I slumped in the fold up chair in the corner of his office, he really needed to upgrade this place.
I pulled my hat off and ran my hands through my hat hair, letting out a frustrated growl. What a fucking day.
I didn’t want to exit the rink for a while. Not until I was sure everyone else had left. I didn’t want to face Her; it’d be too much. I wouldn’t even know what to say. I don’t think I’d be able to say anything at all actually. The amount of history between us in this very rink and her standing there with a different guy’s ring on her finger... with a kid. Just reminding me of everything that I didn’t have…and how she moved the fuck on real quick, but I was still in the same place she left me almost a decade ago.
I needed to get back to my place and have a personal day.
Max swished his way back in. He swished his way everywhere. I don’t think I’d seen him wear anything besides sweats since a college jorts tailgate.
“Wanna come over for some beers?” I asked him. I honestly didn’t want to be alone after today and I didn’t want the company of any women either.
He shrugged his shoulders and gave me an understanding look, “Wouldn’t say no to that, bud. Paige can handle the place for the rest of the day anyway. I’ll tell Smitty to come too.”
Chapter Nine: Jules- present
I found Jen mingling in the lobby of the rink.
“There you are! You disappeared! I’m thinking they’ll post the finalized list soon,” she said. She whispered to me then and gave a thumbs up, “Our kids did awesome.”
I smiled and felt a little more at ease then. I was afraid my absence from the stands would freak Canyon out.
Right then, our little minions came bounding out rolling their hockey bags behind them.
Canyon’s hair was spiked up with sweat and he was giving me a big smile.
I hugged him when he came close to me. “Great job, buddy. I’m so proud of you.”
“You don’t even know if I made the team, Mom,” he said.
I messed with his sweaty hair, “Doesn’t even matter. You’re a superstar and we’re getting froyo after this anyway,” I told him.
He gave me his little sweet smirk. His friends ran past behind him and beckoned for him to go. He looked at me in silent question. He was such a good boy.
“Go ahead, I’ll be here.”
Right then, I noticed Max walking across the lobby to the bulletin board with a paper in his hand. I saw him scanning the parents as he walked until his eyes landed on me and he gave me a wink.
Canyon made the team.
“Girl! Did Max just give you a wink?” Jen asked me, sounding like a high school girl.
“Yeah, we actually grew up together,” I explained to her.
“What?! Why wouldn’t you have said something?”
Because I had no idea the three of them were back. Because I wouldn’t have come today if I had known. And because I was afraid of talking about my past with their head coach, I thought.
I’d already spoken too many truths today, so I just gave her a small smile and a shrug.
Chapter Ten: Grey- Present
We were baking in the late August sun, sitting poolside in my backyard. A few seasons in the NHL paid well. I’d jumped around to four different teams, so I never really settled anywhere for too long. Most of my life had been like that actually- moving from town to town for different teams. The longest I’d stayed in one place was when I was in high school playing for the Griffins and then college playing up at Brecklin.
After my team didn’t make the playoffs last spring, I knew I wouldn’t be playing another season in the NHL. I’d had one too many concussions and not enough goals, and no one wanted me. That was alright though, I achieved that dream. I just didn’t know what was next and I didn’t knowwherewas next.
After being dismissed I shut myself up in my apartment in New York and drank about a week away in my boxers by myself just binge-watching random ass tv shows and people watching from my penthouse. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. Usually when all the guys went home during the off-season, I just stayed and trained right through it. But I had no point to train anymore, and no home to go to. My parents were still in Vancouver, but I hadn’t lived with them since I was probably 14 or 15 and I didn’t even consider that home. If I really thought about it, the most secure and at home I’d ever felt had been my high school years that I’d spent in Minnesota and at the Ice League clowning around with Max and Smitty… and falling in love for my first and only time… with Jules.
At some point in that lost boxer week, I figured people went to work, but what was I even qualified to do? If I was being honest with myself- I barely did college. I had a general business degree but I knew nothing except the ice.
