Page 51 of Unrivaled Love (D.C. Renegades #2)

Jo

Stick Handlers IRL

“You can totally read your book if you want, you don’t need to pay attention to practice or anything.” Bryson rambles as we pull up to the practice arena. He’s been fussing all morning.

Seeing Bryson in his environment is like going on safari. I've seen him on display at games, on TV, and I've seen him in person away from his home and his routine. What I haven't seen, until now, is how he lives his everyday life.

First of all, his place is nice. It's way nicer than mine. And not just because it's got three bedrooms to my measly one. It's decorated and it feels homey. He has a bookshelf full of sports romance and romantasy novels proudly on display.

There is a cabinet of board games and a huge, plush sofa I sink into and don't want to leave.

After a grueling season I have two weeks off before US Team training starts in December. Bryson has a game the night before Thanksgiving and the Saturday after so I'm staying in D.C. with him. There’s a Teamsgiving dinner at Felix’s house on Thanksgiving Day.

Normally I’d head home to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.

Al has started hosting and the Svobodas attend as well.

I thought I’d have to explain myself for staying out here with Bryson but Al, Chris, and my parents were cool with it.

My nieces needed a little more convincing.

Bryson said his family didn’t ask questions either.

They’ve accepted how natural it is for us to be together too.

I got in yesterday and he had a rare day off so we settled into his apartment. He unpacked me into a drawer and a whole section of his closet was open. I mostly brought lounge clothes but today, my first official WAG outing, I’m in jeans, a crop top, and a leather jacket.

“I’m excited to watch you in action.” I tell him with a kiss to his cheek as he meets me in front of his car.

“It’s just practice.”

“Practice is where the work happens. I don’t need to see you in a game to be impressed.”

“No, you just need to see me naked.”

I blush and give his shoulder a shove.

He’s not wrong. We spent a lot of time naked yesterday.

Bryson gives me a quick kiss and points down the hall to The Corner suite. I can hear the boys in the locker room as I walk through the facility. Music is playing and the sound of their laughter and jeers make me smile. Their locker room really is a brotherhood.

The hallway has banners hung celebrating the teams' most recent and their first championship wins. There are photos along the wall of players' achievements and when I reach the end I see Bryson holding the Conn Smythe MVP trophy.

My team lost in the final match to Louisville this year.

It hurt for sure. My parents and Bryson’s parents were in the stands so I had some support.

When I got home I learned Bryson had bribed Larry with a new hockey stick to break into my apartment and leave a giant pink teddy bear on my sofa.

Pinky has become my favorite thing to snuggle at night.

It stung to go another season without a championship. All I have to my name is a high school state win and I've been playing just as long as Bryson.

That old jealousy pops up for a moment. I know it's illogical to compare us and our careers but a part of me can't help it .

This is not the right headspace to be in and I try to tell myself to get over it but when have I ever listened to myself?

"Jo! Good, you made it!" I turn to see Harper waving at me. She's dressed in a short skirt and a sweater and is carrying a large iced coffee drink that looks like it's ninety percent milk.

"Hi Harper, am I in the right spot?"

"You are!" She gives me a smile. "Follow me."

We walk to the end of the hallway and there's a door that says "The Corner". She pulls it open and we walk up the stairs.

Chatter gets louder the closer we get to the top.

"You've been on texts with Caroline so you know how the girls can get, and she's not here today because it’s a school day, but I should warn you, Ivanna has zero filters." Harper whispers to me as we walk into the suite. “Like none.”

"That's okay, I've handled girls like her before." I assure her.

We walk together over to the glass where a pregnant woman is crouched down talking to a little girl in a sequin Renegades sweatshirt.

"That's Danielle Bradford and her daughter Tilly."

"She's married to the coach, right?"

"Right, and there," Harper points to a tall blonde woman with a baby strapped to her chest, "is Ivanna. She's married to Vlad, one of the second line defensemen."

"Got it."

"Harper!" Tilly spots her first and comes running over. Harper scoops her up and laughs.

"Hey Til! Can I introduce you to my friend, Jo?"

"Hi Tilly, nice to meet you." I say as I extend a hand out for a shake. She grips it and gives my arm a good whip. The girl knows how to shake a hand.

"Joe is a boy's name. I have an Uncle Joe."

"Yes, but my Jo is short for Josephine, and it's spelled just J-O. "

"Why wouldn't you call yourself Josephine? That's so pretty."

"That's a good question, Tilly.” I laugh. “I'm not really sure."

