"Instead," I continue, "I want to issue a statement. Today. On my terms."
"Absolutely not," PR says immediately. "That's?—"
"Let him finish," Coach interrupts, surprising everyone.
I take a breath. "I've been silent while Jessica's lawyer feeds lies to the press. Silent while they call Reese a homewrecker, a gold digger. Silent while they paint me as an absentee father who suddenly decided to play house. The narrative is completely fucked, and my silence has only made it worse."
I stand up, unable to sit still any longer, pacing as the words flow faster than I can filter them.
"I want to set the record straight. Yes, I overreacted last night. Yes, I let my temper get the best of me. But I'm done hiding. I'm done pretending. I have a son I love more than anything. I have a partner who's been unfairly dragged through the mud for loving both of us. And I have a team I'm fully committed to leading—but not at the expense of denying my family."
"Logan," PR objects, "the optics?—"
"Fuck the optics!" My fist hits the table harder than intended. I take another breath, lowering my voice. "Sorry. But I'm done worrying about optics. I care about reality. And the reality is, I'm fighting for custody of my son with a woman who's using the media to strengthen her case. I'm watching Reese get destroyed online for being in my life. I'm trying to protect my family while still being the leader this team needs."
Coach Martinez leans forward. "And you think a statement helps how, exactly?"
"It lets me control the narrative for once. It lets me be honest instead of hiding. And it shows everyone that I'm not ashamed of our family—that I'll stand up for Tyler and for Reese no matter what."
The room falls silent again. The staff exchange glances. The legal team scribbles notes.
"We'd need to craft it carefully" PR finally says.
"Fine," I agree. "But I say what I need to say about my family. No corporate sanitizing."
More silence. Then, surprisingly, Coach Martinez nods and says, "I agree with Logan."
A lengthy debate follows about the timing and the risks. I stand my ground on the important points while conceding on others. By the time we finish, it's nearly ten, and we've hammered out a framework that everyone can live with, if not love.
As the meeting breaks up, my phone buzzes continuously—dozens of notifications. I expect more news alerts, more crises, but instead find something else entirely. My teammates have started posting messages of support:
Families come first. Always. #StandWithMcCoy
Nobody messes with the Captain's kid. Period. #BladesFamilyStrong
Been on the receiving end of Mac's protection for 7 seasons. Wouldn't have it any other way. #TeamMcCoy
Coach Martinez is standing next to me and sees the messages, a bemused expression on his face.
"They respect loyalty," he says simply. "So do I." He whispers.
He leaves me standing there, the weight on my shoulders somehow both heavier and lighter. I've drawn a line in the sand today—made it clear that I won't sacrifice my family for hockey, my personal life for public image. Even if there are consequences both professional and personal.
But as I head for the elevator, back straight, jaw set, I feel more certain than I have in weeks. Some battles you fight because you might win. Others you fight because not fighting isn't an option—win or lose, you stand your ground.
This is my ground. My family. My fight.
Chapter 22
Reese
My alarm wakes me at 6:15 AM, dragging me from a bad dream about empty classrooms and locked doors. I fumble for it, eyes still heavy with sleep. While I’m getting ready for work there are a series of texts from my principal, Mrs. Lincoln, each more urgent than the last, the final one a simple: "Come to my office before first bell." Ugh. I dread what’s ahead. The world outside the bedroom window is coming alive, the city is getting ready for work too.
The past week feels like a fever dream—Logan's confrontation with the photographers, the emergency meeting with the team, his decision to release a statement. I check my social media while the coffee brews, scrolling past headline after headline:
"BLADES CAPTAIN STANDS BY FAMILY IN HEARTFELT STATEMENT"
"MCCOY REFUSES TO APOLOGIZE"
