With a nod, I wave her over, and she snaps photos of us still hugging before little Andie poses for the photo shoot. We take a few with me sitting before I stand up and take a couple more.
“Thank you so much!” Little Andie beams, looking at me like I hung the goddamn moon, and something inside of me bursts.
I don’t want to miss out on moments like this while I hide away from the world. I don’t want to completely leave the hockey atmosphere. It’s my life. I can’t abandon the little Andies because I’m scared.
“Thank you so much,” her mom coos. “Seriously, you have no idea what this means to her.”
“Trust me. You have no idea how much this has meant tome,” I retort. “I’ll be watching out for your domination as a goalie, Andie.”
“You will?” She smiles big and bright.
I nod with certainty. “I will.”
“Come on, sweetie. We’ve got to get you to Grandma’s house.” Her mom ushers a resistant Andie away. “Thank you so much for your time.”
“Of course. Goodbye, guys.” I wave as they head to the doors.
Spinning back to the table and sitting down, I find our salads have arrived. Oh, perfect.
Andy walks over from who knows where, a shit-eating grin on his face. “I have the best news and an even better offer.”
Oh God.
“What’s up?” I ask nervously.
He sits down and leans forward. “I’d like to extend an invite to you to become the Nighthawks newest goalie coach.”
I didn’t hear him right. “What?”
He repeats himself. “Come be a goalie coach for the Nighthawks with me.”
Oh my God. I did hear him right.
“What? No, I can’t do that.” I scoff, my face scrunched together. “I have no coaching experience. I’m too scared of the damn ice to even set a foot on it. That can’t possibly be a good combination for a professional hockey coach.”
He glares at me and sighs. “And what would make you a great candidate?” he challenges.
“Someone punctual?—”
“You’ve never been late to a thing in your life,” he cuts me off. “Now, how about you name a few reasons why you’d be a great goalie coach. Because I have a ton.”
I part my lips, fighting to form a thousand other excuses, but all I can think about is my interaction with little Andie. Would she be proud of me if I backed down from this? Would I still be a player worthy of her admiration? I surely don’t feel like one.
“Look, just shadow first. See what it’s like. We’ll get you by the ice. You never have to step foot on it. And you can give me your answer after that.” Andy drives a hard bargain. “They’regoing to pay youwell. You’d get free physical therapy with the staff. And you’d get to be involved with the sport in a new way.”
In a way I never wanted to be. I’m supposed to be on the ice, not scared of taking a single step on it. Panic starts eating me alive the longer I consider the opportunity.
Annoyingly, I remember Lorea’s homework—Do something this week that scares you.
Well, this fucking terrifies me. How about that?
“Don’t answer me yet. Shadow me for a few days, as close or as far away as you’d like. See what you think. Then give me an answer.”
He keeps talking right when I part my lips to speak, probably because he thinks I’m going to say no with a bunch of excuses. And he would be correct. But I don’t want him to be.
Which is why I’m going to do something that makes my skin crawl. Eventually, I have to face my fears, especially if I want to enter the hockey world again.
“Okay,” I murmur.
