CHAPTER TEN
JULIUS
It’s hard to miss Kaylah tapping her stick loudly against the ice from the corner of my eye, and even harder to miss her shouting, “This way!” at me a few seconds later.
I could pass it to her but I knew when I got the puck that Sierra had a better shot at getting us the goal, which is exactly why I don’t understand how the puck doesn’t go cleanly in the net.
“What the fuck, I was right there!” Kaylah says, thunder on her face as she stands before me.
“You were too close, it made more sense to pass it to Sierra.” I still don’t understand how she missed that.
“That’s some bullshit, you’re just immature as fuck bringing problems onto the ice.”
I face her squarely to say, “What problems am I bringing on to the ice?”
“So you’re not denying the fact you’re immature?”
“I don’t care for your opinion about me, but I wanna know what problems I’m bringing onto the ice.”
She huffs. “You’re literally just full of shit.”
“You can’t even answer a simple question.”
The game’s done now, so it wouldn’t be an issue for her to walk across the ice to the exit, but I’m not done with this conversation, so I pick up my pace to catch up to her.
We both know what your problems are with me, “ she says. “Should I tell you how to cross the road while we’re at it? Seeing as we’re explaining things that should be pure common sense.”
“Yeah, why don’t I —“
“You two, get to my office. Now,” Coach says, his stern voice coupled with his disapproving expression telling me how this is going to go.
“Oh, but great game guys,” he shouts to the rest of the players in the room.
There are a few smiles at him before he turns back to us with a final, “Now. Get changed first, obviously. But in the next ten minutes I want you both sitting opposite me.”
We go to our separate changing rooms, and when I’m done I don’t bother waiting around or checking to see where she is. I already know Coach is going to start going off on us, so I would rather get in the view moment of peace I can while I make my way to his office.
But Kaylah’s already in there when I get there.
“Thanks for not making me wait, Kaylah,” he says. Oh, for fuck’s sake. “That would have pissed me off even more.” I take his words directed at me, and just keep listening. So, now that’s out the way, I just have one question for you idiots. What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Did you just call me an idiot?” Kaylah says.
“That right there,” he claps his hands then points to the space between us.
“That’s your problem. I called you both idiots.
You should both be pissed that I insulted you and you, but instead there’s not one single sense of companionship between the two of you to the point where you don’t even recognise you’re on the same fucking team.
What the fuck is wrong with you? You don’t have an answer?
” he says when silence penetrates the room.
“Okay, let’s do this. Kaylah, what’s wrong with Julius? ”
“What, apart from the fact that he’s a selfish prick?”
He looks at me. “Julius, what’s wrong with Kaylah?”
“I don’t even know where to begin.”
He leans back in exasperation on his chair, a folded fist against his forehead “This is why I called you two idiots. You can’t answer what the fuck is wrong with you individually, which, I promise you, is a lot, but you’re all talk about the other?
Did you forget that I made you both co-captain of this team, which is newly formed by the way, meaning you need to set the direction of the team? Huh? Did you forget?”
“No, Coach,” we say at the same time.
His response is quick. “So why the fuck are you arguing on the ice?” Why the fuck are you acting like you’re on opposing teams?
” I’m just going to assume he’s not actually looking for an answer.
Especially when he continues with, “Your lack of ability to act like you’re on the same damn team has got me here swearing like a fucking sailor.
” He rubs a palm against his head before looking straight back at us.
“I promised my wife I wouldn’t let you idiots stress me out.
But here you are, stressing me out. It ends today or it won’t be me you have to answer to, it’ll be her.
Because when I’m stressed she feels it too and she really doesn’t want to feel that way.
So here’s what’s gonna happen. You two are going to pull yourselves together and call a fucking truce.
Immediately. I don’t care who initiates it.
I don’t care where you do it. I don’t care what lies you have to tell each other about how amazing you find the other person and you just love being the best of friends who want to pain rainbows for each other.
But you will get it done. Your team is relying on you.
The next time I see you, you better be smiling in each other’s faces like Cheshire fucking cats to the point where everyone thinks they’re being pranked.
” This must be some kind of alternate reality.
“And I promise you, if we lose just one game this season, I’ll blame the both of you even if for no reason at all.
And Julius, don’t forget our conversation.
” He swings me a determined look, but it’s not like I needed a reminder of his promise to me.
I’m not going to forget something as important as my position being in jeopardy.
Stop pissing me off. Stop. Pissing. Me. Off,” he repeats.
I think he’s gotten his point across. “Now get out of my office and go grab some food together of something. Wait. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Coach,” we say at the same time, again.
“Wait again. Hug it out first.”
Kaylah screws her face up. “Do what now?”
“Hug. It. Out.”
“Coach, you don’t really want us to…” I begin.
“My wife is the only person who can tell me what I do and don’t want in life.”
“Um…okay.” I guess that’s my cue to shut up.
He raises a brow. “When someone tells you to stop pissing them off, how much sense does it make to continue pissing them off?” he asks. “What are you waiting for? Get up in there with each other.”
I’m sure her expression perfectly mirrors mine, because this feels like a torture situation. Hugging is probably my all time least favourite activity. All time. But because Coach just isn’t backing down right now,m I also see the acceptance on Kaylah’s face that we have no choice but to do this.
So we take a few steps towards each other…and close the distance with me patting my hand against her back and her trying her hardest not to touch any part of me.
Without my approval, I find myself closing my eyes as a dark, but sweet scent wafts into my nose.
It’s an aroma I’ve smelled on her from our first meeting and as much as I try not to lose myself as a result of it, it just gets harder and harder each time. I don’t know what it is. It’s just so fucking sexy.
And now I’m falling to stop myself from secretly sniffing her just so I can get more, more, more.
It’s only when Coach says, “That’s the spirit,” that we practically fly off each other and I’m grateful for the save. I can’t be standing in my Coach’s office smelling my roommate who hates me. Come on.
“Get out of my office now.”
I sprint out of there.
He doesn’t have to tell me twice.