Page 108 of Home of the Brave

I was going to request a trade immediately. Coach Abrams could get started on putting out feelers for a new team.

“See, it was a great plan.” He elbowed Hartman in the ribs, and he grunted and stepped further away. “He even got her number.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because Victoria already ran into Madi and grilled her.”

That made me grin. She was the type to demand answers, and I was glad I didn’t have to explain to her what they’d done.

“Well, glad we cleared that up, and our plan worked.”

My smile dropped at his self-satisfied smirk. “Not really.”

“What do you mean? You got a night alone with her.”

“Yeah, but nothing’s changed.” I might like her more than I did before, which was not helping my situation.

“Not yet,” he winked and walked away.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked Hartman.

“No idea. I stopped trying to predict his and Madi’s moves years ago.”

That was fair.

“Hurry up. We’ve got to get on the ice in ten.” He walked back to his locker, and I continued to pull on my gear while watching Schultz from across the room.

Why was the truth of mine and Victoria’s viability so hard for them to accept? Sure, they loved love and matchmaking, but there were relationships that simply couldn’t work. It was horrible and sad, but true.

I was working on moving on. Why weren’t they?

From years of being around them and watching the Pride work, I knew better than to think they had a plan. I just didn’t know what it could be. Part of me doubted they did. But those women, and sometimes their husbands, had pulled off miracles before.

But I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

There was more than a good chance that after next week, I’d never see Victoria again. Not unless I made it to the Olympic team again, and she was there covering the women.

I pulled my jersey over my pads and slouched. The worst part of all of this was that I honestly wanted the best for her. I wanted her to reach her dreams and get the job she’s been working her whole career towards.

But that meant a life without me.

I wished I didn’t care. That I could be the type of person to ask her to give it all up so we could have a chance.

No.

No, I didn’t.

She wouldn’t want a man like that.

I wanted her to be happy.

I wanted to be happy.

“You ready?” Jason held out my helmet, and I took it and stood.

“Yeah.” We walked out to the tunnel and headed to the ice.

“You think maybe you could get injured? Just a little, nothing serious,” he teased with a grin.