Chapter 26
TWENTY SIX
Grey
“This looks crooked.” Oli turns to me and I shake my head. “It’s crooked, right?” I look at his perfectly straight tie, shaking my head.
“Looks fine, groomzilla.”
“No it doesn’t,” Oli argues, trying to fix Atlas’s straight as a fucking pin tie. Our friend is hungover as hell and hasn’t said more than two words to me. Not sure why the fuck he’s mad at me, but I’ll just let it ride. I don’t want to fight. “Something is off.”
“Oh, something is off alright,” Atlas grumbles, slapping Oli’s hand away. “I hate wearing suits.”
“Deal with it. It’s my special day.” Atlas hates wearing suits for game day. The only time he’s in one is when we have to walk to the arena, which means we all get to suffer sitting next to a nearly naked Atlas on the plane.
“Yours and Andre’s, you mean,” I remind him. Oli waves me away, inspecting his own tie in the mirror. I swear this diva. Felix walks into the room, and damn. Just damn. “I have a new appreciation for tuxes.” Damn. He looks incredibly handsome. “If that weren’t a rental, I’d rip it with my teeth.”
“Well, it is.” Oli glares.
“Like you can’t afford it,” I say. Felix smiles as I adjust his tie. I’ll seriously have to invest in a couple at home. Home. “And why are the ties magenta?”
“Andre’s mom’s favorite color,” Oli says softly. “Andre is wearing blue for my mother.” Well shit, ain’t that sweet.
I smooth out the shoulders of Felix’s tux. “God, you’re so sexy.” I lean in and kiss him.
“Stop.” He smiles with a blush, pulling back. “I’ve never worn one of these.”
“A fucking crime.” I straighten the lapels, tugging his tie a little toward me. I look back at the man adjusting Oli’s pants. “Can I get like three of these to go?”
“You just need the tie?” Oli laughs.
“Just the tie. All I need.” I give him another kiss. It feels freeing to be able to touch him like this. I’ve had to hide so much over my career.
“Can you stop? You’re making me nauseous,” Atlas grumbles.
“Be jealous.” I smile at Felix. “What?”
“Nothing.” He smiles, but it doesn’t meet his eyes.
“Have you seen Andre’s tux?” I ask.
Oli looks at me through the mirror as I ask.
“No. I told him to pick whatever color he wants. It doesn’t matter anyway. It’ll be in shreds by the end of the night.” He grins like a cat. “Vanessa won’t even tell me. She is a steel trap.”
My phone rings in my pocket and I pull it out, seeing my agent. “One second. I have to take this.”
I step out of the dressing room to answer the call. “Hey.”
“Hey, I’m just checking in after your call. I know you’re busy right now with Oli’s wedding, but do you have a moment?”
“Yeah, shoot.”
“Colton talked to me the other day. Liberty State needs a new hockey coach. His brother goes there. I remembered our talk and called the head of the sports department. We talked for a bit. They’re looking for a head hockey coach for the next school year.”
My agent is also Colton’s agent. Landon might have said something to him about it. Still, I’m surprised. Coaching was just a passing thought. “Really? Wait, where is Liberty State?”
“New York. Upstate, about an hour and a half from Albany.”
New York? “That’s all the way across the country.”
“They were very interested in having a retired pro hockey player coach at their college. I won’t lie, though. The pay is shit compared to what you’re used to, but—”
“I don’t care about that.”
He chuckles. “I knew you’d say that. I think you should consider it. The guys have had a bit of a losing streak, and they’re looking for the right leadership to pull them out of a rut. They have a new captain, new batch of players, and they’re hungry.”
I’m not sure. All the way across the country. “That’s a big move.”
“I know it is. That’s why I’m calling you now, to give you some time.”
“How much time?”
“Two weeks.” Not much time at all. “I need a definite answer. You’re their pick, but if you don’t want it, they’ll have to start looking.”
It’s a huge move. Then there’s my sister and niece. My friends. My team. And Felix. “I’ll think about it. I’ll let you know.”
“Take the two weeks. I told them you’re busy with a wedding right now. Just let me know when you decide so they can formally start looking.”
