Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
DELANEY
“Does this say I’m fighting for my job? Or just straight-up fire me?” I step out of the closet, modeling not my first outfit for Lydia this morning.
“It’s going to be okay,” Lydia tells me. “They won’t fire you.”
“I wish I had that confidence.” I fiddle with one of the buttons on my pink blouse. “It feels like they’re going to fire me.”
Wrapping her arms around me, Lydia pulls me in for a hug. “Remember what I said. We don’t know what they have, and this could all be a big misunderstanding.”
I scoff. “I doubt that.” I step back, taking Lydia in. Her brows are pinched, mouth drawn tight. “And that face doesn’t exactly scream confidence.”
“Sorry. I’m nervous for you.”
“Me too.”
I untuck the blouse I’m wearing and go back in and find a yellow one. Yellow seems safe.
“God, this sucks,” Lydia says from the bedroom. “It’s not like you gave me any preferential treatment.”
“But that’s the problem. What if someone thinks you got more ice time than they did?”
“As if. You’d be more likely to reduce my playing time if I make you mad.”
“I’m being serious.”
“I am too.” A smirk plays on the corner of her mouth. A moment of brevity in what is going to be a hard day. “If I pulled some dumb move, you wouldn’t hesitate to put me in my place.”
This time, I sweep her into my arms and keep her there. “Well, someone has to keep this ego in check.”
“Hey. I can back it up. I’m still leading the league in most goals this season.”
I sigh, my heart tightening in my chest. I don’t know what is going to happen today, but I don’t know if I can keep this.
It seems I only just got Lydia back and I’m going to lose her again.
Fuck.
“I wish this were easier.”
“I know.” Lydia cups my cheek. “I’m sorry I put you in this position.”
“No. I wanted this. Trust me. I’m an adult and make my own decisions.” I shake my head. “And now we have to face the consequences of our decision.”
Lydia kisses me and it helps to calm some of my nerves. But only some. “I’m serious. I love you, Delaney, but if you see an opening to keep your job, I want you to take it. The Rosebuds need you.”
“I need you.”
“And you’ll always have me,” she says, eyes glancing at the clock. “But you need to go so you’re not late.”
“Right.” I steal a kiss before going over to the bed to pet Biscuit. “I’m going to be awhile, I’m guessing, so meet me back here this afternoon?”
She nods. “I’m going to go home and get more things for Biscuit, go for a quick run, and I’ll be back over.”
“Good. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Not for the first time, I’m sitting in the corporate offices for the Toronto Rosebuds. The first time, I was being interviewed for the coaching job.
Now? Now, I’ll be lucky to keep that job.
I knew what starting a relationship with Lydia would entail. A head coach and a player? It’s off-limits. Any player could cry misconduct because I favor her over them.
Unless I deny everything, I don’t see a way I’m going to walk out of here with my position intact.
Lydia is the star of the league. There’s no way they’re dropping her. Besides, I’m pretty sure there is something in my contract about morality.
Probably should have read it a bit closer.
Not that it would have mattered.
I’ve loved Lydia since the day I met her. There was never any hope to not have her in my life.
“Ms. Charles.”
Lydia’s words bang around in my head as I follow the secretary to the same conference room I interviewed in. The park beyond is covered in snow, even in late February.
“Thank you for coming in, Delaney,” Mr. Tremblay starts.
I give him a grim smile. It’s not like I had much of a choice, but I don’t tell him that.
“As you can see from these photos, it looks like you’re in a romantic relationship with Miss Bishop.”
Photos from our trip to Miami are placed in front of me on the table. Ones of us outside the hotel and at dinner.
The very same trip that they sanctioned.
“Delaney. This is a serious offense. Do you care to state your relationship with Ms. Bishop?” Mr. Allen asks.
Lydia said to deny. If I can save my job, do it. These photos? They were taken before we had a relationship. I can say that with the utmost honesty.
But…then we couldn’t continue what we have now.
For the first time, I feel comfortable in my own skin. That I don’t have to deny who I love to the world.
“We’re dating.”
“You’re not denying you’re in a relationship with your player?”
I shake my head. “Mr. Tremblay and Mr. Allen, I respect both of you too much to lie. These photos were taken when Miss Bishop was my player. It was a scouting trip you sent me on with her. But the two of us have a history.”
“You do?” Mr. Tremblay asks, looking more confused.
“Yes. We played together on the national team, as I’m sure you knew. But we had a relationship then. It ended when I got injured, but I never got over Lydia. These photos were innocent, but I’m not going to deny what she means to me now.”
“And what is that?”
Could I really look the woman I love in the face and not tell her how desperately I’m in love with her? What’s worse…the thought of losing my job, or losing Lydia again?
I lost Lydia once. I don’t think I can go through that again.
“We’re in love. And while I realize telling you this will jeopardize my position with the team, I hope that hers will not be in jeopardy.”
Did I make an error in judgment falling for my player? Yes. But we’re two consenting adults, and I do not want to deny myself the woman I love.
“I understand,” Mr. Tremblay says. “Then Miss Charles—”
“Can I say something?” I hold out my hand to stop him.
He looks irritated at my request, but nods his head.
“This isn’t a cavalier decision. I fell in love with Lydia when the two of us were playing together years ago, and I never stopped loving her.
I love this team too much to lie to you.
I never made a decision that put her above the team.
And while you have no way of knowing or accepting that, I always put the team first. I will always consider it an honor to have coached the Rosebuds, but for the first time, I have the chance to follow my heart, and that’s what I have to do. ”
His lips are spread into a thin, grim line. “You will be missed, Miss Charles. We appreciate you not making this decision harder than it needs to be.”
“I’m sorry it had to come to this.”
I shake their hands and leave the office.
Instead of leaving to a sense of joy like the day I was first here, this time, I’m leaving with a sense of dread.
I have no job. Lydia’s future is here with the Rosebuds.
Hell, she’s on a three-year contract. All I’ve ever wanted to do is coach in the PWHL.
Even with the league expanding, there aren’t any open positions.
They’re at a premium. And who is going to want a coach that fell in love with one of their players?
My future is up in the air. I have Lydia, but how in the world am I going to tell my mother that I lost my job? All I told her was that it’s been a tough week, but right now? I can’t bring myself to talk to her.
And right now, I can’t go home. I need air. I need to walk off the energy thrumming through me.
With no job and no prospects, things feel heavy.
At least I have Lydia…