25. Dane

25

DANE

“What the hell did you think you were doing?” Coach Miller shouts. Spittle flies from his lips, hitting the desk separating us. If it weren’t for the sturdy piece of furniture, I’m pretty sure he’d be shouting directly into my face.

I keep my chin level with the floor and my eyes forward. I’m not ashamed of what I did. I’d hit that asshole ten more times without batting an eye, but I do regret punching him in front of a dozen members of the Ranchers’ staff. That made it impossible for the organization not to get involved.

“He was verbally assaulting Morgan,” I say.

“Then you report him!” Coach slams his hands on the desk. “You can’t go around physically assaulting Ranchers employees. That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.”

I barely refrain from pointing out that I showed restraint by only hitting the prick once.

When one of the equipment boys rushed into the locker room to tell me someone was giving my girlfriend a hard time, my gut told me it was her arrogant ex.

I’d rushed out to find her, not sure what I’d walk up on. I never expected to hear him tell Morgan that I was bound to replace her in the future, but it was a weak attempt to drive a wedge between us. It didn’t bother me because I trust Morgan knows it’s not true. But I lost it when he insulted her.

His words were a disgusting lie. Aaron knew it. He wouldn’t waste his time harassing Morgan if he genuinely believed what he’d said.

Her ex wanted to embarrass her. He tried to plant a seed of doubt in her mind about her worth. My fury demanded he regret the attempts.

I couldn’t have stopped myself from striking him down if I tried. Not that I bothered to try. That asshole deserved two black eyes for what he said.

But I don’t say any of that to my coach. I keep my mouth shut and let Coach Miller continue to ream into me for being impulsive, irresponsible, and selfish.

“Until the team can investigate this incident internally, you’re suspended.” Coach Miller runs an aggravated hand down his face. “You won’t be playing tonight.”

Shit.

“There’s truly no way around this?” Henry asks.

Morgan had the foresight to insist that I call my agent after the incident in the hall. Henry was already at the facility, schmoozing with other sports agents and the organization's higher-ups. He joined me shortly after the assistant coach, who had witnessed me hit the trainer, ordered me to go to Coach Miller’s office.

“No.” Coach Miller’s eyes flash. “Believe it or not, the organization doesn’t take too kindly to a team member assaulting support staff.”

“But other support staff can verbally assault another member of the support staff?” I ask.

“Again,” he growls. “You should have reported that.”

“You’re right,” Henry interjects. “He should have. But surely it is not in the organization’s interest to let their star center sit out of a playoff game because tempers flared.”

“Of course it isn’t,” Coach snaps. “But it’s not in our interest to open us up to a lawsuit for allowing a player who physically struck a member of the staff to play like nothing happened, not until an internal investigation is completed.”

My agent leans back in his chair with a heavy sigh. “And how long will that take?”

“With any luck, one day.” Coach looks at me. “And if Mr. Burns doesn’t press charges, you might be able to play in game three.”

The idea that my playoff career is at the mercy of that piece of shit grates my nerves.

“I’m sure all parties can come to an understanding,” Henry says meaningfully.

I grind my teeth. “I’m not paying that prick anything.”

“You assured me that your relationship with your nutritionist wouldn’t cause trouble,” Coach Miller says, referring to our only conversation about Morgan and me dating after we followed the organization’s policy by reporting our relationship to our superiors. “It seems that was a lie.”

“Our relationship didn’t cause any trouble,” I argue. “His insults did.”

“Why did he insult Morgan?” Henry asks the question I’ve been waiting for my coach to ask.

“Because he used to date her.”

Both men are surprised.

“When?” Coach Miller asks with a furrowed brow.

“Years ago.”

“Before they were hired?”

“Yes,” I answer Henry.

“Hm.” My agent rubs his chin thoughtfully. Then, his expression brightens. “Who worked here first?”

“Morgan.”

Henry and Coach share a loaded look, holding a silent conversation I’m not privy to.

