51. Braden
Chapter 51
Braden
C oach Porter blows the whistle, signaling the end of practice.
I take a second to catch my breath before pushing up my helmet and meeting him at center ice with the rest of my teammates.
He goes over areas of improvement and I nod along, trying to absorb everything he’s saying.
I glance past him and happen to look in the stands. There’s Bella sitting with Maizie in her lap. She waves. I grin, surprised and happy to see my girls.
“Solid effort today, gentlemen,” Porter says, wrapping things up. “Go ahead and hit the showers.”
We all skate off the ice toward the locker room. Bella and Maizie are standing along the edge. The guys say hi and give Maizie pets.
I’m the last off the ice. I have to lean down pretty far just to kiss her. I’m almost a foot taller than Bella normally, but in my hockey gear I look monstrous compared to her small frame .
I smile down at her and pull off my gloves. “What are you doing here?”
“I was picking out tables for the coffee shop and the furniture place was in this neighborhood. I thought we’d come and say hi.”
It’s been a week since Bella signed the lease for her coffee shop and she’s been busy planning for the opening in the spring. That’s been her main focus, but she’s still working a few shifts at Spanky’s and her friend’s coffee shop on top of doing her roasted coffee deliveries every week. I can’t believe how much she’s doing. She’s super woman.
“Let me take you out of lunch,” I say. “You’ve been working so hard.”
Dimples flank her gorgeous smile. “That sounds nice.”
“Let me get cleaned up first. I’m pretty gross right now.”
Just then, I see Sophie walking towards us from down the hall.
“Hey, Doc. What’s up?” I ask. That’s when I noticed her concerned expression.
“I just heard from Lucas’s medical team,” she says.
My stomach drops. I can’t tell from her tone or expression if it’s good news or bad news.
“You’re a match, Braden,” Sophie says.
For a second, I just stand there while my brain processes the shock of this news.
Nerves and adrenaline pump hot in my body. “You’re serious? I’m a match?” I finally say.
Sophie nods. “Yes. You’re a preliminary match. There are a few more tests that they’ll have to do to determine if you have all the markers necessary to be a bone marrow donor. But this is a great sign. It’s very likely that you’ll be able to donate bone marrow to Lucas and help save him.”
My legs start to tremble. Tears fill my eyes as I let out a shaky breath. Relief washes over me. It’s such a strong, overwhelming feeling that I feel like I’m about to pass out.
“That’s amazing news,” I say. “Thank you, Sophie.”
I sniffle, realizing that I’m crying. Bella hugs me. I glance down at her, at the wobbly smile on her face and the tears in her eyes.
“Oh my god, I can’t believe it,” she says.
I let out a shaky breath. “Me either.”
Sophie sniffles and wipes away a tear from her cheek, smiling at us.
My brain catches up. “I should go talk to your dad,” I say to Sophie.
Coach Porter needs to know about this as soon as possible. I’m going to miss practices and games, which might upset him. Especially since I’m in the middle of a hot streak. This is going to affect the team. I’ll be out for the surgery, and recovery time is at least a week. Yeah, that’s not a ton of time to be away from the team, but we’re right in the middle of the season. We play multiple games a week. We practice all the time. The team as a whole has a great rhythm going right now, and if I’m gone, it could disrupt how well we play…which could cost us our record so far this season and whether or not we make it to the playoffs.
I brace myself for that familiar dread to settle in my gut, just like it did when I lost the playoffs for us last season and when I struggled through my slump at the beginning of this season.
But it never comes. I don’t feel guilty or upset. Because missing a couple weeks of hockey isn’t really a big deal at all. Even if we lose every game for the rest of the season, I’d be okay with it. If it means that I can help Lucas, then it’s all worth it .
Sophie nods. “Yeah, you should tell him sooner rather than later.”
She tells me that she’s going to forward me the information so I can schedule more testing before the surgery. I thank her for all of her help.
She walks off, leaving me and Bella standing there together, Maizie sitting between us.
I huff out a breath. “I don’t know how Coach will take this, me being unable to play.”
She reaches up and cups my face in her hands. “It’ll be okay,” she says, her voice soft and steady. I instantly feel calmer.
“You’re doing an amazing thing, Braden. Anyone with a heart will understand and support you. And no matter what, I’ll be here for you through it all.”
Comfort washes over me. I gaze at my girlfriend. My incredible girlfriend. As long as I have her, I can get through anything.
I press a light kiss to her mouth. “Thank you,” I whisper against her lips.
I head to the locker room and get cleaned up so I can talk to Coach Porter.
