Page 20 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)

Grayson

KIERAN ASHFORD

why is Dipshit at the facility?

GRAYSON

you’re going to have to be more specific with that one, Ashford

KIERAN ASHFORD

the M he’s still a Michigan Bulls player.

Here’s hoping this is all an act on his side to make Michigan offer him a better deal and scare them into doubling his signing price. Anything is better than the reality of him being traded in my position.

Coming to a screeching halt at the end of the hall, I watch, my temper rising as Chase Montgomery walks out of Coach Anderson’s office with his agent by his side. They turn left instantly, heading toward the exit. The slimy player doesn’t even clock me huffing at the end of the hall.

Knocking on Coach’s door, he sighs as he sees me panting in his doorway. “Hurry up and come in before the bastard comes back.”

Shock thunders through me, his words taking the edge off my temper slightly. “Never knew you didn’t like him,” I admit, closing the door behind me as I flop into a seat in front of his desk.

He leans back, exhaustion wracking his frame. “Wasn’t anyone’s business until now.”

“Coach, I thought I had three months.”

No point beating around the bush.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “The higher-ups are fighting for him. Michigan still wants their star player and IceHawks…Well, they feel as if they lost theirs.”

A punch to the face would have hurt less than those words.

Anything would have hurt less than those words.

“I’m getting my life together,” I admit softly, putting every ounce of my ego aside.

I don’t care if I have to beg. “I’m putting the work in.

I’m working outside of training hours, I’ve been sober for a week, and I am doing everything in my power to be ready for this season, Coach.

” My voice is hoarse as I confess, “I am doing everything for IceHawks to want me again…to be good enough for the team.”

The room grows silent.

Coach leans forward slowly, his gaze searing into mine. “I’ll be damned. This is the first time I’ve believed any of your bullshit as of late.”

I snort. “It’s not bullshit this time but I understand I’ve given you reason to not believe me.”

“What changed?”

My gaze roams the wall behind Coach, the mounted photos of my family, my team. Many of the photos contain myself, some of which are of us holding the Stanley Cup.

“This team is my family. I’ll do anything to not lose them.”

And I’m not sure why, but Bella’s face comes to mind.

If I get traded, she won’t move to where I’m relocated for an assistant job, no matter the high pay.

That would be ludicrous. However, I am confused as to why the idea of losing her has had me on edge this entire week.

Not to mention how crazy her avoiding me is making me feel.

I’m checking the damn Ring camera app every day like a stalker just to catch a small glimpse of her.

“And there’s a woman,” I blurt before I can take it back.

Coach’s bushy eyebrows rise nearly to his gray-peppered hairline. “A woman?”

I can’t help it, the corners of my lips twitch. “Yes, sir.”

This is all part of Lucy’s plan, right? I’m just laying the foundation down, hoping Coach will make a few calls and say how I’ve settled down .

At least, that’s what I tell myself.

Bella would rather chop off her own hands, it seems, than pretend to date me. But Coach doesn’t need to know that.

I’ve been dragging my feet this week anytime Lucy has sent me “candidate” applications. God knows where she is finding these women, but none are Bella. I don’t want anyone else. Even the thought of wrapping my arms around someone besides her and smiling for photos makes dread coil in my gut.

I just want Bella.

I want her smiles, I want her laughter, and I want to be the one creating them. The woman’s gone and put a hex on me for all I know. I’ve never been this enamored with a woman before and I’m surprised to say I don’t care.

She makes me nervous. It’s the only reason I’ve been allowing her to avoid me because the nervousness strips away with every note I write. And I haven’t found any in the trash can yet, so something tells me she may enjoy them as much as I like writing them.

I stuck one to the front door so I could watch her reaction on my camera. It was absolutely worth feeling like a stalker as a glorious smile spread across her cheeks, lighting up her face as she read it.

Coach clicks his fingers in front of my face. “Jesus, there actually is someone.”

“What?” I ask, my cheeks heating at the dubious look he sends my way.

“When did this start?”

I go with honesty. “Nearly two weeks ago.”

He dips his chin. “Well, if she has anything to do with you trying to get things back on track, I’m glad. Grateful, even.”

“Thanks, Coach.

He smiles, a large cheesy grin as he winks. “Can’t wait to meet her at the first game of the season.”

“I’m so fucked.”

Kieran slaps my arm as he passes me in the kitchen. I’ve just relayed my and Coach’s conversation and all I got was a snort. “Why would you tell him there is someone when there isn’t?”

“I don’t know, I panicked,” I lie.

The truth is I can’t shut my mouth when it comes to Bella. I want Bella, and I can’t explain why to people because I myself don’t understand why I’m so drawn to her.

Kieran’s head is in the fridge as he calls over his shoulder, “Well, pull up the candidates Lucy sent over. I’m sure there’s a good one in there.”

“Not one that is her,” I mumble under my breath.

Moving to the couch, I flop down as I bring up my laptop with the dozens—yes, dozens —of candidates Lucy has been trying to shove down my throat.

Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything wrong with any of these women.

They’re beautiful, and I’m sure they have a lovely personality, but I doubt any of them can make me feel like I can breathe again when they walk into a room.

