Page 119 of Line Change

Me: No.

Hunt: Turn on SportsCenter.

I grab the remote and switch on the TV, flipping to SportsCenter as they come back from commercials.

“If you’re just tuning in, we’re talking about a scandal that just broke. Four players across the professional hockey league, along with two officials and a still unnamed member of the Player Safety Board, have been accused of taking bribes to influence games.”

My heart hammers as the host goes on to name the players, including Elliot Jacobs, and the officials and says that the league is doing a full investigation, whatever the heck that means. But, bloody hell, I can’t believe this is happening. Maybe this means this mess will finally be behind us.

I grab my phone and send a text to Sutton. I wish I was home with her, but I have a job to do here—help my team win the second round of the playoffs.

Sutton: Mads just texted to tell me. I’m shocked. But glad justice will finally be served. Hopefully.

Me: What about your father?

Sutton: I imagine he’s being investigated too, but who the fuck knows.

Me: We can only hope.

Me: I miss you.

Sutton: I miss you too. I love you.

Me: Love you. I’ll text you later after the game.

Sutton: I’ll be waiting to hear from you. I’m going to go take a nap so I can stay up to watch the game.

Me: Sleep good.

I set my phone on the nightstand and tune back into SportsCenter, but they’ve moved on to talking about baseball and potential expansion locations. I shut off the TV and close the curtains so I can take a nap, or try to take a nap, before the game.

I hope we win tonight. Win the series. Go on to play in the finals and even win the Cup.

But I’m also ready for the season to be over. To move into our new house, the one that’s down the road from all our friends.

But what I’m even more excited for is to take Sutton home to England with me this summer and introduce her to my family. Show her where I grew up.

Mostly, I’m just ready to start this next chapter of my life with the love of my life and our daughter, surrounded by our friends and family.

Epilogue

Early September—Sebastian

“Anything I can get you?” I whisper to my wife before leaning down and dropping a kiss on her forehead.

She glances up at me from the hospital bed where she’s holding our sleeping daughter, her face lined with exhaustion from the hours of labor she went through to bring Emma into the world.

She’s a warrior. The strongest person I know.

“No, I’ve got everything I need.” She scoots over. “But maybe you could come sit here with us.”

I lower into the bed, wrapping an arm around her. “Want me to take her and put her in her bassinet so you can rest?”

She snuggles against me. “In a minute. I just want to hold her a little while longer. Did they all finally go home?”

“Yeah, after I promised to text pictures and let them know if we need anything. Madison and Hunter took my keys though.” She lifts her head. “Said they were going to stock our fridge and make sure the place was set up for us.”

“That was sweet of them, but I hope you told them they didn’t need to. That we’ve got everything taken care of.”