She wiggles out of Harper's arms and runs back to her mom. No further explanation needed.

"Jo! It is so good to meet you." Danielle comes over and wraps me up in a hug. I'm caught a little off guard and the woman is shorter than I am so all I can do is bend at the elbows and pat her back. "Glad you met Tilly. This is T.B.D.." She rubs her tummy. "If it's a boy I might name him Stanley."

"Please do! Topo here was born before they won the cup so I couldn't jinx it." Ivanna says as she turns to us. "Hello Jo Hamilton. I hear you're good with balls."

"What?" I ask in a laugh looking at Harper for help. She just hangs her head with a little chuckle.

"With the football, or soccer, or whatever you American’s call it. You're good with the balls."

"Ohmygod Ivanna, you act like you're fresh off the boat. You speak better English than I do." Danielle says as she slides into an oversized chair. "Jo, she's messing with you. But we've all become big fans."

"Of my ball work." I add and the girls laugh.

"We've heard no complaints from Bryson!" Ivanna says.

"Wait, he talks to you about that?" How close is this team?

"Ha, no, but sometimes the boys complain or brag to each other and it gets back to us. Vlad can't lie to me so I'll know if something fishy is going on."

"Give the girl a break." Harper says. "C'mon the boys are getting on the ice."

I turn to see them skating out for practice and Bryson is one of the first out there. He warms up and then starts doing some stick handling drills while the rest of the team makes their way too.

"Mike is going to push them extra hard today." Danielle says .

"Really? Why?" Harper asks.

"They got sloppy in the last game, tired towards the end and it led to some intercepted passes and missed opportunities." I say without thinking.

"Yeah, exactly." Danielle says looking up at me from her seat. "Is that a casual observation from a fan or insight from an athlete?"

"Definitely more athlete insight. Hockey is great, don't get me wrong, but it isn't my first choice to watch. I knew Bryson would want to talk about his game afterwards so I taped it and watched it back, skipping the commercials."

"That's genius." Ivanna says.

"Thanks."

"I'm still learning the game so I can't really offer any advice to Aiden." Harper says. "But I've learned how to handle him after losses."

"That right there is an invaluable skill." Ivanna says. "Vlad can be so pissy after a loss. I told him he couldn't come inside unless he was ready to kiss me, smile, and help take care of the kids because a mopey man is worse than no man."

"How'd he take that?" Danielle asks.

"Great. Once he realized he wouldn't get his post loss blowie if he wasn’t inside the house. He fixed his attitude right up."

"You give blowies after losses?" I ask. "Doesn't that feel more like a victory sort of thing."

"Nothing makes a sad man happier than getting is dick sucked.

And sad men are the worst so he can feel bad for himself on the drive home but then he has to move on.

It's a game and losses happen." She shrugs which stirs the baby on her chest. He lets out a little cry but then rolls his head and settles back in for sleep.

"How are you settling in?" Harper asks me, steering us off the subject of blow jobs .

"Good. I mean it’s only been one night but so far, good." I feel my cheeks flush thinking about how we role played the lady pirate and prince last night and how Bryson let me tie him up.

"When does the national team start to practice?" Danielle asks.

"We pick up after Thanksgiv-"

brRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRPHT

I reach up to cover my ears as Tilly lets rip on her whistle. It's a long, ear splitting, trill until Danielle finally catches the lanyard and yanks it out of Tilly's mouth. Honestly, I forgot the kid was even here.

"Tilly. Not so loud. Little toots remember?"

"But they couldn't hear my little toots. They didn't stop and rerun the drill."

"Yeah, but you're the assistant coach baby, they're listening to the head coach right now."

"But doesn't the assistant coach draw up the plays?"

"Sometimes." Danielle says with a kiss to her head.

"Other times the assistant coach is like your big sister on the team. She can soften the blow of the head coach's criticism." I add.

"Really?" Tilly asks me and I nod.

"Yeah, I've got a head coach who can be really mean sometimes. But my assistant coach, Brie, makes sure I understand what Coach McEmbry is looking for and how I can improve."

"You play hockey?"

"Soccer."

"I play soccer. On Saturdays. My team is called the Chaos Dolphins."

"That's awesome. Do you enjoy playing?"

"It's not as fast as hockey but my friends are on the team so that's fun."

"Hockey is really fast, all the time, but soccer can go slow and then fast and then slow again. Each game is a little different. "

"Jo is going to play for the US Team in the World Cup this summer." Harper tells her.