Coach Porter pins me with a hard stare across his desk in his office.
I just finished explaining the situation with Lucas. How I’ll have to go through medical tests, and if I’m approved, I’ll have to have surgery, then take time off to recover right in the middle of the season.
I’m tense as I wait for him to say something. Even though I’ve already decided that I’m going forward with the surgery, I’m still nervous to see how Coach Porter will feel about it. I want him to know that I’m committed to being the best goalie I can be. I want him to see that I’m dedicated to this team and that I’m willing to work my ass off for as long as I’m able to play.
I don’t want him to doubt my commitment to the Bashers long-term just because I want to help Lucas.
He exhales and rests his elbows on the edge of his desk. “You want to take time off to help a kid with cancer.”
I nod. “Yeah. It’s the right thing to do, Coach.”
He blinks at me, the look in his eyes softening. “You’re right. It is.”
He blinks again, his gaze turning glassy. “As a dad, I can’t imagine what it would be like to see my kid at that age fight cancer.”
He glances at a framed photo of Sophie on his desk. He lets out a shaky breath. She looks like she was in high school when that photo was taken.
He blinks quickly, like he’s trying to stop tears from falling. My chest aches watching him get emotional over his daughter.
“If my daughter was sick and someone could help her, I’d want them to. Even if it’s a huge ask—even if it meant that they put their health and well-being on the line, I’d want them to do it to save my baby.”
His voice trembles. He quickly clears his throat.
I instantly think of my dad. I hate that he’s in my thoughts right now, but I can’t help it. I can’t help but wonder what he would say if he could hear me right now, willing to put my career on hold to help some kid I don’t even know.
Irritation spikes inside of me. I don’t care what he’d think or say. He’s not someone whose opinion matters to me anymore.
“Sorry,” Coach Porter says, dabbing at his eyes with a tissue. “I got a little emotional.”
“Don’t apologize. This is a really emotional situation,” I say. “I don’t have kids, so I don’t know what it’s like to go through something like this. All I know is that I want to help.”
Coach Porter nods. “Of course.” He pats his hand on his desk. “You’re a stand-up guy, Blomdahl. If you were my son, I’d be damn proud of you for doing this.”
Emotion surges through me, heartened at what Coach Porter says.
“That means a lot, Coach. Thank you.”
He nods. “I support you one hundred percent. Whatever you need to do to help this kid, do it. Your spot on the team will be safe. And we’ll all be here to help you through it.”
Relief flows through me. “Thank you.”
“You should tell the team what your plans are.”
I thank him again and head to the locker room where the guys are cleaning up and getting dressed.
I go to the center of the locker room. “Hey, guys. I need to tell you something.”
The chatter instantly dies. Everyone looks at me.
“You remember that kid Lucas who needs a bone marrow transplant?”
Their expressions are serious as they nod.
“I’m a match. If all the testing goes well, I’ll be able to donate bone marrow to him.”
The mood instantly shifts. Half of them are on their feet and walk up to me. Everyone is smiling.
“That’s fucking awesome, dude,” Xander says .
Theo slaps my back. “Hell yeah.”
Del cracks a smile. “This is great news.”
“I’ll have to take some time off for the tests and the surgery and the recovery. I might be gone for awhile,” I say, bracing myself for their disappointment. “I know we’re on a hot streak and that might screw things up.”
Half the room shakes their heads.
“Don’t say that,” Del says.
“Helping Lucas is way more important than hockey,” Xander says.
“Yeah, come on, man. You’re not just a goalie to us. You’re our friend. We’re here for you no matter what,” Theo says.
My teammates’ words hit me square in the chest. The feeling settles right where my heart is.
I’m more than just a goalie. I’m more than a save percentage, more than a salary, more than hockey.
I’m their friend. I’m someone who can help a kid in need.
The feeling builds until I feel the hot prick of tears in my eyes.
I sniffle. “Thanks, guys.”
I don’t miss the emotion that flashes in the eyes of Del, Xander, Theo, and all of my other teammates.
They hug me and pat my shoulders, then they all go back to their lockers and finish getting dressed.
When I walk out of the locker room, I head to the entrance of the arena and see Bella sitting on a bench with Maizie.
She walks up to me and pulls me in a hug. I close my eyes and sink into her embrace.
“How did it go?” she asks.
“Really well. Coach Porter and the guys were supportive. They’re good with whatever I need to do to help Lucas.”
She beams, her eyes teary. “That’s amazing, Braden.”
I kiss her. “It is.”
I hold her tight, warmth and comfort coursing through my body. For the first time in a long time, it feels like things will be okay.