Love Pucked (Toronto Rosebuds Hockey #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

DELANEY

This is it. The moment I’ve been working toward for the last two years.

A head coaching position.

Ever since I quit playing, it’s what I’ve wanted.

No.

What I’ve dreamed of.

Coaching the next generation of female hockey players?

It’s all I want.

Sitting in a bland office building in the middle of Toronto, I try not to let my nerves get the best of me.

After working my way up in the coaching world the last few years, it’s not cocky to say I know I’m good.

Now, with the women’s professional league expanding to Toronto, it’s everything I’ve dreamed of.

Being a head coach.

“Ms. Charles?”

A younger woman calls my name and I stand, smoothing the front of my black dress pants.

I’ve put everything into my appearance today.

A brand-new red blouse to project confidence. A black blazer. Pressed pants and a sensible pair of heels. My dark brown bob sleek and newly trimmed.

I’m ready to nail this interview.

The woman leads me to an open conference room that overlooks the small park behind it. Three older men sit on the other side of the table. I recognize them as the owner, the president, and the general manager.

Also known as the three people tasked with hiring the next coach of the Toronto Rosebuds.

“Ms. Charles. Thank you for taking the time to meet us today.”

“It’s my pleasure.” I shake their proffered hands before taking my seat.

No nerves, Delaney. You’re a badass and deserve to be here.

“Ms. Charles, can we get you anything before we get started?” the woman who led me in here asks.

“No, thank you.”

She nods and backs her way out of the room, leaving me with these three imposing men.

“Why do you want to coach in Toronto, Ms. Charles?” the owner asks. “Why this team? Why not, say, Minneapolis?”

I straighten my spine. I have prepared for every question they could have fired at me. Even if it’s an easy one to start with.

“Please, call me Delaney. I want to coach here because I want to get in at the ground level and coach a team from the very start. Toronto has a history of being a proud sports city, and I want to be a part of that. I want to coach a team that this city wants to get behind and women that are strong players. With a smaller league, it’s harder to accomplish, but I want to establish Toronto as the team to beat. ”

Their heads nod in agreement. Being that there are now only six teams in the women’s league, it’s hard to make a name for yourself.

“And how do you see yourself leading the Rosebuds?” This coming from the president.

I still hate that team name. The Rosebuds. Could they have come up with anything less hockey than the Rosebuds?

I won’t earn any favors by telling them that.

“I want to lead by example. Having played hockey before, I know what it takes to win. What it takes to win with a head coach that believes in you and the team. I’ve had my fair sure of good and bad coaches, and it’s made me realize how I want to lead.

With kindness and compassion, but at the same time, a firm hand to make sure we’re the best we can be. ”

Questions are fired at me left and right, and I answer them with ease.

I’ve been preparing for this interview ever since I watched the announcement that they were expanding the women’s league. You can’t have hockey without having a team in Toronto. It’s sacrilegious. The logistics of getting a team here took too long when the new league was founded.

When the women’s league was started, the city was in the process of building a new rink for the men’s team. With that glass monstrosity complete, the women will move into the men’s old rink.

Granted, it got its own shiny upgrade, but not as fancy as the men’s team.

Something I’m used to.

But it doesn’t matter. Because all I want to do is lead Toronto’s first ever women’s hockey team.

“You will hear from us soon, Delaney. Thank you for taking the time to come in today.” It’s hard to get a read on them, but I catch the glances they exchange.

They look positive. I mean, it’s not saying much, because I don’t think they’d give much away. But it plants a seed of hope inside me.

“Thank you. It would be an honor to be Toronto’s first head coach.”

I shake their hands and leave the office building. The warm, Toronto air fills my lungs as I step outside. The sun shines bright as I turn on the sidewalk and pull out my phone and dial the one person who might be more excited than I am.

“Hey, baby. How’d it go?”

Mom’s chipper voice makes me happy. “It went really well. I think I might have a shot.”

She scoffs. “If they have any sense, they would have hired you on the spot. You took Vermont’s team to the championship within two years. And won!”

“I know.”

I listen as she rattles off everything I’ve done so far in my career.

When I started as an assistant coach with Vermont University a few years back, the team was terrible.

But after a few years, things started to improve.

After their old coach retired, I took over, and within two years, we won the championship.

I love working with college athletes, shaping them into the players they are, but when this opportunity landed in my lap, I couldn’t say no.

“Do you know who else is in the running?” she asks.

“No idea.”

“Any word on which players they’re getting?”

“Not yet.”

With the league expanding, they’re transferring players around and bringing up people from the minor leagues. Putting everyone on equal ground.

“Well, they will be lucky to have you.”

“Thanks, Mom. But let’s not count on it just yet.”

“I can picture it now. My daughter. The head coach of the Rosebuds.” She ignores me, like any mother who believes in her child does. “Now, if only you can find a nice man to settle down with.”

“Right. Listen, I have to go. Love you, Mom.”

“Love you too, baby. Keep me posted.”

“I will.”

I swallow down the bile in my throat. It’s something that I’ve never had the courage to tell my mom—that I’m not into men, but women.

Anytime I would get close, something would happen that would stop me from confessing who I really love to her. Even at the ripe age of thirty-five, I’m still scared.

I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. Besides, it’s not like I’m dating anyone. It’s not a pressing issue. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.

If ever…