Page 22 of Right Pucking Daddy (Daddies of the League #7)

SIXTEEN

AIDEN

Chills ran through me as Alex’s—Sasha’s—voice washed over me, removing all doubt that Alex was, is, Sasha Storm.

Since my back was to him, I took a moment to center myself, a technique my therapist taught me years ago.

I didn’t see her anymore, but I still used the coping mechanisms I learned from her.

I closed my eyes before taking another deep, centering breath and holding it before letting it out slowly.

Then I repeated the cycle a second time, hoping for…

an… epiphany or something because I still didn’t know what I was going to do.

I knew I had to turn around. There was no question about it, but could I do it so he didn’t see my face?

He’s the coach. You can’t avoid him forever.

Maybe I can transfer?

Yeah, that was a stupid idea. I’d only worked myself into the ground to get here. I tossed that ignorance out the window before it could take a firm hold. That wasn’t a possible solution. Not if I wanted to prove to the scouts I was ready for an NHL contract.

The fear of seeing recognition dawn when he saw my face, and of how he would react to me as being a member of the Maulers, overwhelmed me. Would the best night of my life ruin my hopes of ever playing in the big leagues?

Steeling myself, I turned, my eyes still tightly closed.

When I opened them, Lady Luck had to be on sabbatical because Alex’s crystal blue gaze met mine as if he’d been waiting for me to turn around all this time.

His eyes widened. Hawk, who’d been sitting quietly, so quiet and still you’d have thought he was a statue, at Alex’s…

Sasha’s side whined, looking up at his o.

Sasha never looked away from me, and just like the other night at the club, once my eyes found his and I knew he was interested, I couldn’t look away. He became my sole focus.

Silence stretched between us as the team sat waiting for him to continue.