He braces both hands on the edge of his desk. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
I just raise my eyebrows.
“Well, Jesus Christ.” He bursts out laughing. “He’s fuckingthreatenedby us? Us?”
“Because we’re going to win.” Cam stands up. “We’re going to win, and there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.”
Craig looks between us, and his smile grows wider.
He pumps a fist in the air. “If you two stay together, invite me to your wedding!” he calls out as we leave his office.
Cam and I walk down the hall, and then we shut the door to my office and start laughing.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Savannah
The time leading up to the Cannons first playoff game goes by in a blur. I work nonstop alongside the coaches to make sure we’re ready to play the New York Empires.
In addition to our long hours in the rink, Craig decides it’s best if Cam and I are open with the organization about our relationship. Craig tells the owner the whole story, who says the handbook should be updated with “someone else’s rules other than those of the previous coach.” Craig cheerfully says he’ll take on that task right after the season.
Cam and I stand together and tell the team after practice one day. McLain starts cheering, which starts a full-on ovation, until Cam tells everyone to shut up.
Bruce pulls me aside afterward. “You and the new guy, huh?”
I smile. “He’s not exactly new anymore.”
He tugs on his beard. “I like him. More importantly, I like him for you. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Bruce.”
“And if we go to the finals…” The sentence hangs unfinished in the air like the way the Cannons’ season ended six years ago.
“Cam swears we’re going to win,” I say with a smile.
“Hell, I’d bet on him.” Bruce’s eyes crinkle at the corners. “This is gonna be fun.”
* * *
Cam and I spend every night together. Except for one, when Molly, Celie, and I go out for drinks.
“I wish you’d told us about this woman you like,” I say to Molly.
“Me too,” she says as we share a group hug.
“Our family.” Celie shakes her head.
“So what now?” Molly raises her glass.
I raise my glass to meet hers. “To a happy future. For all of us.”
The next day, Nadine, pregnant and dragging two toddlers, comes into town with Brad from Chicago. Nadine can’t wait to meet Cam, and she and Brad happily hand their kids off to an equally-willing Mama so my three sisters and I can attend the game together.
“What’s Cam like?” Nadine asks as we make our way to our seats right before game time.
We’re sitting directly behind the team bench this time, so Craig can easily talk to me about any mid-game adjustments. I went over the game plan with him last night for hours, and I have a really good feeling about this game.
“Cam’s awesome,” I tell Nadine. “You’ll like him.”
