“Funny, Kane.”
“We all have roles here. Yours is not to worry about every little call made on the ice. That’s my job and the players and the other coaches.”
She’s shaking her head before I even finish. “And guess who they blame when we don’t win? Me.” She points at herself.
“Hate to break it to you, but I’m right next to you for everyone’s target practice if we don’t win the Cup. We have the same goal. You don’t have to bear the weight of all this by yourself. And you definitely don’t have to call me to berate me for my decisions. I guarantee if my dick hadn’t been inside you, you damn well wouldn’t have talked to me the way you did last night.”
She inhales and exhales slowly. “That’s not true. I am your boss!” Her voice rises an octave.
“You make that abundantly clear, every fucking day.”
Our eyes lock. She knows I mean it in more than just our owner and coach status, that she’s the one who cut off our physical relationship too.
Her hands fly in the air. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to stay in that new pretty office of yours. I want you out of my business as far as the calls I make during a game. You’re the smartest woman I know, but you don’t know shit about what’s happening on that ice.”
“But that’s not me.” Her voice lowers, and if I didn’t know her, I’d say I heard a quiver.
“You need to force yourself or we’ll never survive this season. You let me worry about what happens during the games and you can worry about everything else. It’s the only way this is going to work.”
She sighs. “I’m not sure I’m capable of that.”
I come around my desk and sit on the edge in front of where she stands. “There’s just a lot of personal shit between us. It’s better if you stay in that ivory tower of yours and let me do the dirty work down here.”
“That’s how you see it, huh?”
“Let’s not fool ourselves, princess. We’ve always been different people.”
She nods, and for some reason, it feels like a slash to my chest. “Fine, but we better win this Cup.”
“I promise.” And although we lost the exhibition game, I know we can win the Cup. We have the best team in the league by far.
“Okay, Kane. You have it your way.” She turns to head to the door.
“What? No apology?”
She scoffs. “Have a good day, Coach Burrows.”
“You as well, Miss Gerhardt.”
She walks out and screeches, “Jesus, put some clothes on.”
I chuckle, hoping we’ve figured this out. I can’t have Jana second-guessing my decisions all season.
Twenty minutes later, I’m on the ice with the team after their warm-ups.
Ford and Warner are having a competition on how many goals they can score against our new goalie.
“Come on, Matty boy, that was right there in the corner. Old man Kane would’ve had that.” Ford laughs and skates across the ice, winking at me.
“Say it again and you’re doing suicides,” I tell him.
“It’s all in good fun.” He skates to a stop in front of me. “So, Jana was in your office earlier… we heard some yelling.” He waggles his eyebrows.
Leave it to Ford to think we were banging. This is one of those moments where the line is blurred because I was their teammate only last year.
“You’re on a thin line,” I say.
“Lena loves it when we fight and then suddenly, we’re all over each other.”
“You don’t have to share personal information.” I glance at the playbook in my hands.
“What? I’m not being specific enough?” Ford teases. “Everyone knows the sex after you’ve been arguing is some of the best sex there is. Right, Drake?”
Drake shakes his head. “I don’t kiss and tell. Let’s get Langley’s thoughts though, shall we?”
Everyone laughs.
“Fuck no. I don’t wanna know about my sister,” Ford says.
“No?” Warner has a shit-eating grin now. “How about the fact your sister’s favorite position is…” Ford skates after him and Warner laughs, skating faster. “Come on, man, you’ve gotten soft again during the off-season.”
“Screw you.”
The two of them go at it for a few minutes before I blow my whistle and they stop in front of me, shoving one another like two siblings.
“Enough, guys.” I give them both a look that says stop fucking around.
Everyone stands with their sticks in front of them and gives me their attention. They’re all looking at me to lead them. To tell them how we get that win we missed out on last night. My heart rate picks up at their expectations. I meant what I said to Jana—I want the Cup. I don’t want to disappoint these guys.
“It sucks we lost, and believe me, I’ve heard all the comments from the fucking analysts, but we didn’t put our A game out there last night. We can all agree on that.”
Most nod.
“We’re the team to beat, and we need to show that out there every game, exhibition or not.”
Maksim raises his hand.
“Yeah.” I nod at him to speak.
“The team building?”
I shake my head. “It’s a no.”
“Thank fuck,” Warner says.
“Tell my little sister she can get by for a few nights without you.” Ford rolls his eyes.
Warner pushes Ford and he loses his footing for a second.
Other than Ford, there are some grumbles about us not having our annual team-building trip. Although I wasn’t on the team that long, I know it’s something Mr. Gerhardt has always done. Mostly because when I wasn’t on the Fury and they’d show clips on ESPN, I’d be jealous as hell.
“Sorry, maybe later on, but with all these changes…” Then I realize I’m making excuses for Jana, and I wonder if she’d do the same for me. “Anyway, let’s get to practicing. Ford and Warner, you’re working with Tweetie and Train. Try to show them what you guys have on the ice.”
They both raise their eyebrows.
“Coach, it’s instinctual. I just know he’s gonna be there,” Warner says to me.
Ford nods. “Mostly it’s me seeing him and knowing where he’s going to pass. That’s why I had more goals last year.”
“You did not,” Warner argues. “You had assists because I’m the better shooter.”
“Just go.” I wave them off. “Drake and Freeman, you’re with me.”
The practice begins, but I catch eyes on us halfway through. Jana stands high up in the arena and watches us with her arms crossed. I should’ve known she wouldn’t listen. She doesn’t listen to anyone. And damn if that isn’t one of the things I like so much about her.
For the past month, I’ve tried to keep away from the players’ personal get-togethers. I just don’t feel as though I fit now that I’m the owner of the team. But Paisley is my best friend and it’s her party tonight. She and Maksim have a big announcement apparently, which means I have no choice but to go.