Chapter 25 - June
June
When I took the job with the Atlanta Reapers, I was worried about how I would be treated.
More specifically, I was concerned about sexism.
I was a woman who was replacing Andy, a trainer who was notoriously competent and well-liked.
I was afraid it would take years for the testosterone-filled players to respect me.
But aside from some early skepticism, the team mostly welcomed me.
There was some light flirting here and there, and a healthy amount of playful teasing, but overall they respected me.
They listened to me when I handed out workouts and rehab routines.
It had only been a couple of months, yet I felt like I belonged here.
Elias Nystrom was the only guy who was an outright asshole to me, back when I confronted him in the parking lot. And now I knew that was because he was being defensive about an injury he was trying to hide. He had since apologized and now completed the rehab assignment I gave him.
Winning him over was the final obstacle. I finally felt like I belonged here and wasn’t some fraud who might get fired after a single mistake. I still felt a little bit of impostor syndrome every time I walked into the arena, but I doubted that would ever go away.
Overall, I was in a good place.
Another good place was between Rhett and Cole. After getting plenty of sleep the night we returned, Cole invited me over to his place in downtown Atlanta. It was a sprawling condo on the top floor of a high rise, with a balcony overlooking the rest of the city.
But Cole wasn’t alone. Rhett was sitting on the couch, drinking a beer out of a pint glass.
“You look surprised to see me,” he said when I walked in.
“Surprised, but not unhappy,” I replied, turning to Cole. “You didn’t want to have a third date with just the two of us?”
“Rhett and I were fighting over who would get to hang out with you tonight,” he explained. “There’ll be plenty of opportunities for us to have private time, eh?”
Without much preamble, the two of them took me right there in the living room.
I dropped to my knees next to the couch and took turns going down on them.
When they couldn’t stand it any longer, they pulled me to my feet and bent me over the couch, fucking me from behind like they’d been thinking about it for weeks.
Which, honestly, they probably had been.
They alternated like that, swapping out like a hockey line change. Cole gripped my waist with both hands and fucked me while Rhett fondled my breasts from the side, then they switched and Cole kissed me while his teammate took me from behind.
“I bet I can last longer than you,” Rhett managed to grit out at one point.
“I doubt it,” Cole replied with a snicker. “But I’d like to see you try.”
In the end, Rhett lost that bet. He pulled out to switch with Cole, and I grabbed his cock and stroked him while the defenseman pounded me doggy style. But that touch was enough to send Rhett over the edge, and he roared and shot his load all over my upper back.
Cole wasn’t far behind him, but he still won.
It was even better than the first time, but I still hadn’t slept with Cole by himself. Not that I was complaining—getting shared by two men at the same time was absolutely incredible in every possible way. But at some point, I was looking forward to Cole having me all to himself.
My parents drove up to visit me for Christmas. It was good to see them, although it made it more difficult to hook up with my two hockey lovers.
“We’re just so proud of you!” Dad said while we had Christmas dinner in my apartment. The turkey I’d baked was a little dry, but the ham made up for it.
“Your father watches every game,” Mom said. “He likes to pause it when they show you on the bench.”
“Of course I pause it. My daughter is on television. Did you ever think she would be on television, Veronica?”
Mom rolled her eyes and turned back to me. “Have you used your new fame to date anyone, honey?”
“I don’t have any fame. I’m just the team’s physical trainer,” I insisted. “And no, I haven’t.”
I hated lying to my parents, but I wasn’t ready to tell them the truth. Mom was a notorious gossip, and if I told her even the tiniest amount of information regarding Cole and Rhett, she would share it with her entire book club before I could blink.
“What about the hockey players?” Dad asked.
“Dad!”
“What? I’m just asking.”
“Stay away from the players,” Mom warned me. “They’re cocky and overpaid.”
“Okay, Mom.”
“Also, it’s a bad idea to date someone at work. It never ends well.”
I gave a start. “You and Mom met at work thirty years ago!”
“And it ended poorly,” Dad said with a shit-eating grin. “Now I’m stuck with her.”
Mom snorted and shoved him playfully. “Oh, stop it. You’re happy you’re stuck with me.”
“I’m as content as any man can be,” he admitted.
Mom pointed a finger at me from across the table. “I’m serious, though. We know this job is important to you, June Bug. Don’t do anything that might jeopardize it.”
“I know, Mom. I won’t,” I said.
“Good. Now, when are you going to find a nice young man who will give us grandchildren?”
I groaned. “Oh my God, Mom…”
“You’re only getting older. I’m told the risk of pregnancy goes up after a certain age.”
We had an early home game against the Carolina Hurricane the day after Christmas.
While everyone was getting ready in the locker room, Cole stuck his head into my office.
He made small talk by asking about one of the other defensemen, then lowered his voice and asked, “Can I come over after the game tonight? I’ve had fun sharing you with Rhett, but tonight I want you all to myself. ”
I groaned internally. There was nothing I would like more than for Cole to come home with me and score his own hat trick in my bed.
I looked around to make sure nobody was within earshot, then replied, “I would give you an emphatic yes, but unfortunately my parents are in town until after New Year’s. They’re staying in my spare bedroom.”
“My place, then?” he asked.
I grimaced. “I really want to say yes. But my dad wants to take me out to dinner.”
Cole started to say something else, but then we were interrupted by another teammate coming into my office to complain about a sore achilles tendon.
As a team employee, I was able to get my parents free tickets right behind the bench. When I turned around, their smiling faces were right there. Dad flashed me two thumbs-up and shouted, “You’re doing great, Juney!” loud enough for the entire team to hear.
O’Malley and a few other players teased me about it later in the locker room after we’d won, 3-2. But I didn’t mind. Based on how often they teased each other, that made me feel more like part of the team than anything else so far this year.
I texted my parents and told them that I would meet them at the restaurant at eight o’clock when I finished up my work at the arena. Two of our second line wingers had new injuries to tend to. Thankfully, they were just minor tweaks, but I still had to catalog everything.
After that, I helped Elias stretch his core muscles in the weight room. Coach Jay popped his head in and asked if everything was okay with the big goalie.
“He’s great,” I replied. “Just going through some extra stretches to make sure he stays that way.”
When he was gone, Elias said, “Thank you. For not telling him.”
I smiled as we got to our feet. “Thank you for keeping up with your workouts so I don’t regret it. Merry Christmas, Elias.”
He grunted, then shocked me by wrapping his arms around me in a big hug. He had a wide wingspan, and a broad chest that was warm and comforting. Once my surprise wore off, I hugged him back.
He seemed uncomfortable after the hug, and mumbled, “Merry Christmas,” before hurrying away. I stared after him with a confused smile on my face.
Sometimes the men with the most terrifying exteriors were the softest on the inside.