“I’ll kill you,” I say deadpan, wiping my face off.
He skates in a few circles. “You have to catch me first!”
Matty checks Burnsy for me, slamming into him like a brick wall. “Be nice.”
Kos, Costy, and Larinski skate over to the bench, falling out of conversation as they approach, directing their attention at me.
“We miss you out there.” Costy slaps his stick against the wall.
“Especially me,” Larinski says with a smirk.
My heart pains, my body itching to get back on the ice. “I’ll be back soon, boys.”
“We know. Better than ever,” Kos encourages.
A hand gently pats my back.
“How’re you feeling today?” Coach Carrington asks.
“Not bad. Just waiting for surgery. Thought I’d come see how you guys are surviving without me. What’s the prognosis? Are we screwed now?” I grab my chest, feigning worry.
He chuckles deeply. “We miss you on defense—that’s for sure—but we’ll be okay. You just focus on getting better. Your spot will be there for you.”
“It’d better,” I say snarkily.
The guys step off the ice, bumping fists with me.
“We gotta head to do weights. Do you wanna come?” Kos asks me as a few of the guys head down the tunnel.
Nerves claw at my insides. “I was actually hoping to talk to Coach quickly, but I’ll catch up with you.”
He salutes me and nods at Coach Carrington before following the other guys, leaving us alone.
“Should we step into my office? I have time,” he offers, and I nod, not wanting to risk anyone else overhearing me.
He leads the way through the arena to his office, silence between us until the door is closed behind us and we’re sealed quietly inside.
“What’s up?” he asks, sitting down at his desk while I sit in one of the chairs opposite him.
“I just want some advice, and you’re the only one I think I can trust with the information without running your mouth to your partner,” I ramble, fidgeting with my hands.
“Whatever you say in here stays in here.”
Well, might as well just come out with it. “Lainey’s pregnant.”
His eyes widen slightly from shock but quickly settle, lifting with his smile. “Congratulations.”
I can’t help but look at his family photo on his desk—of him, his wife, and their baby.
“Got any advice? While I’m stoked about it, it’s a little sudden, obviously. I just want to make sure that I’m there for her and the baby in the best ways.”
This feels alien and far too vulnerable of a conversation to be having with my coach, but he’s always been like a friend to us inthe times we’ve needed one. I would reach out to my parents, but honestly, they don’t deserve to know yet, not after how they’ve treated me.
I’ve realized that more lately than ever before. Imagining raising a baby with Lainey, I can’t fathom ever pushing my child away because of an accident. It wouldn’t be fair to them, just like it wasn’t fair to me.
He leans forward, his hands intertwined atop his desk. “Be there. For the appointments. For the little things. Surprise her with little gifts, flowers, massages, anything you can think of that would make her life easier while she grows a baby inside of her. It’s a miraculous thing, and it only brought my wife and me closer on a level I hadn’t known existed.”
I mentally burn his words into my memory, but I must be doing something right because I’m going to an appointment with Lainey this afternoon.
