End Game (Bellevue Bullies 4)

“No, but she is off-limits.”

When the whistle blows, we all look to Baylor as she skates over to us. “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I interrupting your girl-talk time?”

We all look at her blank-faced. While she can be really hard and tough, she is pretty stunning. She has wild hair that is tamed up in a bun, and even at this early hour, she has bright-red lipstick on those lips. I thought Coach had told her no skating since she’s pregnant, but apparently, she doesn’t listen to anyone. Though, I’m pretty sure if her hotshot, captain of the Assassins, and Bellevue alumnus husband, Jayden Sinclair, found out she was skating around with her little belly bumping, he’d have a lot to say.

Though I don’t think Baylor would care.

She’s a tough one, and I admire her for it.

“Suicides, then?”

Everyone groans, even me, but when she blows the whistle, we’re off, charging like hell to the other side of the rink.

What seems like hours is only ten minutes.

When we’re done, some of the guys crawl off the ice. They’re the ones who haven’t been keeping up their cardio. Me, I stand in the middle, my arms above my head as I pull in deep breaths.

I think I’m dying, and I still have a full day of classes.

Ugh, and I have that meeting with the Assassins’ therapy team.

Fuuuck.

“Justice, come here.”

At the sound of Baylor’s voice, my eyes shoot open. She’s leaning on the boards, looking down at a clipboard.

Double fuuuck.

Skating toward her, I try to calm my breathing, but I think she may have killed us in those ten short minutes. Leaning against the boards next to her, I try not to look like I’m dying as I say, “Yeah, Coach?”

She doesn’t look up at me. “Did Coach talk to you about Ackerman?”

Ackerman? Why would Coach talk to me about our captain? “No, ma’am.”

“Okay, well, he probably will tomorrow after practice. But I wanted to give you a heads-up. He’s out.”

Somehow my breath is back, and my jaw goes slack. “Out?”

“His piss came back hot, and I’m telling you this in confidence. Though, we all know it will get out once he loses his scholarship and everything.”

Oh shit. “Yeah, no, wow. I didn’t realize.”

“Yeah, none of us did.” She looks pissed, which explains why she was so hard on us this morning. Ackerman is an awesome player, our highest goal scorer, and a wonderful captain. I want to ask what he came up hot with, but then I don’t. It’s none of my business, but man, that sucks for him. He was being looked at by the Rangers. “So since you’re alternate captain, I’m pushing for you to be captain.”

“Me?” I ask, surprised. I thought Moon would go before me.

“Yeah, I think it will look good on paper and will be a good push for you for the draft.”

I think I just fell in love with Baylor Moore-Sinclair. “Wow, thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Coach wants Moon since he is an obvious leader. But I stressed that you are a quiet force like your uncle. So do me a solid and show Coach the position is yours.”

I nod eagerly. “Of course.”

“Also, I know Coach ripped into you about the last game.”

I look away, embarrassed, even though she isn’t looking at me. “He’s just being hard on you. The pass was solid from where I was sitting. It was quick, efficient, and Moon had it on and off his stick in seconds. Like we want. My problem is that as soon as he ripped into you, you shut down. I could see it on your face. You were too busy trying to figure out how you fucked up and worried that you had been bitched at, instead of going out there and making a play. Don’t let that fucking happen again.” When she looks at me, I swallow past the lump in my throat. “You are a good player. Strong and smart. We are cleaning you up to get you where you want. Stop resisting us and letting your mind get in the way, or I’ll stop trying to help. If I stop, Coach will stop, and then you’ll go nowhere. You hear me?”

I realize the lump in my throat is my heart, and it’s pounding like mad. “Yes, ma’am.”

She nods curtly before tapping my arm. “Good practice.”

“Thanks,” I say as an exhale. “Thank you again.”

“Of course. Now hit the showers.”

I start for the locker room as everything Baylor has said plays over and over again. This is what I want. I’ve wanted the captain position for a long time, but Coach always went for someone who was louder and more out there. Someone more confident. And dwelling on a damn pass isn’t confident. I have to apply that to my game, to my life. Because one thing is for sure, I’ll never get a self-assured chick like Sofia Castilleja if I don’t believe in myself—and show it to the world.

That has my lips curving into a huge grin.

Not the fact that I may get captain or go into the NHL.

No, it’s getting Sofia into my arms and that pouty mouth on mine.