I had a hard shell, and after Weasel decimated my confidence and my self-esteem, it’d become as hard as iron. Axel wielded that same power as my ex had, and I wouldn’t succumb to his control, not like I did to Weasel.

Just as our lips were about to touch, sanity slapped me up the side of the face, and I scurried backward like a scared little mouse. Axel blinked several times as if he couldn’t believe I was so close one moment and so far the next.

“Have a safe drive home,” I said casually, pretending he hadn’t almost gotten beneath my protective layers. I quickly slipped into the house before I said or did something equally stupid.

Chapter 17—Morning After

~~Geneva~~

The team had a morning skate before the home game tonight. Axel, Steele, and Kaden looked like something the cat had dragged in and tortured for several minutes. I immediately assumed the worst, and I was disappointed in them, especially Axel. They’d obviously been out partying all night.

Gorst was all over their asses, and Coop was fit to be tied. The second line looked like they belonged back in preschool hockey. Maybe not that bad, but they were bad. By the time practice was over, they were demoralized. Heads hanging, they shuffled back to the locker room. As Axel walked by, I shot him a questioning smile. He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug, but his eyes were troubled. Something was going on.

I gathered up the towels strewn about, but my heart was heavy. These guys were struggling, and I was worried and irritated that they’d endanger our chances in the playoffs by partying all night.

As I walked down the long corridor to my home away from home, the laundry room, Kaden, Axel, and Steele filed into the players’ lounge. Gorst, Ice, and Coop followed them, grim-faced and more than a little angry. They were in for a butt-chewing, and I retreated to the sanctuary of my washers and dryers, where even Gorst’s loudest tirade would be muffled.

I’d loaded the second batch of towels when the laundry room door swung open. I spun around a little too eagerly, expecting Axel to be in the doorway. Instead, Jock stood there, and I frowned. He had his goalie face fully in place, and I was only able to guess what he was thinking.

“Don’t look so disappointed.” He entered the laundry room and shut the door behind him.

“Sorry, I’m not disappointed, just overwhelmed by all the dirty laundry you guys produced today.”

“No more than usual.” He wasn’t buying my feeble excuse.

“Seems like more on game days, when I’m in a bigger hurry to get things done.”

“What’s going on with those three and the coaches?” He jerked his chin toward the door, indicating the three in question were still in a meeting.

“Is Gorst on a tirade? Can you hear him?”

“No, that’s what’s weird. It’s deadly quiet in the corridor, so he has to be keeping his voice down.”