“Shh, shh, shh. I’m right here. Everything’s fine,” I say softly in her ear, my eyes closing as her fingers dig roughly into me. “I’ve got you. Just breathe for me. Come on.”
Sliding my hand around to her ear, I cup her cheek and pull her away just enough to see her face. I exaggerate my breathing, and she mirrors my actions. Slowly, I inhale through my nose before gradually exhaling. She does the same, and after a few reps, the chaotic rise and fall of her shoulders begins to slow.
“There you go. Attagirl. Nice and easy.” I encourage her, my head leaning forward until it’s leaning against hers. “You’re doing so good.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, fighting back tears as her head slowly shakes side to side. “I fucked up. I ruined everything with my crazy outburst.”
Both of my hands find her face, pulling her back to meet my eyes dead-on. “Like hell you did. That was a normal reaction, Shay. You went through an incredibly traumatic experience. But I’m safe. You’re safe. Everything’s just fine.”
Her breath is shaky and sputtering, her stare raw and unshielded. “Then why does it feel like the world is going to end?”
I brush her tears away, holding her firmly. “Because you just relived your accident. It dredged up all those feelings, shoving them back at you all over again. Give yourself grace. You’re doing incredible.”
She laughs humorlessly, rolling her eyes. “I’m never going to be able to face any of them again. The players. The staff. The fans … oh God.” She winces painfully. “I can already see the news and media now. God, I’m so fucking stupid.”
“Fuck them. Fuck them all. No one’s opinion of you matters but your own. The people who really know you hold no goddamn judgment for the most human reaction. Be kinder to yourself, please. You’re talking about my favorite person right now.”
Her eyes flick back up to mine, wider than before. Those full lips part, and she sucks in a breath. “Your favorite person, huh?”
She’s unreadable, her face a blank canvas, but then her gaze drops to my mouth, just for a split second. But, God, that second is a moment that’s going to replay repeatedly in my mind for eternity.
“Yeah, Shay, my favorite person. Be nicer to her. She’s the strongest, most resilient, most beautiful girl in the entire fucking world.”
She bites down nervously on her lip again, or maybe she’s stopping herself from saying something she feels she shouldn’t. We both take a deep breath together one more time before reality seems to return to her, armor clicking into place around her body and in her stare.
“I’m fine.” She huffs, stepping back and straightening out her clothes as if she just flipped a switch in her mind. “I’m good.” She swallows hard, wiping her nose and beneath her eyes, but it does little to hide the redness burned into her features from crying.
“You’ve got this, Rooney,” I murmur, nodding. “Best there is, remember?”
Her shoulders rise a little, and she nods sharply. “I think it’s best if I stay in here for the rest of tonight’s game. I don’t want to be by the ice right now.”
“Yeah, and that’s for the best for everyone involved,” Carrington’s voice booms behind me, shattering the safety of our moment, and I watch Shay’s face fall with embarrassment.
I whip around, red filling my vision. “Watch your fucking mouth,Nate.”
His gaze shifts to me, challenge in his stare. “I need my players focused on the game, not on the bench. We need to secure this win, which means no distractions oroutbursts.”
“Carrington,” I warn him one more time. I don’t give a fuck that he’s my coach or that he could pull my ass off the ice for the rest of the playoffs. I know he won’t, not if he really wants to win. “Disrespect her one more time, and it’s the last thing you’ll do without two black eyes and a bloody nose.”
“Matt,” Shay interrupts him, stepping beside me and addressing Coach Carrington. “You’re right. This is the most important moment for the team, and everyone needs to be focused on the game. I apologize for my distraction. I lost control for a minute, and I will do my best to make sure that never happens again. I’m a coach and a professional, and I’m sorry.”
His eyebrows twitch upward with surprise. “Thank you. I appreciate?—”
“I wasn’t done,” she cuts him off, her hand in the air between them. “There’s a difference between being a coach and being a dick. I know you want to win more than anything because you were denied that chance as a player. You’re overcompensating and emotional because of it. You’re a damn good coach who is going to take this team all the way, but don’t use myoutburstas an outlet to ignore yourownfears about this tournament. The only way everyone is winning is if we do it together.”
Her upturned palm falls sideways, straightening out to shake his hand. With a few silent nods, he takes her hand and shakes it firmly.
“You’re right, and I apologize. I couldn’t agree more.”
“Good.” She stands tall as he steps back and walks toward the locker room.
“MacArthur, you have five minutes.”
“Got it.” I smirk, feeling like I just got a front-row seat to a show. Turning my head to the side to face Shay, I can’t contain my smile. “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”
She slams her eyes closed before looking up at me and shaking her head. “Get your ass in that locker room, MacArthur. You’ve got a game to win.”
Biting down on my bottom lip, I grunt, “Mmm.Yes, Coach.”