Besides Kieran, when anyone looks at me they stare with a mix of pity and sadness because they can’t see past what I did. Bella, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air because she just exists around me. Completely and wholly herself—that is, when she isn’t ignoring me.

Kieran plops down beside me with a blueberry muffin in his hand.

“Where did you get that?”

He shrugs around a mouthful. “In the fridge.” He points at my screen. “Pull it up. The first one looks stunning.”

Ignoring him, I shove the laptop at him as I quickly stand and make my way to the fridge. Sure enough, sitting amongst my shelves is another load of home-cooked meals, along with a muffin that has a small handwritten note leaning against it .

Don’t tell your nutritionist. Something tells me he isn’t opposed to screaming at women.

I couldn’t hold back my grin even if I tried.

This is the second time Bella has meal-prepped for me, and somehow, she also foresaw I can tolerate three days of meal-prepped food before I get sick of it. Every time, there is only enough for three days.

My chest aches, but not from sadness. It’s from the sudden warmth that’s overflowing me. She has no idea what she’s doing to my heart.

I haven’t been able to stomach eating anything another chef has prepared for me, and yet, when I smell Bella’s food, instead of acid on my tongue and nausea in my stomach, I get hungry—ravished, even.

Quickly snatching a blueberry muffin, I slide the note she left me into my pocket.

“This one’s pretty good!”

I roll my eyes as I find Kieran wholly concentrated on the “resumes” Lucy sent over.

“We’re not shopping, Kieran, and pick your tongue up off the floor. You’re drooling all over my couch.”

“Ha ha, very funny. I know we’re not shopping. We’re interviewing the woman that’s going to save your career.”

Jesus, when he puts it like that…

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Grimacing, I turn to him. “Don’t you think it’s slightly…objectifying?”

He shakes his head. “They know it’s a PR relationship, although they don’t know with whom I’m guessing. Otherwise, it would be all over the media.”

Biting into the muffin, all thoughts scatter to the wind as blueberry explodes along my tongue. Groaning in delight and satisfaction, I swear I feel my eyes roll to the back of my head. “Fuck, she’s a good cook,” I mutter around the next mouthful I shove in.

Kieran side-eyes me. “Bella cooked these? ”

I don’t deign him with a verbal response. I don’t want to open my mouth for anything but this muffin, so instead I nod.

Kieran cocks his head, turning to face me with a scrutinizing look.

“Don’t ruin my moment with a good muffin. You know they’re my kryptonite.”

“Exactly, so how did she know?”

That makes me pause. “Lucky guess, I suppose?”

Something sparks in his eyes, lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Got anything you feel the need to share?”

“No, why?”

He faces me fully now, a smug smirk dancing across his face.

Whenever he gets that, it’s usually not a good thing.

“Well, you’ve refused to eat food cooked by any of the chefs Lucy has hired for you.

In fact, the only food you’ll eat is what you order off Uber Eats and yet here you are, devouring her food. ”

I lick every trace of the muffin off my fingers. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

He shrugs, his grin turning into a crooked smile as he nestles back into the couch. “It’s interesting.” He continues to chew while peering at me quizzically. “Does she know about?—”

“No,” I cut him off, not wanting him to ruin this moment. Trying to distract him from the heaviness lingering over my head like a rain cloud, I drawl lazily, “Who did you say was a good candidate?”

The front door bursts open, followed by the sound that I’ve been hoping to hear for over a week.

“I’ll do it.”

Jumping to my feet, my gaze locks on Bella’s as she enters the living room with such determination I have to take a small step backward.

“Do what?”

“I’ll pretend to be your girlfriend.”

Kieran whistles behind me. “Didn’t see that coming.”

Paying him zero attention, I pin all my focus on Bella as she raises her index finger. “On one condition.”

“Name it. ”

I realize with a sudden jolt that I’ll do anything to have her do this with me.

She lifts her chin before she swallows thickly. “I want fourteen thousand dollars a month.”

Kieran sucks in a sharp gasp behind me, followed by a string of curse words. “What the fuck? Grayson, don’t even?—”

“Deal,” I blurt out, soaking up the stunned expression that flashes across her face. “Deal,” I repeat once more with a smile I can’t hold back.

Kieran groans behind me. “Whipped. He’s already whipped.”

My head snaps to him. “I love you, but you need to go.”

His mouth drops open in mock horror. “ Me? ”

“Yes, you.” I try and convey every heart-pounding emotion flooding my system right now through my eyes as I move toward him and whisper, “Please, Kieran.”

His blue eyes, so close to mine, flick back and forth as he searches my face. Something settles within him, a sudden realization. Standing, he claps me on the shoulder before turning to Bella with a wink. “Great muffins by the way.”

She makes a non-committal noise in response, her eyes not wavering from me.

We don’t move. I don’t think I even breathe until I hear that front door shut and Kieran’s car rev to life.

I note that she’s blinking furiously. Heat singes my neck, climbing all the way up to my cheeks.

Fuck, maybe I shouldn’t have told him to leave.

Rubbing the back of my nape, I find my hand is clammy…or maybe it’s my neck…or both?

Fuck, what is wrong with me? I’m never nervous. Ever.

Despite the buzzing beneath my skin, I smile. “So, you want to be my girlfriend?” I clear my throat. “Fake girlfriend,” I clarify, trying to wipe away my smile and failing.