“I will.”
“I know it’s not the big leagues, but this could be big for them. Just give it a thought, Grey.”
“I will.” I hang up, my mind racing. I have so much to consider and think about. For those who can’t do, teach. Landon was right, something I’ll never say out loud. I can coach because I can do. I know how it feels to want it desperately. Maybe I can make a difference.
I think back to the rink with those kids. Watching that boy score his goal. How happy he was when he finally got it. I’ll be teaching kids through milestones, helping them become the athletes I know they can be. The more I think about it, the more I’m excited for this opportunity.
It’s in New York, though.
I think about Felix and his ex. Maybe this could be a fresh start for him also. Maybe this is the break we need. I know he’ll have to get divorced. That’s something we can think about later. Some distance might be great for us.
I will miss the hell out of my niece, but like everything else, shit is changing.
When she was little, before Landon, I tried so hard to fill a role that was left wide open by her birth father.
I don’t need to do that anymore, and the shift into a lesser role has been hard.
Landon has stepped up; he’s her father now.
They’re moving on. They’re a family.
Me? I’m tired of being alone.
The door opens, startling me. “Hey, everything okay?” Felix peeks his head out then shuts the door behind him, walking to me.
“Uh, yeah.” I smile. “Everything’s fine.”
“You look upset.”
“Do I?” I shake my head. “I’m not. Just thinking. Shocked, maybe.”
“Shocked, why?” Felix loops his arms around my waist. I love the way he doesn’t even hesitate to touch me. I’m his in every damn way.
“I just got a job offer. A coaching job at a university.”
“Really!? That’s amazing. Where?”
I look at Felix. “In New York.”
“What?” I lose his arms. “That’s all the way across the country.” Sadness hits his brown eyes. “Are you leaving?”
“I need some time to think about it, and I won’t be leaving.” Relief hit his eyes. “But maybe we could.”
“What?”
“If I take this job, I’d want you to come with me.
” I smile at him. “You have your whole life ahead of you. This could be a clean start. Away from him, in a new place, to discover what you want to do.” I cup his face.
“I need to think about this. It’s a big change, but I want you to think about it too.
We’re a team, Felix. These decisions need to be made together. ”
“New York.” I nod. “I will think about it.”
“Hey.” Oli comes out wearing dark jeans and a linen shirt with the buttons undone showing off his tattooed chest. “Come on. I want to have some drinks with my friends. One more day as a single man.” Atlas trails behind Oli, his eyes meeting mine then looking away.
“You haven’t been single since Andre walked into our locker room like he owned you.” The moment Andre was traded, Oli was already gone.
Oli flips me off. “Felix, you’re welcome to come.”
Felix looks at my friends before shaking his head. “You go.” He smiles at me then plants a kiss on my lips. “I want to go back to the room for a bit anyhow.”
“You sure?”
He nods.
“Hang out with your friends. I’ll see you later.” With another kiss, he leaves.
Oli throws his arm around my shoulder. “Come on. I need a drink.”
Oli laughs, taking another shot. “You should have seen it, Grey. That fucker knocked him right over into their bench. The guys swarmed him, knocked him into their bench. The Vipers fans lost their minds.”
“It was insanity.” Atlas shakes his head. “I couldn’t see shit, just people throwing punches. One minute I’m on the ice and the next I’m face down in the opponents’ bench, face down in Knox’s crotch.” He laughs. Some of the light has come back into his eyes.
I laugh as they talk about the last away game in the playoff season. “It’s funny how different the chaos is behind a screen.” I shake my head while taking a sip of my beer. “Being on this end is new, but stressful as shit.”
“How are you holding up with it all?” Oli asks. “You look so much better. Happier.”
“You know, when this whole thing happened, I thought my life was completely over. I didn’t just love hockey; I breathed hockey. Now I don’t know.”
“Well, having a hot man warming your bed definitely is a mood booster.” Oli wiggles his brows.
“It’s what I’ve been telling you guys for years!” Ryker says. “Only with women.”
Oli shakes his head. “Can’t wait to see you settle down.”
“Never happening.” Ryker shivers. “No woman alive can tame this beast.”
