Once the doors open, I see most of the players and staff in the lobby, and of course I catch Eric looking right at me, a knowing smirk on his face. I look away as fast as I can, not wanting him to see anything or give away how nervous he makes me feel.
“I’ll see you on the plane. Just text me if you need me, and promise you won’t deal with your period on your own anymore?” He says in a hushed whisper as we crowd by the wall.
“I promise, you’re my first call. Now go, before you get in trouble.” He starts to walk away toward the team, and then turns, looking around before he winks at me.
A blush coats my cheeks just as Coach walks by, looking between us before a smirk lights up his face. He nods his head in what looks like approval, his eyes shining bright before he makes his way to Coach Johnson.
Well, so much for Jake telling Coach himself.
“How was last night?” Emilia says as she and Hannah walk up next to me, startling me enough that I jump a bit.
“It was miserable, until it wasn’t.” I tell her.
She looks over to Jake, a smile on her face as she leans her head on my shoulder.
“Hey, so I talked to Jake about the ‘you know who’ stuff, and I think you’re right. When we get back from this series, we should pull Coach aside and talk about everything.” All three of us turn our heads, seeing Eric standing in the same spot as before, but now he’s talking with one of the other trainers.
“Yeah, I agree.” Hannah chimes in.
“Has he done anything since we’ve left?” Emilia asks.
I shake my head no at the same time Hannah does.
“I’m pretty sure he knows we’re coming after him. I think he’s planning his next move or maybe just laying low. If we don’t talk to Coach and HR soon, I’m worried about what he’ll do.” She looks over at him once more before darting her eyes back towards us.
Emilia and I nod in agreement, forming a game plan before we hear the call to start loading the bus.
On the ride over to the plane, all I can think about is how for the first time in a long time, I’m truly happy. I feel lighter than I have in forever not having to hold everything in. I’m not weighed down by my past choices, but more determined than ever to learn from them and make this relationship with Jake last for the rest of forever.
I know we had a false start, but this right here, is the true start to our forever.
Chapter 27
Jake
Our next stop on our away series takes us to Seattle, where the team does a complete one eighty and gels like the last game never happened. That’s the funny thing about playing an intense sport like hockey, or even football, baseball, soccer, you name it. You work as an individual to pull your weight for the team, making sure that you’re doing your part. It’s the team, however, that makes or breaks everything.
The guys, or girls, standing right beside you are the ones that have your back. The ones you have to trust to make the plays necessary, watch your six, anticipate your moves.
You win or lose as a team, there’s no other way.
The best part of this entire trip so far, though, has been the fact that all of our friends and family know about Kailyn and I. It means that finally, after everything we fought for and went through, we get to live out loud, together.
Well, almost.
There’s only two more things we need to do. One is to officially declare our relationship with HR. Since we both work for the team together, we want to make sure that we’reabove board on everything and that there’s no chance of either of us getting in trouble. Once we land home, we plan to file the proper paperwork with HR. I also want to tell Coach in person, want him to hear everything from me first.
While the Taylors are my family and Kailyn’s parents treat me like their third son, Coach also has been like another father figure to me. Especially after my dad passed away.
He was there the day I was drafted, officially welcoming me to the Blaze and giving me my official NHL jersey. Ever since then, he’s been there for me in every way that counts, and it would mean a lot to tell him myself.
The other thing I want to do is have a proper sit down with Kailyn’s parents. It might not be necessary, per say, but her parents mean everything to her, and even though we’ve done this so backwards, I want to start the rest of our lives off right on the proper foot.
She deserves it, and so do I.
It’s only fair that this time around, we do things the right way for us. And while I know now, after everything we’ve been through that they’ll accept me, I still feel that this step is necessary for us to come full circle and close the chapter on our past, so we can officially move forward to the future ahead.
Currently, we’re snuggled under the covers of her hotel bed as I hold her close, sharing stories from over the past ten years of things that have happened. Talking with her feels like no time has passed at all, but I’m also learning so many new things about her life experiences, as she is with mine.
