All Chapters of The Assistant Coach: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

"Why the hell are we out here, I'm freezing my balls off," Rocky grumbles. I scoff as he glances down at his pants, where his manhood seems to be retreating in protest. "Ari texted me, she said she wanted us to come outside. You came willingly, Rocky," Owen states matter-of-factly, his breath forming little clouds in front of his face. I shake my head in disbelief as I trudge along behind them. I couldn't care less if Satan himself had summoned us out here. Why on earth was I dragged into this freezing night with these fools? The bitter cold nips at my skin, making me regret not bundling up more. "If it's Ari, I can handle a little chill," Tim declares, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I quickly shrug it off, not in the mood for his attempts at camaraderie in this miserable weather. We all skulked through the back exit of the dorms like a bunch of wannabe spies, trying to avoid the security guard who was most likely asleep on duty. Owen, Rocky, Ant, Tim, and me– the reluctant

I glance down at my phone, my eyebrows knitting together in a mixture of annoyance and confusion. She left me on read. I'd rather be left on delivered than have to deal with being left on read. It's like a slap to the face. I went to all that trouble to get her number, too. Sneaking into Coach Johnson's office like some kind of thug just to find a simple piece of paper. And what do I find? A whole list of player addresses and phone numbers, including Leia's. Even Ari's number was on there, which just adds insult to injury. I've been trying so hard to avoid her, to push her out of my mind. But no matter what I do, it's like she's always there, lurking in the back of my thoughts. It's frustrating as hell, like a constant battle between my head and my heart. And my heart is not making this easy for me. To top it all off, I haven't had sex in so long because it's a dick move to have sex with a girl, while thinking about another girl – Leia. The door swings open with a loud creak, I tu

I refuse to touch a drop of alcohol, despite the fact that I stupidly bet on Owen's ability to outdrink a random stranger. As I sit at the crowded bar, I keep ordering plate after plate of the complimentary food being passed around. Not because I'm hungry, but because it's free and I know there won't be anything waiting for me back in the empty dorm room. I watch as Owen holds Ari's hair back for her while she takes another shot. We are surrounded by a crowd of rowdy onlookers. Ari's cheeks are flushed with the alcohol, her eyes hazy as she chirps, "How much is that?" The cheers of the people around us blend together into a cacophony of noise. I can't help but notice the little things Owen does that make me think he might like her. He's still holding her hand from when Leia put them together earlier. His eyes flicker to the drinks on the counter, a protective glint in them as he makes sure they aren't tampered with. And then there's the way he's holding Ari's hair back so she c

What is wrong with me? I can't help but wonder as I sit here, nursing my wounded pride. He's a playboy, that much I know. So why did I expect him to remember what I did last night? Stupid, I know. But somehow, it stings more than it should. I wasn't even drunk when I made my move. No, I did it because I finally came to terms with the fact that I like him. And because I wanted to see if he remembered, considering how wasted he was. He shut me down, claiming I was too intoxicated. But was that the real reason? Or was it simply because I'm not his type? The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. "Are you okay?" Ari's concerned voice breaks through my thoughts. I force a smile, masking the turmoil inside me. No, I'm not okay."Whose coat is that?" Ari's question draws my attention to the soft black fabric draped around me. It smells like him. Warren. Despite everything, it's comforting. I don't even care that I'm wearing it. I just want to wrap myself in its warmth and forget abo

It's been a damn long week since that disastrous night with Leia. I can't shake the image of her disappointed face out of my mind.Stupid, stupid me for opening my big mouth and ruining everything. I never wanted us to be just Coach and Athlete. I wanted more, but I screwed it all up. Every practice since then has been a painful reminder of my own stupidity. Leia still looks as beautiful as ever, but she won't even glance in my direction now. I get it though. I hurt her. I can see it in the way she avoids me like the plague. I try to focus on the practice, passing the puck to Ant, but my head is all over the place. Kateb swoops in and steals the puck, scoring effortlessly. I don't even bother to try and get it back. What's the point? Ari is on the sidelines, cheering us on with her usual enthusiasm, but I can't find it in me to care, not that I ever did to begin with. I skate around the ice, feeling like a complete idiot.I almost wish Leia would start crying again, just so I cou