Now I have to live with the consequences.
I set my phone down and look around my bathroom. The pink ring in the toilet bowl mocks me with its presence, and when I look in the mirror, my reflection is as wrecked as I feel.
Welcome to rock bottom, Ava.
I stand and grab my gloves, pulling them back on with a sigh.
If I’m going to survive this dinner, I need to pull myself together, even if that means hiring an escort and pretending everything is fine.
God knows I’ve done stupider things—like fall for my one-night stand.
13
KNOX
I pullinto Coach’s driveway fifteen minutes late, but it couldn’t be helped. Crosstown traffic was a bitch, and I was late getting out of the training center today because I refused to let Ava reschedule my one-on-one session again.
She’s been avoiding me, but I’m not about to let our personal situation interfere with work—for either of us. She has a job to do, and so do I. Truthfully, I needed someone to talk to, and it turns out she’s a great listener.
Not that I had any doubt.
We kept it strictly professional, but it was nice to open up about the pressure I’m feeling as captain of a losing team. She showed me some advanced visualization techniques, and before I left, she gave me an assignment—actual freaking homework—for our next session.
It was your own damn fault.
Yeah, it probably wasn’t the smartest move to tell her my only goal was to win games.
In retrospect, I can see how it might’ve come off a bit shortsighted.
She was right. I need to be more intentional about my role as captain and how I can leverage my strengths for the benefit of the team. Just being a hard worker and a good example isn’t enough.
Not by half.
I shut off the engine and grab the keys from the center console.
Ava’s SUV is already in the drive, and judging by the sweet scent of applewood wafting through the open windows of the truck, Coach has already fired up the grill.
I turn to Taylor, who’s sitting in the passenger seat. “Are you ready to do this?”
Taylor fidgets, messing with the seatbelt. I’m about to offer to help when it finally clicks open. “I don’t want to make a bad impression.”
The nerves are understandable. Coach can be intimidating as fuck, but the man has a heart of gold underneath the broad chest and icy stare.
“Trust me, you have nothing to worry about. Coach is pretty chill, and he’s looking forward to meeting you.”
Taylor straightens. “You told him about me?”
“Of course. You should have seen the way his face lit up when I said I was bringing a special guest to dinner.” Taylor shoots me the side-eye, and I throw up my hands in self-defense. “I’m serious. He’s like family to me, so when someone is important to me, they’re important to him.”
“Okay.” Taylor nods decisively. “Let’s do this.”
We skip the front door and walk around the side of the house.
Coach is at the patio bar, mixing drinks and regaling Ava and a guy I don’t know with tales of his days in the NHL.
“Finally!” Coach calls, sliding two drinks across the bar. “I was starting to think you were going to stand us up.”
I duck my head as we approach the bar. “Sorry, Coach. It couldn’t be helped.”