18. Dax #2
"Dax Patrick Kingston, what is going on? Emma's been seeing things online about the team, and?—"
"Can you put me on speaker? I need to talk to both of you."
"Hold on... okay, we're both here. Emma's practically vibrating with curiosity."
"Hey, big brother," Emma's voice comes through. "Jamie texted me something cryptic about standing up for principles. What's happening?"
I look at Tessa, who nods encouragingly. "I'm about to turn down the Boston offer."
Silence. Then: "What?" from both of them simultaneously.
"Harrison fired Tessa today. Wrongful termination, trying to force me to take the trade. I told him I'd quit first."
"Oh honey," Mom's voice is soft. "Are you sure about this?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
"Good," Emma says fiercely. "Fuck Boston. Sorry, Mom."
"Language, Emma," Mom chides, but there's pride in her voice. "Though I have to say... I agree with the sentiment. That team doesn't deserve you if they're part of this mess."
"Actually," I correct, "Boston doesn't know what Harrison's doing. He’s probably also manipulated them into expecting an answer by midnight."
"So what are you going to tell them?" Mom asks.
I look at Tessa, who's listening to this family conversation with tears in her eyes. "That I'm exactly where I belong."
After I hang up, Martinez appears in the doorway, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin.
"Coach," Jamie calls out. "Please tell me you have good news."
"Depends on your definition of good." Martinez pulls out his phone. "I just got off a conference call with three board members. Harrison's employment status is under formal review as of two hours ago."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning they're not happy about losing a valuable staff member and potentially their star defenseman in the same day. Especially when playoff season starts next month."
"What about Tessa?" I ask.
"They want to meet with both of you tomorrow morning. Eight a.m. sharp."
Tessa looks up sharply. "Both of us?"
"Harrison overplayed his hand. They're questioning whether his management style is creating more problems than it's solving."
My phone buzzes with another call. "Unknown number," but when I answer, the voice is familiar.
"Mr. Kingston? This is David Ashford, board chairman for the Chicago Renegades."
"Yes, sir."
"I understand you have a decision to make tonight regarding Boston."
"Already made it, sir. I'm staying in Chicago."
"Even with the current... complications?"
"Especially. Because of them."
There's a pause. "Mr. Kingston, I'd like you and Dr. Bennett in my office tomorrow morning at eight. We have some things to discuss."
"Dr. Bennett was terminated today, sir."
"Not by the board, she wasn't. Eight a.m., Mr. Kingston. Both of you."
He hangs up before I can respond.
"What was that?" Tessa asks.
"Board chairman. Wants to see us both tomorrow morning."
Jamie whoops. "Dude, that's huge. Board chairman doesn't get involved unless heads are about to roll."
"Whose heads?" Tessa asks nervously.
"Not yours," Zack says confidently. "Harrison's. Has to be."
I check my phone. 11:47 p.m. Thirteen minutes until the Boston deadline.
"I should call them," I say.
"Want privacy?" Jamie offers.
"Nah. You're all family. You should hear this."
I dial the number the Bruins' GM gave me this morning, which feels like a lifetime ago.
"Russo here."
"Mr. Russo, it's Dax Kingston."
"Dax! Perfect timing. So what's the verdict? Ready to come home to Boston?"
I look around the locker room at thirty guys who've had my back today, at coaches who've supported Tessa and me, at the woman sitting beside me who's changed everything.
"Thanks for the offer, Mr. Russo. It's incredibly generous, and Boston's a hell of an organization. But I'm staying in Chicago."
"What? Dax, this is captain money. This is legacy money."
"This is home, sir. Chicago's home."
"Well... I'm disappointed, but I respect your decision. Good luck with everything, son."
"Thank you, sir."
I hang up and immediately dial Harrison's number.
"Harrison."
"It's Kingston. Just wanted you to know—I declined Boston. I'm staying in Chicago, and I'm staying with Tessa. Try to fuck with either of us again, and you'll learn exactly why they call hockey players enforcers."
"Mr. Kingston?—"
I hang up on him mid-sentence.
The locker room erupts in cheers.
Before I can enjoy the moment, Zack jumps up from his bench, grinning like an idiot. “Fuck yeah! This calls for a celebration, boys. There’s a new rooftop lounge downtown—VIP only, skyline views, bottle service. Tonight, we own it.”
“Hell yes,” one of the rookies chimes in. “I’ve got cash burning a hole in my pocket, and after today’s stress, I need a stiff drink.”
“Come on, Kingston,” Torres adds, slapping my shoulder. “You’re the man of the hour. First round’s on me. We’ll drink until you forget all about tomorrow’s board meeting.”
Zack’s grin widens. “They’ve got a Michelin-star chef running the kitchen, and the cocktails? Rare spirits you can’t find anywhere else. The kind of list people wait months to get a reservation just to try. Tonight we go all out.”
Several guys are nodding enthusiastically, already planning their evening of debauchery like we just won the fucking Stanley Cup instead of potentially saving my girlfriend's career.
"Thanks, but I'm good," I say, standing up and pulling Tessa to her feet beside me.
"What?" Zack looks genuinely confused. "Dude, you just told Boston to fuck off and basically declared war on Harrison. If that doesn’t call for top-shelf whisky and a night at the most exclusive spot in town, I don’t know what does.”
"It calls for me going home with my girl and telling her we're going to be okay." I wrap my arm around Tessa's waist, feeling her lean into me. "You guys go celebrate. Have fun. Just don't do anything that'll get you suspended before the board meeting."
"But Kingston—" the rookie starts.
"But nothing." I look around the room at these guys who just had my back in the biggest way possible. "I appreciate the fuck out of all of you. What you did today, threatening to strike for us? That's brotherhood. But right now, I need to be with Tessa."
Jamie grins and gives me a knowing look. "Look at you, all domesticated and shit."
"Damn right I am," I say without shame. "And I'm not apologizing for it."
"Respect," Zack says, though he still looks disappointed. "But you owe us a celebration when this is all over."
"Deal. Now go blow your money on overpriced cocktails and VIP tables. Just remember—we’ve got an eight a.m. meeting with the board chairman.”
As the guys start filtering out, making plans for their night of questionable decisions, I turn to Tessa.
She looks up at me with those hazel eyes that are finally more green than gold again. “I can’t believe you just turned down a night of VIP tables and Michelin-star food to come home with me.”
“Baby, there’s only one place I want to be. And it’s right here with you.”
"That's incredibly cheesy."
"And incredibly true."
She laughs for the first time all day, and the sound makes everything—the confrontation with Harrison, turning down Boston, the uncertainty about tomorrow—completely worth it.