Taking a cool sip of a fresh beer helps to calm the buzzing flowing inside of me. The only thing I need to be worried about—focusing on—is hockey. That’s it.
That’s how it’s always been.
I’m not like Bode who takes someone new to bed every chance he can get. That’s not me and it’s never been me.
Glancing around, I see my assistant defensive coach. Except what I see next stops me in my tracks. Someone else walks up to him and gives him a kiss.
Husband? Boyfriend? Partner?
I don’t know who this person is to him, but now it’s taking those earlier feelings and throwing gasoline on them. I shouldn’t be staring, but I can’t tear my eyes from them. From the tender way he holds him to the soft look in his eyes. They’re pressed close together, not caring that anyone here could see them.
I don’t know why I can’t look away.
Fuck. Fuck.
When they break apart, Mickey looks my way.
“Graham.”
“Hey, Coach.” I throw an awkward hand in the air. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to stare.”
I walk over toward him and extend a hand to him.
“Darren, this is?—”
The man with him, a shorter man with dark hair, gives me a big smile. “I know exactly who this is. I’m a big fan of your mom.”
I return his smile. “I am too.”
“It’s not every day a woman wins a few Super Bowls as a head coach.”
I sip my beer, thankful this man cut the tension that was going to swallow me whole. “She is pretty badass.”
“No disrespect to your dad,” Mickey tells me. He’s a taller, more fit version of his husband—I now see the glinting band on his ring finger. “He was a great player, but we love seeing the underdog succeed.”
“He’ll be the first to tell you that she deserves all the praise over him any day.”
It’s how it’s always been. My parents have one of the best relationships I’ve ever witnessed. Their love story is a thing of beauty, and it’s why I always focused on hockey. Seeing how much they love each other always made me want that.
I never wanted to settle for anything less than what they had. It was always easier to focus on what I could control, like hockey. I couldn’t do hockeyanda relationship, so I took the easier option.
“I could stand here and gush over your mom all day. Breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings, but I’m sure you’ve heard it all,” Darren tells me. “It really was nice to meet you, though. I don’t meet a lot of Mickey’s players.”
I hold out my hand for him to shake. “It’s nice to meet you too. I’m glad Coach Andrews organized this.”
Mickey nods. “I think he’s going to bring some big changes to Nashville.”
“I feel it too,” I agree. “All I want is to be part of a winning organization.”
It’s not a lie. No player grows up dreaming about being a part of the league’s worst team. Having had a front-row seat to the Mountain Lions’ greatness growing up, I didn’t want anything less.
So when I was drafted by the Knights, it wasn’t the best situation. But I couldn’t complain. Not when I was living out my dream.
“We don’t want to keep you,” Darren interrupts my thoughts. “But it was wonderful to meet you.”
“Yeah. You too.”
I wave at them as they link hands and head off into the party.
