Page 51 of Ice Cold Heart
Coach called my name as I was about to jump on the ice, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. His usual clipboard was tucked under his arm, but he wouldn’t meet my gaze, instead glowering at the guys circling the rink. My first panicked thought was he knew about Avery. My second thought was a vivid memory of the breathy noise she’d made when I pushed a second finger inside her.
The timing was epically bad, but I couldn’t ignore the summons. With Gavin gone, he’d been shoving more responsibilities my way, and he expected me to play up to the extra pressure. I shifted my hips, thankful for the pads hiding the sudden hard-on from thinking about what I’d done to his daughter. I backed away from the boards to join him at the bench.
Coach continued to stare past me, and I relaxed. If he knew about Avery, he’d look pissed instead of vaguely uncomfortable. And I definitely wouldn’t be wearing my practice gear because I’d be off the team.
“What do you need, Coach?”
He cleared his throat and yelled for Dombrowski to watch the blue line before returning his attention to me. “How’s the tutoring going?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, careful to choose my next words. “Good. Avery’s brilliant, just like you said.” Even to my own ears, I sounded like I was hiding something.
His eyes slanted toward me. “Has Reece given her any problems at your place?”
I let out a relieved breath. “No. He’s mostly been gone while Avery is there.”
“Good. Good.”
The conversation was painfully awkward, which wasn’t the norm with us, but we mostly discussed hockey. Other than the one time in his office when he’d blindsided me with his daughter. I wondered if he’d regret that decision one day.
I hoped not.
“I trust you’ll tell me if any of the guys give her a hard time, right?”
“Yeah, of course.” Right after I finish educating them on the proper way to treat a lady. Coach stared at me a long moment as if he heard the silent half of my thought. In this case, I didn’t care if he knew I’d defend his daughter.
“Even Reece.”
I had to stifle the urge to laugh as I nodded. Reece might talk a big game, but he’d never step out of line with a woman. Avery just activated his instinct to stir up trouble. Unlike me, who couldn’t stop thinking about the way she’d looked splayed out on my bed despite being face to face with her dad.
He was worried about the wrong roommate.
I raised my chin. “No one’s going to bother her.”
Coach nodded as if he finally believed me. “Good.”
His reaction only reinforced my theory that he didn’t know how much Avery wanted to make a connection with him. Not surprising, since she didn’t seem to know either. They were two of the most stubborn people I’d met in my life, and I was friends with Eva. Without help, I doubted either of them would take the first step.
I hesitated, then decided to go for it. “Can I give you a bit of advice?”
Coach’s brows climbed his forehead, but he gestured for me to continue.
“Talk to her. Avery responds best to words.” Do not think of the way she clenched when I whispered in her ear. The order was only partially successful, and I was again thankful for the cup I was wearing.
“Talk to her?” he repeated, with a confused slant.
“Even better, show her. She doesn’t know which part of your history is twisted and which is true. My grandpa likes to say you have to give people a reason to trust.”
Coach rubbed his jaw, and I hoped he’d at least consider what I said.
“You usually go home over the holidays, don’t you?” he asked.
“Yeah, but it didn’t work out this year.”
He hummed a response.
“Come to Christmas brunch at our place. It won’t make up for missing your family, but you won’t be alone. No need to bring anything or dress up.”
I blinked, certain I hadn’t heard him right. “What?”