else and doesn’t believe me.

“You sure that’s all it was?”

Her voice is firm, but I can tell it’s laced with worry. I remove my second skate and finally look up to meet her eyes. She’s nibbling on her lower lip, clearly nervous there’s something I’m not telling her.

I mean, it was about us, but I’m not about to tell her that. She has way too many other important things to be worried about. Niko knowing what’s going on between us is the least of her worries. So, like the idiot I am, I decide to keep this one to myself and lie again.

“Yep. He wanted to know if there was anything he could do, but I told him Hunter had it covered and Jefferson seems to understand it a bit better now. So we’ll see how it goes tonight at the game.”

Ellie tilts her head and studies me for a second. Luckily, she seems to buy it, and stands up to get her coat from her stall. “Okay. I’ll text you in a bit.”

She leaves the room, and I lean back into my stall and throw my head back. I didn’t want to lie to her but I also don’t want her to worry. If she gets worried people are finding out about us, she’s going to end things before they even really get started.

Does that make me selfish? Maybe.

But I also know that Ellie never puts herself first. It’s always about her career and not about her actual happiness. So I’m doing her a favor by keeping her in the dark on this one.

Right?