Seconds later, Coach Miller pinches his lips together and nods. “I’ll see if we can get this matter resolved. Until then.” He looks at me. “Stay away from Burns. I don’t need you doing anything else that could keep you on the bench.”

I won’t go near Morgan’s ex unless he tries to go near her.

I swallow the remark and nod. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” He sits back in his chair with a sigh. “You can’t dress out for the game, but the team could use your support in the locker room before the game.”

“I’ll head there now.” I rise from my chair. Henry follows my lead.

“Good.” He dips his chin and then turns to my agent. “Mind staying behind for a quick chat?”

My agent lowers himself back into his seat. “Not at all.”

I lift a curious brow but don’t ask what the two have to discuss. If it involves me, Henry will fill me in later.

I leave the two men to their secret conversation and close the office door behind me.

There’s one thing I need to do before joining my team, and that’s find Morgan. We need to talk about what happened. I need to make sure she’s okay and make sure she didn’t believe any of the foul words her ex spewed about me. I need her to know I’m all in this relationship.

I should’ve told her sooner, but we haven’t been together long. I didn’t want to scare her off. But if the alternative is her doubting that I’m invested, then I’ve got to tell her.

Luckily, Morgan is waiting outside the coach’s wing in the facility.

She pushes off the wall and straightens when I walk through the door. Remorse floods her beautiful features. “I am so sorry, Dane.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” I close the distance between us and wrap her in a hug. “You didn’t do anything.”

Her hands land on my hips, and she buries her face in my chest. “Yes, I did. I shouldn’t have stopped to talk to him.” Her voice is muffled, and she shakes her head. “He’s such an asshole. I knew he was up to something. I shouldn’t have given him the time of day.”

I run a hand over the hair hanging down her back. “You didn’t do anything,” I repeat.

“What happened in there?” She leans back. I’m gutted to see tears in her eyes. “You’re suspended, aren’t you?”

“Only for one game,” my voice is soft. I cup her face and stroke her cheek with my thumb. The need to console her is so visceral it makes it hard to breathe. “It’s going to be fine, Morgan. Don’t worry.”

“How can I not worry?” A tear rolls down her cheek. I wish I could punch Aaron again for making my girl cry. “This could ruin your chances of winning the Stanley Cup. I’ll never forgive myself if I’m the reason you don’t achieve your dream.”

Understanding dawns, and my heart squeezes in my chest. Morgan isn’t upset because of her ex but because she’s worried about me. This strong, brilliant woman is so concerned about what will happen to me that it’s brought her to tears.

Words cannot begin to describe how much that affects me. Other than family, I’ve never had someone care about me for me, not what I could do for them.

My relationships have always come with strings, whether it’s notoriety, money, or clout. That’s why I avoided them after Chelsea. But Morgan’s reaction speaks to her goodness. To her selflessness. And it makes me fall for her even harder.

“Morgan,” my voice drops an octave, and I dip my chin to force her to meet my eye. “Please listen to me. I’m a grown man. I’m responsible for my actions, and I’m not sorry for what I did. Not even a little.”

Her bottom lip quivers. “Not even if it means the Ranchers won’t advance to the Conference Finals?”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“But—”

“I said.” I slide my other hand up to cradle her face with both hands. “That’s not going to happen. The team doesn’t need me to win. Even if they don’t win tonight, there are still five more games this round. We’re going to advance. We’re too good not to.”

I see the desire to argue with me in her eyes. It’s motivated by guilt. And affection.

Warmth seeps into my veins.

She huffs a disbelieving laugh. “Why are you smiling?”

Because I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with you, and I think you might feel the same.

“Because I’m happy,” I say honestly. I dip down and press a gentle kiss to her lips.

I want to do more, but it will have to wait until there’s not a chance Coach Miller will stumble upon us and lose his shit.

I pull back.

She sniffs. “How could you be happy at a time like this?”

“Because I have you.” I kiss her again.

And that makes me the luckiest guy in the world.