“You just wait.” I laugh, even though I can’t even picture the person Ryker would settle with. He’s going to die with a bed full of beautiful women and a smile on his damn face.
Ryker squeezes my bicep. “It’s not the same without you. We miss our road daddy.”
“Don’t ever fucking call me that again.” I rip my arm away from him.
“It’s not the same,” Atlas says quietly.
I look up at my friend. “What?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” Atlas looks up, piercing me with his electric-blue eyes. “Not feeling well.” He pushes his drink back a bit. “I think I’m going to head up and lie down.”
“Do you want me to walk you back?”
He shakes his head, standing up. “You guys have a good time, alright. I’ll see you in the morning, Oli.” He squeezes his shoulder then he’s off.
“I’ll go walk with him.” Ryker drains his drink, leaving money on the table. “I’ll see you guys in the morning. Enjoy your last night of freedom, Oli.”
I watch Ryker jog to catch up to Atlas. “You have to tell me what the hell is going on.” Oli eyes Atlas’s retreating form, something I can’t place in his eyes.
“I don’t know,” he says softly then clears his throat. “So, come on, spill. How happy are you on a scale of one to I never want to leave my bed?”
I grin at that. Felix is everything I never thought to look for.
His quiet peace lulls my heart to rest. He is comfort wrapped in a beautiful package.
“I’m so fucking happy.” I take a sip of my beer.
My face heats, and maybe it’s because I’m on my second beer but I have to say something.
I’m smiling like a fool. “We had sex for the first time last night.”
He clutches my shoulder, shaking me. “Didn’t hurt your knee or nothing?”
“No. He was . . . careful. It was . . . fuck, Oli. I don’t know how to describe it.”
Oli drains his drink. “Oh, I have an idea.”
I debate telling him this, but with Atlas gone I want to tell someone. “I got a call earlier for a coaching job. Don’t tell anyone yet, okay?”
One brow rises. “Alright?”
“I think I’m going to take it.”
“Holy shit, that’s incredible. Where?”
My fingers drum against the wooden table. “Liberty State University.”
“Where’s that?”
I look at him. “New York.”
His eyes widen. “That’s across the country, Grey!” He watches me, then understanding hits his eyes. “You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”
“No.” I think. “Maybe. I don’t know. I have a lot to consider. There’s you guys. Then Alyssa and Lianna. The team. I don’t know.”
Oli grabs my hand in his. “For once in your life, consider yourself.” I frown. “You’ve spent your entire life taking care of people. First your mother, then your sister, then your niece, then Atlas and me. Our team. We don’t call you road daddy for nothing.”
“Fuck off.”
Oli chuckles, moving his chair closer and throwing his arm around my shoulders. “You’ve always put everyone else first. It’s time you do what’s best for you. What do you want to do?”
My eyes burn when the truth pops into my head. “I want to take the job.”
Oli claps me on the back, waving over a server. “Two shots of your most expensive vodka.” Our server leaves, returning a moment later with two shots of clear liquid. Oli holds his up and I take the other. I hate vodka. “New beginnings.”
“New beginnings.” I grimace when the liquid hits my lips.
“That’s what you get for fucking leaving me.” He laughs. “I’m really happy for you. I’m going to take a wild guess and assume Atlas doesn’t know.”
Atlas is the one I’m most worried about telling. It was hard enough to tell him I wasn’t coming back. Now I’m moving across the country. “Not yet.”
“You better come to our New York games. I’m sure Ryker will want to take Felix to The Charm Box.”
“I’m not letting Felix step a toe in there.”
Oli gets up, stretching. “I’m going to head up to bed. I have a man to marry tomorrow.”
“I’m so happy for you.” This version of Oli looks so free. “You and Andre are incredible together.”
“I never thought I could love someone this much, man.” Oli smirks. “It borders on obsessive, and I don’t even care.” He sighs. “Need that man to breathe.”
Felix comes to mind, and yeah, I know he hasn’t told me yet that he loves me, and that’s okay. He can take all the time he needs. I just know this is end game for me.
I just hope that it’s end game for him too.