And even though I don’t regret it and I’d do it all over again for Ellie, it’s still a big disappointment to lose something before I even had it—something that I’ve wanted for so long.
I clean up, throw on a clean Bashers T-shirt and joggers, then head to Coach Porter’s office.
I knock on his door, which is cracked open.
“Come in.”
He’s on the phone, but waves me over. I walk in and sit down at the club chair in front of his desk.
He ends the conversation, then looks at me. My nerves crackle at his hard stare. Coach Porter always looks so intense and borderline pissed. The only time I ever see him smile is when he’s around his wife Abby and her daughter Emma or with Sophie. Kind of wish one of them were here right now so he would lose the death glare.
“Team leadership has learned some news about you and your wife, Ellie. Specifically about the reason why you two got married,” he says. “There are some pretty serious accusations being thrown around about you two. That your marriage is a sham. That you’re not a real couple and you only got married so she could have access to your money and lifestyle as a professional athlete.”
He narrows his gaze at me.
I take a breath, swallowing back the anger I feel that people are outright lying about Ellie. “I can explain.”
His stony expression doesn’t budge. He nods for me to go ahead.
“Our marriage isn’t a sham. We’re a real couple. She didn’t marry me for money. She doesn’t care about any of that,” I say, trying not to sound as pissed off as I feel. “The truth is that she and I have been friends since we were kids. She deals with chronic illness, and her insurance had been screwing her over, refusing to pay for her meds. I was sick of seeing her suffer, so I asked her to marry me so she could get the medical care that she needed. That she deserves. Because I care about her more than anything in this world, and I wasn’t going to stand by and watch her struggle.”
Coach Porter blinks, and his gaze softens.
“We weren’t romantically involved when we got married, but it didn’t take long for that to change.” I swallow hard. “I know I did something dishonest by marrying her for health insurance. But I don’t care. I love her. I’d do anything for my wife.” I clear my throat. “This probably means I won’t be alternate captain. That’s fine. Whatever you or team leadership want to do to punish more for this, I’m fine with.”
Coach Porter is quiet as he stares at me, an unreadable look on his face.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Connors. You’re still alternate captain.”
My brow lifts. “I am?”
“Of course you are. I’ll make the official announcement in front of the team tomorrow. And I agree with everything you said and did. Hell, I would have done the same if I had been in your position and my wife needed help. No question.”
I let out a breath. “Oh. Thanks.”
“I just wanted to get your side of the story. Everyone on this team knows how insane social media and sports news gossip can get. We all know that bloggers and reporters twist the truth to suit whatever narrative they want to push,” he says. “Frankly, it’s no one’s damn business why you two chose to get married.”
“Right. I think so too.”
“Team leadership is behind you one hundred percent. We’ll just continue to ignore all the news and gossip. Something will hit the news cycle in the next couple of days and your marriage will old news. Just hang in there.”
He stands up. I stand up too and shake his hand. “Thanks for having my back, Coach.”
He nods once. “I like the work you’re putting into training camp. You’re playing hard and working well with your teammates. You’re always willing to step in and help the new guys on the team. You’re receptive to feedback from the coaches. You’re going to be an excellent alternate captain.”
“Thank you.”
I leave the meeting, feeling a million times lighter. And happy.
When I walk in the house, Ellie is at the kitchen counter slicing vegetables.
She tosses a carrot to Gus, then turns to me. “Hey. What’s that smile for?”
I scoop her up in my arms and kiss her.
“It’s official. I just met with Coach Porter. I’m alternate captain.”
She squeals and kisses me. I set her on the counter and we make out for a minute.
